I’ve been thinking a lot about “foraging” recently for several reasons, the main one revolving around my extraordinary neighbor who in the last four years or so has become a mushroom forager extraordinaire. Hen-of-the-wood (maitake, and my favorite), chicken of the woods and turkey tail are the three he has introduced me to. (Of course, the one mushroom I knew already how to identify is the morel, but no forager is quick to share that delicacy!)

I believe he hunts out multiple kinds of mushroom/fungi, but is careful about what he shares, not wanting to hurt anyone inadvertently. Having been the recipient of his expertise, I know I would eat any mushroom he told me was safe. His foraging of mushrooms provides him with a bounty which he eats fresh, freezes for the winter months, and generously shares with his neighbors.

I always thought about foraging being about vegetative matter, but in Evolutionary Ecology: Concepts and Case Studies (available at Oxford Scholarship Online), foraging is defined as “the set of processes by which organisms acquire energy and nutrients, whether the food is directly consumed (feeding), stored for later consumption (hoarding), or given to other individuals (provisioning).” So what all non-humans have to do in terms of acquiring food, whether it be acquiring meat/protein or vegetative matter, appears to fall under foraging. And this neighbor could, I’m quite sure, figure out how to acquire what he needed to live without ever going to a grocery store if he had to.

And so, this past week being a recipient of a plateful of chicken of the woods (a vivid yellow-orange color not found often outside citrus fruit), I pulled out my copy of The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods (Nicole Apelian, Ph.D.). This book covers only vegetative matter, and is a wealth of identification, habitat in North America, fruiting season, recipes and warnings for look-alikes or possible toxic effects. Key medicinal uses are also included; for the chicken of the woods, “antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activities” are all attributed. And many fungi are noted as having admirable medicinal properties.

Which then led me to look up plantain, which is a common plant (aka weed) in all of North America and Canada, and which a market customer/friend and I were discussing recently. The common, widely available plant is listed as having “antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and analgesic properties. Often used as a drawing plant for bites, stings, rashes and leaky gut.” [Leaky gut? Never heard of it? Check out the Cleveland Clinic website.] We would all do well to learn a bit more about the abundance that nature provides and how best to utilize it. Until you are entirely self-sufficient, come to the Fayette County Farmers Market.

It’s “I ❤ our Farmers’ Market” this week at the Children’s Craft Table. There will be “I ❤ our Farmers’ Market” temporary tattoo & a “I ❤ our Farmers’ Market” candy pencil made with Smarties and Kisses!

Modern Woodmen members will hold a supply drive this Saturday and next at the Farmers’ Market to benefit the Brick House Community Homeless Shelter. Members will be collecting: toilet tissue, paper towels, trash bags, wash clothes, bath towels, laundry detergent, bleach, aluminum foil, clorox wipes, tissues, baby wipes, diapers sizes 3, 4, 5, 6, canned goods, non-perishable food, deodorant soap, shampoo, conditioner, disposable razors. The local Brick House Shelter helps any family that is facing homelessness in Fayette County. This includes: single women, children, couples with children, and single parent families. The Brick House believes that recovery and building a new life takes time, commitment, and support. Modern Woodmen improves the quality of life for members and the communities where they live, work and play. This is done through financial guidance and social, educational, and volunteer activities. It’s all part of what makes us unique as a fraternal financial services organization. For more information contact Dan Mayo 937, 725-0445.

Please note that vendors are asked to NOT make sales until 8:15 a.m.! We know that customers come early for limited produce and favorite baked goods. Feel free to see what’s available and even start a line, but the Fayette County Farmers Market is open Saturday morning from 8:30 to noon. It is located in the municipal parking lot on the corner of South Main and East East streets in Washington C.H. SNAP EBT food benefit cards and credit/debit cards are accepted. Those using the SNAP EBT card for food purchases receive matching dollar “Produce Perks” tokens ($1 for $1) good only for fruits, vegetables, and food producing plants. So,”buy one, get one” for up to $25 EVERY market day. Five dollar coupons will be available again for FAYETTE COUNTY Farm Bureau members at each Saturday market; these can be spent at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets.

The following list contains the names and products of the vendors that expect to set up this Saturday. Other vendors may participate as well.

Rural Beans Roastery LLC (Kameron Rinehart): Assorted freshly roasted coffee — beans and ground.

Wood Designs by DW (Debbie Welch): One of a handcrafted wood items— birdhouses, signs, tables, gnomes. Crocheted items including kitchen towels, pot scrubs, pot holders, baby booties, and afghans. Will take custom and special orders.

Your Other Mother’s Kitchen (Don & Sara Creamer): Artisan breads, muffins, and sewing crafts.

Barbara’s Embellished Stretchy Bookmarks (Barbara Black): Bookmarks in dozens of different handmade designs dealing with sports, nature, hobbies, OSU, beach, and more.

Bridge View Garden (Hunter & Lorelle Rohrer): Seasonal produce including green beans, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, zucchini. Perennials and potted sunflowers in bloom. Homemade bread, butter rolls.

Cheryl’s Country Crafts (Cheryl Braun & David Stewart): Wood crafts, signs and wreaths.

Cozy Baby Blessings (Nancy Cutter): Wax Melts, beaded pens, crocheted dish cloths, pot scrubbers and shower poufs. Baby essentials including, crocheted blankets and hats, flannel receiving blankets, burp cloths, crinkle toys and bunny ear teethers, silicone tableware, teethers and pacifier clips.

Engeti (Alana Walters): Baked goods including bread, cinnamon rolls, rolls, cakes, pies, cookies.

Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Strawberry jam (low sugar or honey), local honey, sourdough crackers. Native blooming plants, including bee balm (monarda). Fresh garlic and cucumbers.

Jim’s Premium Ground Beef (Jim Hobbs): Premium ground beef in assorted packages (patties, bulk tubes).

Julie G’s Cookies (Julie Greenslade): Chocolate chip, sugar, ginger, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter cookies, peanut butter fudge, salted caramel bars, lemon bars, funfetti, snickerdoodle, chocolate peanut butter bars, pineapple and peanut butter jumbos. Fresh garden produce.

Little Farmstead Flowers (Eicher family): Sunflowers, Lisianthus, Gladiolus, so many fresh cut flowers! Also featuring dried flower bundles.

Lorre Black Umbrellas (Lorre Black): Umbrellas to match your personality, your friends’ and family’s personalities, too. With every umbrella you purchase, you help your community by helping LBU build our very own Umbrella Alley in WCHO.