This week, August 9th, was
World Indigenous People's Day.
Danielle Nierenberg, along with Niyati Shah, recently wrote an article for her website
Food Tank, that was also picked up by several
other outlets. The article highlighted
20 indigenous foods historically and culturally important to North America.
Growing up in Pike's Timber I was surrounded by
oak trees. Magnificent trees with an
acorn crop that fed an abundance of game and other wildlife. I always new they were edible, after leaching out the tannins, but did not realize their
importance to many native peoples. They are
nutrient-dense, high in calories, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin C.
The
American Persimmon, also know as "sugar plum", is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, and antioxidants. It is also high in fiber and low in calories and fats. While smaller than the Asian Persimmons found in grocery stores, the trees are low-maintenance and cold hardy making them great for an Iowa food forest. The fruit, which needs time to
blet, was used to make cakes, bread and candy by Native Americans.
The
Paw Paw, or Indiana (or Michigan, Missourri, Kentucky...) Banana, is a small unique looking tree. The largest edible fruit indigenous to North America, it has a tropical flavor reminiscent of a banana pudding with a touch of mango. It's short shelf life has hindered its marketability in spite of its impressive vitamin and mineral levels.
Abundant Design can plant American Persimmon and Paw Paw in your design right away.
I have installed
Camas (
Camassia quamash) for clients along waterways and in prairie plantings, as well as in our home flower beds. It has blue flowers and a carbohydrate and protein-rich root. Native Americans living in the Northwest and Great Basin regions of the US typically cooked the bulbs in pit ovens for a full day or more. This long baking process gives them a sweeter flavor, by changing the inulin to fructose. This plant is gaining popularity with the growing awareness of indigenous food cultures.
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| If you use a Windows PC, you've most likely seen Camas in this desktop background |
Not to be confused with the bog grown commercial cranberry, the
Highbush Cranberry bush (a viburnum), requires little maintenance and can grow without the irrigation, fertilization, or other intensive farming practices. The berries, interchangeable with true cranberries, can be eaten raw or used to make jams, jellies, sauces, and wine.
Recently I put in some
Ostrich ferns in a shady pocket at our house. I can't wait for them to fill in. The "fiddleheads" have a taste similar to asparagus, with an added nutty quality, and
should be boiled or steamed before using in any dish. The ostrich fern is a source of protein, manganese and iron, and is high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
I was surprised to not see Hickory or Walnut on the list. Both of these are now growing in our yard to replace our
Ash trees which will eventually succumb to the Emerald Ash Borer. Chestnut,
Elderberry and Sumac would also be on a list of important native foods if it was just a bit longer.
Along with
Paw Paw and
Persimmon, Abundant Design has
Highbush Cranberry, Chestnut (hybrid), Hickory, Elderberry, Aronia and many more available for your landscapes.
For even more information, the Center for Prairie Studies at Grinnell College has this downloadable guide to many native edibles found in Iowa.
America has so much productivity and diversity of wonderful food, it is no wonder Columbus thought he may have
found the Garden of Eden when he arrived in the New World.
I hope you are having an a-maize-ing summer!
