Mar 10, 2024
Sustainability Now! | George Barnett | Foraging Kentucky | 3-11-24
On this week’s program, your host, Justin Mog, takes a spring salad hike with George Barnett, author of the brand new book “Foraging Kentucky: An introduction to the edible plants, fungi, and tree crops of the Southeast” to be released by University Press of Kentucky on April 2, 2024 (http://www.thehungryforager.com). George is also the new Urban Agriculture Manager for Louisville Grows (http://louisvillegrows.org), where he is busy getting ready for this Saturday’s Cole Crops Sale and other spring Seeds and Starts sales (http://seedsandstarts.org). Listen in as we talk about all things foraging and getting your garden started this spring!
Reviewers of George’s new book have this to say:
"George Barnett shows that with this book he is not only knowledgeable, but has immeasurable wisdom about the forests and the wild areas of Kentucky. We should all consider ourselves lucky to have this edition to add to our library shelves. Foraging for food is at an all time high in popularity right now, and it is thanks to the hard work and dedication of people like George." ―Clay Bowers-Michigan, foraging teacher and nature enthusiast at http://nomiforager.com
"While covering awesome native food plants like hickory and eastern camas, it's nice that George also includes non-native foods like wineberry and autumn olive. Combining wild edible plants and edible/medicinal mushrooms makes this book stand out in a fun and exciting way!" ―Jed Arkels, small nursery grower/owner of Drop Seed Ecology, and wild foods enthusiast
"Barnett delivers an approachable, yet practical perspective on foraging in the region. He guides the reader with knowledgeable and personal experience― along with over 200 descriptive photos―that will help the beginner forager to head out into the woods with confidence. This invitation to the wild of Kentucky, through mushrooms, edible plants and herbs, introduces the reader to the edible outdoors with notes of identification, safety, practical uses, sustainability while also inspiring a reverence to the land. A must have for Kentucky foragers!" ―Jess Starwood, author of Mushroom Wanderland
"Drawing on scientific studies, indigenous knowledge, folklore, and his own long experience, George Barnett has provided us with an informative and useful guide to some of Kentucky's most popular wild edibles, as well as several unheralded species that perhaps deserve more attention. His descriptions of some 50 herbs, fungi, and woody plants include wonderful photographs and detailed instructions for every step of the foraging enterprise, from how to find and harvest them to how to eat them. Anyone with any interest in foraging in and around the commonwealth should have Foraging Kentucky on their shelf." ―Luke Manget, author of Ginseng Diggers: A History of Root and Herb Gathering in Appalachia, winner of the 2023 W.D. Weatherford and James A. Duke Awards
As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!
Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org
The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com