| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Jamanda |
Himalayan Balsam seedsLooking at eatweed's website, I saw this recipe. I never knew you could eat Himalayam balsam. -Plenty of that round here! Does anyone know what it tastes like? Is it hot? |
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| cab |
A bit like eating soap, only more difficult to collect (because it keeps exploding) and slightly more unpleasant. | ||
| Jamanda |
 Not a fan then Cab? Well maybe I'll have a chew on one next time I'm passing.
I tried hogweed seeds this afternoon - I thought they were a bit citrusy. |
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| EatWeeds |
Soap Cab! 
More like walnuts, and most folk I offer them to go Mmmmm. |
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| cab |
Maybe I'm just not getting on with seeds then
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| dpack |
i quite like em
toasted is good but young pre popping are ok as well good bee plant that maybe does not deserve it's status as evil alien |
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| sarahloo |
So *thats* the mystery plant I've been trying to identify for so long! I always wondered what those tall, pretty purple flowers that grow in great swathes by the river were, and whether they had anything edible about them... | ||
| JB |
Invasive and swamps out much of the competing vegetation - fully deserves its reputation as an evil alien. |
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| VM |
Though I gather there is an underground movement among bee-keepers to save it rather than root it out. | ||
| JB |
But surely there are native bee friendly species? | ||
| wellington womble |
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| bring me sunshine |
Indeed. Last summer, my rented field was a jungle of 6' high balsam.
Today, it's still got some plants (a WIP) but the tallest is just a foot or so, and the majority of the field is now grass again, which means that flowers are starting to return. Not many, yet, but more than last year. And anyone can tell you that a variety of flowers is better than just one, which is what happens when balsam is allowed to grow - it prevents sunlight from getting to anything below it, then dies off in autumn, leaving the soil bare and exposed, which in turn leads to soil erosion. If you see it growing, pull it out and put it somewhere that the stem can't re-root. Please! |
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| sarahloo |
I collected some and had a nibble - I like them! I think they would go quite well with CHOCOLATE 
The first *pop* made me jump a mile though! And I ended up with seeds in my bra
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| bring me sunshine |
Watch out, that stuff can sprout and grow *anywhere*
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| ros |
I thought I'd pull up the two small patches of plants that I knew of whilst passing yesterday and they had already gone - wonder if there is another DSer close or it was just coincidence
Of course after the weather we've had this week they would probably have already popped 
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| bring me sunshine |
The plants hang around after they've popped until they die off, though maybe we should post photos of patches we've cleared, and create a map?!
I decided to overcome my prejudice and tried some yesterday. I think I can live without ever trying them again. Today, I want to see if I can convince the OH to partake... |