March is predictably unpredictable with blustery weather (“in like a lion”) and deceptive mildness (“out like a lamb”). It is the time of anticipation and false hopes. And surprise. After a month of snow cover and a few meltingly mild days, our garden ground is finally visible, and it is green!  Hillocks of the vibrant harbinger of spring, chickweed, emerge among the twigs and mud.  Salad time!  What did you say?

Chickweed, low growing in swirls from a defined center, has edible lobe-like leaves that are slightly spicy, a tiny tame version of cress. Rich in Vitamin C, so I’m told, they are delightful replacements for raw parsley or any other little green you might use for garnish and spunk. I haven’t ventured to cook these guys, but am really enjoying them raw. I knew about edible chickweed from a foraging hike led by an expert a few years ago but was recently reminded by Ava Chin’s New York Times column, a fun and fascinating blog about urban foraging: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/author/ava-chin

There are so many types of safe-to-eat plants out there, basically free food: dandelion (coming soon), purslane, lamb’s lettuce, and other “weeds.” We have wild ginger somewhere in our woods. Ramps fall into the same category by the way. My grandfather and I used to do “down to the crick” to pluck them for a delicious feast.

Meanwhile in the pantry, we are sprouting radish seeds for quick consumption. They add a peppery punch to salads and cooked vegetables and are easy to grow at home. Tiny spring greens pack a punch to the palate, and now that the first stirrings of chives and lovage in my pot are peeking through, spring can’t be far behind.

Categories: Foraging, Greens, RadishTags: Foraging chickweed