Stepping into another New Year feels like stepping into a whole new world of possibility. There's something magical about the quiet stillness of Winter that allows us to take a step back and reflect o…
Cattails are a spectacular plant to have in an edible garden. They aren't difficult to take care of, thrive in ditches and drainage areas where others may struggle, and every part of the Cattail is ed…
We've had a lot of repeat questions come in recently about our bulbs and bare-roots, so I thought I would take some time to address some of the most common ones I've seen as this year's round of bare-…
The garden is an ever-changing reflection of the seasons of the area in which we live. This means many of the tasks the garden requires of us are seasonal as well. I have personally always been a fan…
From the Sept 20 Newsletter:Fall, the time of year when we become more acutely aware of the shorter days, cooler nights and crispy mornings. For me, Fall has always brought along a time of reflection…
It's berry season! Like me, you may have ideas of jams,
preserves, and pies (oh my!) but what to do when the plants are still small and
only produce a few handfuls of berries? Harvests are often lig…
These days it seems like evidence of our changing climate is
all around us. Just last week, the Pacific Northwest saw a heat wave that had
us sitting in temperatures that clocked in at over 20 degre…
While the word 'shrub' tends to call to mind small to medium sized plants, it has another lesser-known meaning. Shrubs are also a drink made with vinegar, fruit, sugar, and herbs or spices. They are t…
Violets are one of my favorite plants to have in the garden for their beautiful little purple flowers that add a rich contrast to all of the many shades of spring green. Though their beauty can't be o…
First celebrated on April 22, 1970, Earth Day has now become an annual celebration worldwide that focuses on the support of environmental protections. This year’s Earth Day theme is ‘Planet vs. Plasti…
What comes to mind when you think of pollinators? Bees and butterflies? Hummingbirds? Maybe even flies, beetles, or mosquitoes? Wasps, bats, ants, and even humans can all play a role in pollination. H…
The term 'superfood' has been thrown around quite loosely in the nutrition world, but when it comes to plants in that category, Stinging Nettle is one who really shines. With vitamins A, C, and K, as…
This year’s winter here in the Pacific Northwest has been an interesting one for sure. Relatively mild and dry weather had me outside hiking through most of the early winter season, then the surprise…
You may remember my excitement when I found violets popping up on my Mid-Winter walk a few weeks ago. I have been absolutely thrilled to see even more every day since, and decided it was time to dig o…
Merry Mid-Winter and Blessed Imbolc to all who celebrate the
visible return of the Sun at the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring
Equinox! This is the point of the year that we suddenly see…
The time of year tucked in between Winter Solstice (Dec 25)
and Imbolc (Feb 2) has always been the most magical to me. Though the days have
already begun to stretch longer, the cold of Winter creepi…
Fernleaf Biscuitroot, or Lomatium, is a drought-tolerant native plant with edible roots, leaves, and seeds, and many medicinal uses.Fernleaf Biscuitroot has a unique earthy/spicy flavor that can be ra…
As I walk through the nursery today, things are quiet. The mornings have been misty and cold, but the sun is just starting to lift the moisture from the Earth and break apart the white-gray sky. The…
These cookies are a delicious and easy to make not-too-sweet treat that can make a great addition to Holiday dessert tables. With only a few ingredients, and a simple to follow recipe, you can whip th…
Here in Oregon, we're just finishing up some of the last harvests of the season. On the farm, it's the last of the tomatoes, carrots and beets. On the hillsides, it's the last of the acorns, chinqua…
An oxymel is a traditional medicinal preparation made by
combining vinegar and honey, often with the addition of herbs or fruits. The
combination creates a well-balanced elixir that can be used for…
Gardeners often reach out to us, asking "what grows well together?" Or, they might ask, "What plants do well in this or that situation?" While each garden is unique, there are certain principles gar…
Honeyberries make a delightful, rich, slightly tart jam with a beautiful deep color. Honeyberries are naturally high in pectin so there is no need to add any for this recipe! This jam was so delicious…
Fall in the Pacific NW is the perfect time for planting native plants. As the days shortens, the weather cools, and the humidity increases, the growing conditions become perfect for perennial plant e…
Life has truly taken a series of wild turns over the past
several years. During early Covid, people around the world began to truly
appreciate just how important our outdoor spaces are. In 2020 t…
Say hello to our latest culinary creation: Honeyberry Coconut Ice Cream!Honeyberries are the star of the show with creamy coconut milk and cashew butter. No ice-cream maker required! Honeyberries, als…
There’s not much better than getting to create a dish for yourself that is almost entirely sourced from the garden. Salads are a great addition to any meal, or they can stand alone as a main dish. The…
A while back, while teaching students about the importance of building soil, I came up with this simple handout about making compost. It breaks down the key aspects to consider when tending to the de…
Pacific Silverweed, when given the proper conditions, is a prolific ground cover. Our Silverweed at the nursery has been happily spreading out of its designated area, so I decided it was time to harve…
As Summer quickly approaches, water is naturally on a lot of our minds. Even though this Spring in Oregon was the wettest and latest we've had in 40 years, on the whole, the trend is moving the other…
This Black Huckleberry pie is the herald of summer- sun soaked fruits, juice filled and heavy, falling from the stem. Lingonberries and Black Huckleberries make a great pair- a blend of cranberry-like…
Spring is finally fully here in the Northwest. The cold kept us all moving in slow motion, and in now seemingly in a blink of an eye, the flowers are all blooming and all the weeds are sprouting. In…
Earth Day is a time to collectively honor our extraordinary planet. Since the picture of the Earth taken from Apollo 17 in 1972, it's become easier for us to feel that we and all of life are part of…
At the Museum of Natural and Cultural History in Eugene, there is a beautiful exhibit showing how the local indigenous tribes made ground pits to slow roast Camas bulbs in the summer. Looking at this…
For this Chocolate Hazelnut Butter, I was able to source all organic ingredients. I discovered local Pacific Hazelnuts from My Brother's Farm at our local Farmers Market in Eug…
You might not believe it with all the snow and cold weather lately in the Northwest, but signs of Spring are quietly emerging. The buds of the Indian Plum (the earliest flowering shrub) are silently…
The leaves, stems, and flowers of this Redwood Sorrel are all edible raw or cooked and have a tangy lemony flavor. They are a beautiful and unique addition to salads, soups, & rhubarb-type pies. Nativ…
Here in the Northwest, we can feel the first signs of Spring emerging. The first terminal buds swell on native branch-tips; the first calls of Spring birds echo through the stark forest; the first sw…
Yampah is the West's own wild carrot, and a prized native food (Queen Anne Lace is from Europe). The roots, leaves and seeds of Yampah are all edible. The tuberous roots can be eaten raw and have a…
Day by day, the light returns. But for us in the Northwest, the change is barely perceptible. Clouds and drizzle still blanket the landscape on most days. For most of us here, the gardener within h…
As we enter the colder months, keeping our immune systems strong becomes of utmost importance. If you’re like us at the nursery, your family has probably already experienced a round or two of the sn…
Another Fall is fading into Winter here in the Northwest, and for us gardeners, it's good to be prepared. Especially this Winter, because it's supposed to be a doozy. La Nina is back for a second ye…
In sustainable agriculture, "polyculture" refers to the practice of growing multiple species in the same area. While this concept is just being reintroduced into modern agriculture, it is a staple pr…
Blue Elderberry is a deciduous fruit tree native to Western North America. Elderberries have been an important food and medicine source for thousands of years - but only the blue and purple-berried sp…
from the Hunter, Angler, Gardener, Cook
There are dozens of wild onions across the United States and the world. From ramps to chives to nodding onions - they come in many sizes and shapes and from…
"The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul."
– Alfred AustinWhat is your garden to you? A place to…
In our nursery, we offer various wild greens. Nettle, Miner's Lettuce, Redwood Sorrell, Violets, Checkermallows, and more!Nettles are a native food so nutritious and delicious (and medicinal), they ha…
The newest resident in my garden this year is Quan Yin, the goddess of compassion. She sits in a reclined posture, gazing at a lotus flower held in her open palm. Her expression is soft & relaxed, b…
Are your garden beds full of weeds and grasses after a season of annual gardening? Try these techniques.Fall in the NW is the perfect time to prepare your annual garden beds for Spring planting using…
Have you met the amazing NW wildflowers that are not only beautiful, but delicious? Rice root, Yampah, Fool's Onion, Harvest Brodiaea, Indian Potato, Tiger Lily... These…
A while back, while teaching students about the importance of building soil, I came up with this simple handout about making compost. It breaks down the key aspects to consider when tending to the de…
Madrone Berry CompoteSpecial thanks to Dogville for some inspiration. Thank you!INGREDIENTS:1 cup Madrone Berries1/2 cup honey1/8 cup Apple Cider Vinegar1/2 cup Water1tsp Allspice powder1tbsp Cinnamon…
We have the amazing privilege to live in the foothills of the Oregon Cascades...amidst a dense Camas Lily meadow. The Camas blooms are incredible every year, and we've worked to add to it b…
As Summer quickly approaches, and record heat and drought visit the West, water is on a lot of our minds. The years are getting progressively warmer, fire seasons longer, and water shortages increas…
Spring is here, and many of us are venturing out to uncover our gardens. As we do, we not only encounter the natural world, we encounter our own minds and hearts. And the way we relate to ourselves…
Nettles are so
nutritious, deliciousand medicinal, they have been cherished for thousands of years - in cultures all across the globe! That’s right, nettle leaves are a high-protein (up to 2…
The human mind is amazing in it capacity to imagine and invent. In the realm of gardening, many landscape designers imagine & implement designs with a wide array of colors, patterns, and tex…
The coronavirus has brought unprecedented changes to our lives as people practice social distancing to ‘flatten the curve.’ Many people are turning to the health benefits of native plant medicine to s…
Not so long ago we understood each plant and every animal as a living, breathing, interconnected part of the earth. The way I heard it from the old people, the grasses on the Earth are like cilium, th…
Here at Native Foods Nursery, we have a team of unique individuals who have become like family to one another. We take care of the plants; we take care of each other. We are committed to s…
Take a look at our Salt-Brine Fermented Pickled Acorns for use in this recipe!For a few months now, I have been making acorn pâté for a friend who is a fellow acorn processing collaborator. It has bee…
Telescoping ShearsThese shears allow flexibility to get those hard to reach areas that are not worth lugging the ladder out for. The long, wide blades are great for leafy foliage and smaller stems - m…
Once your plants have arrived: what do you do next with your bare root plants or bulbs?Things Needed:
ShovelCompostBox your plant arrived in and collected cardboard to cover the area around each bare…
We are only too happy to go to extensive measures to pack the MOST environmentally-friendly plant package in the nursery business! And we ship it more securely and beautifully that ANY other com…
A potent anti-viral medicine.
We recently got down to making tinctures from this powerful plant (and it will be available for sale in approximately 6-7 weeks). But why? Lomatiums are used as a pa…
More local and wild foods, more bulk
ingredients —->> less waste.Homemade salt-brine fermented pickled acorns! These should keep for a couple months at least! Eat as is, or use in recipes, lik…
Enjoy the sweet taste of the wild with this easy and delicious Wild Huckleberry Jam! Courtesy of Daring Gourmet; published on 08/21/2018.
OVERVIEW
INGREDIENTS…
This simple sautée is an easy way to bring out the fresh flavor of fiddlehead ferns. The savory richness of golden garlic, should you choose to use it, highlights their naturally grassy flavor. &…
Acorns from the Oregon White Oak are often sweeter than other species, and once leached, have a mild potato-like flavor, and can be used whole or ground in a gluten-free baking flour for breads, pa…
Indian Celery, or Cow Parsnip, is a native, perennial herb with edible young shoots and leaves - as well as roots, flowers, and seeds!
While Indian Celery tends to be treated like a weed these…
Fernleaf Biscuitroot, or Lomatium, is a drought-tolerant native plant with edible roots, leaves, and seeds, and many medicinal uses. In this post, we’ll be sharing one way to enjoy it’s edible and…
The garden is an ever-changing reflection of the seasons of the area in which we live. This means many of the tasks the garden requires of us are seasonal as well. I have personally always been a fan…
