Edible Forests

I'm really starting to look into some permaculture/agroforestry/call-it-what-you-will. Of course, Rachel had a hard sell giving blueberries out to folks on the tree tours at our last cookout - if it isn't wrapped in plastic, it's not edible, I guess.

We tried sassafras leaves today - they'll be good as an addition to salads, and I'm thinking of something with sassafras wrapped fish, maybe grilled. We have wintergreen and blueberries in abundance, and a growing amount of sweet birch, but only one is large enough for a potential tap. The various other berries we have aren't productive - we've seen one strawberry and absolutely no blackberries or raspberries. A couple of the red maples are of tap-able size, although red maples don't have quite the same quality and quantity as sugar maples they are supposed to be somewhat viable, and might make an interesting project next February.

I'd like to get a couple of linden trees growing next year, as well as an assortment of hazelnuts, hickory, and, possibly, some black walnut. The hazelnuts will probably be the only ones to get as usable nuts - the time frame on hicory is something like 10-20 years, and on walnut 25-30 years. The idea with those latter two is to get larger canopy trees supplying a food crop. The beech trees - which have been failing thus far - also have edible leaves, in addition to the nuts. I still plan on getting some of those in a few years.

I'm not planning on bringing in oodles of more trees - I'm pretty much done with that, except for the 70 or so Eastern Hemlocks for screening the property line, and those will be done over the next 5-10 years - but the ones I do bring in will have some edible value, or provide some other benefit (such as bayberries for candles, encouraging the sweet fern for its nitrogen-fixing properties, encouraging beneficial insects, keeping birds away from other foods, etc.)

Permaculture Links

- Agroforestry Research Trust - UK-based site on temperate agroforestry research
- Edible Forest Gardens - mostly a site about a set of books (which are on my Amazon wishlist! =), but with additional resources and links; one of the few that is not focused on the UK, where permaculture has been a bit more popular
- Fruit Facts - as advertised, fact sheets on fruiting trees and shrubs
- Plants for a Future - UK-based site with numerous resources - actually, my first experience with agroforestry was through their site; the book of the same name is exceptional, and is available (in the US) for an exceedingly affordable price from The Rodale Institute Store

Vendors
- Forest Farm - although shipping can be expensive, their plants - including many rare and hard-to-find varieties - are of the highest quality, and their packaging is the work of caring craftsman and not of the stuff-it-in-a-box variety
- Raintree Nursery - I haven't ordered from these folks, but many of the things Plants for a Future lists as edibles I heard of first because Raintree sells them; they actually specialize in unusual edibles

General Resources
- The Tree - tree and forest information, centered on the UK
- PA Native Plants - a forum of the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society; includes a section on identifying PA plants
- Arbor Day Message Board - a forum of the National Arbor Day Foundation; includes a section on tree identification, and frequented by several incredible tree experts, particularly saccharum and Red Maple - when those guys talk, best to listen and learn!

Recipe: Frasadillas

- 12 slices maple cured bacon, grilled and crumbled
- 4 soft tortillas
- 100% maple syrup
- 4 handfuls shredded cheese - 60% extra sharp cheddar, 40% Monterey jack
- 20-24 leaves of sassafras, washed and ripped into pieces
- fresh ground cinnamon

Spread the crumbled bacon on the tortillas, drizzle lightly with maple syrup, cover each one with a handful of the cheese mix. Broil under low until cheese just melts - don't brown. Sprinkle sassafras leaves on top of cheese, drizzle lightly with maple syrup, and grind some cinnamon on top. Cut into wedges and serve.

EDIT: Changed the name - like the shorter version a little bit better.

Alternate method: Pre-heat a large fry pan on medium heat. Brush olive oil onto the bottom of the tortilla and set oil-side down on a plate. Spread the crumbled bacon on the tortillas, drizzle lightly with maple syrup, cover each one with a handful of the cheese mix. Cook on medium until the cheese melts. Sprinkle sassafras leaves on top of cheese, drizzle lightly with maple syrup, and grind some cinnamon on top. Fold in half, press lightly, and set it on a plate. Start the next one in line, and then cut the previous one into wedges and serve.