One minor caveat to harvesting that elephant ear: get it tested for heavy metals and other industrial byproducts first. Marsh plants in general are great for “polishing” water by trapping all sorts if pollutants, to the point where they’re dangerous to eat or even to use as compost. Myself, I’m incredibly fond of so-called Cossack asparagus, the immature leaves at the base of cattail stalks, and cattails have so many edible components at various stages of growth that Euell Gibbons referred to them as “the supermarket of the swamps.” Problem is, most of the best growing spaces for them in my my immediate area of North Texas are nearly saturated with lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals, and I’m seriously concerned about levels of PCBs (Dallas had several factories dedicated to electrical equipment manufacturing that just dumped PCBs into the Trinity River) and random bits of illegally dumped industrial waste. If it turns out yours are metal-free, though, bon appetit.
Apparently there are multiple varieties of plants called elephant ear, some of which are edible and others which are effectively poisonous. The type in the Austin area is probably Colocasia esculenta. Without processing, it's pretty bad news. To quote a Redditter:
"Also, please note that taro needs to be prepared properly or it is poisonous and filled with shards of toxic crystals that will cut the shit out of your mouth, throat, stomach, and anus. Once cooked thoroughly, it's pretty good, though. "
I also concluded the type we have naturalized here seems likely to be Colocasia esculenta. And that’s got to be the best Texas Reddit forager quote ever 😂🫚💚
Your mention of the ravines of Toronto reminded me of the work and explorations of Jason Logan, illustrator, writer, graphic designer, and art director based in Toronto, who forages the city for materials to use in ink-making. His book, "Make Ink: A Forager's Guide to Natural Ink Making," is a beautiful book that deserves a careful look-through. Here's part of the description:
"Designer and artist Jason Logan began the Toronto Ink Company in 2014 as a citizen science experiment to make eco-friendly, urban ink from street-harvested pigments. In Make Ink, Logan delves into the history of inkmaking and the science of distilling pigment from the natural world. Readers will learn how to forage for materials such as soot, rust, cigarette butts, peach pits, and black walnut, then how to mix, test, and transform these ingredients into rich, vibrant inks that are sensitive to both place and environment."
The film, "The Colour of Ink," is a documentary that shows him foraging and making ink as well as interacting with artists and using the inks himself.
Fun to imagine Lupe escorting the Hulk thru the lower reaches of the Colorado. The water has been so glassy down there this week, BTW. Congrats on the Powell's pick! Easily one of the very best bookstores I've ever been to. You guys are well-suited and I hope you have a great event there.
Lupe is a great navigator to this autumn romp. I miss my old dog Daisy something fierce; it's been two weeks and I realize reading this piece that she walked me. The pace of our walks had slowed and I'm glad to have enjoyed every summer day as a Daisy day this year. Congrats on all the grand reviews!
You have published the most realistically hopeful paragraph in my active memory, starting with ““Perhaps our great-grandchildren who survive the crises that are coming will find the Taro growing wild across this overheated and drought-ridden region as an abundant natural food source.” I have lived, for some years, now, with the fear that my grandchildren might come to hate me for the world that I have had a part in making for them. You have come closer to stating that fear, in print, than anyone I have seen, outside of my personal and private journal. Thank you for that.
Your comment about Your grandchildren surviving made me realise that you do not fully understand at all what Global warming means.
You should find that humanity is not doing anything like enough to prevent not only continuous warming but catastrophic events like methane release from the sea and tundra the ice caps melting much of the Earth not being suitable for growing food and that we are probably already well passed being able to do anything about it
One minor caveat to harvesting that elephant ear: get it tested for heavy metals and other industrial byproducts first. Marsh plants in general are great for “polishing” water by trapping all sorts if pollutants, to the point where they’re dangerous to eat or even to use as compost. Myself, I’m incredibly fond of so-called Cossack asparagus, the immature leaves at the base of cattail stalks, and cattails have so many edible components at various stages of growth that Euell Gibbons referred to them as “the supermarket of the swamps.” Problem is, most of the best growing spaces for them in my my immediate area of North Texas are nearly saturated with lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals, and I’m seriously concerned about levels of PCBs (Dallas had several factories dedicated to electrical equipment manufacturing that just dumped PCBs into the Trinity River) and random bits of illegally dumped industrial waste. If it turns out yours are metal-free, though, bon appetit.
This is a great insight—I would be curious to do that kind of testing just to better understand the natural history of the sites. Thanks!
Really beautiful. So glad Lupe took charge again. Wasn't expecting The Hulk, a fascinating layer.
Thank you! 🙏
Apparently there are multiple varieties of plants called elephant ear, some of which are edible and others which are effectively poisonous. The type in the Austin area is probably Colocasia esculenta. Without processing, it's pretty bad news. To quote a Redditter:
"Also, please note that taro needs to be prepared properly or it is poisonous and filled with shards of toxic crystals that will cut the shit out of your mouth, throat, stomach, and anus. Once cooked thoroughly, it's pretty good, though. "
I also concluded the type we have naturalized here seems likely to be Colocasia esculenta. And that’s got to be the best Texas Reddit forager quote ever 😂🫚💚
Your mention of the ravines of Toronto reminded me of the work and explorations of Jason Logan, illustrator, writer, graphic designer, and art director based in Toronto, who forages the city for materials to use in ink-making. His book, "Make Ink: A Forager's Guide to Natural Ink Making," is a beautiful book that deserves a careful look-through. Here's part of the description:
"Designer and artist Jason Logan began the Toronto Ink Company in 2014 as a citizen science experiment to make eco-friendly, urban ink from street-harvested pigments. In Make Ink, Logan delves into the history of inkmaking and the science of distilling pigment from the natural world. Readers will learn how to forage for materials such as soot, rust, cigarette butts, peach pits, and black walnut, then how to mix, test, and transform these ingredients into rich, vibrant inks that are sensitive to both place and environment."
The film, "The Colour of Ink," is a documentary that shows him foraging and making ink as well as interacting with artists and using the inks himself.
This is so cool! I have heard of him and his work buy need to take a closer look at the book and the film. Thank you!
Fun to imagine Lupe escorting the Hulk thru the lower reaches of the Colorado. The water has been so glassy down there this week, BTW. Congrats on the Powell's pick! Easily one of the very best bookstores I've ever been to. You guys are well-suited and I hope you have a great event there.
Thanks, Jesse!
Lupe is a great navigator to this autumn romp. I miss my old dog Daisy something fierce; it's been two weeks and I realize reading this piece that she walked me. The pace of our walks had slowed and I'm glad to have enjoyed every summer day as a Daisy day this year. Congrats on all the grand reviews!
Thank you! 🙏
You have published the most realistically hopeful paragraph in my active memory, starting with ““Perhaps our great-grandchildren who survive the crises that are coming will find the Taro growing wild across this overheated and drought-ridden region as an abundant natural food source.” I have lived, for some years, now, with the fear that my grandchildren might come to hate me for the world that I have had a part in making for them. You have come closer to stating that fear, in print, than anyone I have seen, outside of my personal and private journal. Thank you for that.
Your comment about Your grandchildren surviving made me realise that you do not fully understand at all what Global warming means.
You should find that humanity is not doing anything like enough to prevent not only continuous warming but catastrophic events like methane release from the sea and tundra the ice caps melting much of the Earth not being suitable for growing food and that we are probably already well passed being able to do anything about it