EatTheWeeds: Episode 20: Lichen, Cladonia

[wideawake73]

I Love You and your vids!!!! : )

[trzcinarowice]

Some plants are known to collect heavy metals etc.

[EatTheWeeds]

@trzcinarowice I mention such issues in the related article on my website.

[ManTheBush]

Why did the fungi with algae go on a date?.......

Because they took a lichen to each other!

[locouk]

@EatTheWeeds, I have a bucket of rainwater collected from my house roof, I accidentally dropped a new penny into it and retrieved it with a neodymium magnet. Along with the penny, I found the magnet also picked up lichen washed from the roof. Can you shed anylight on why this is? I can't find any info on the internet.

Thanks,

Locouk.

[EatTheWeeds]

@locouk Lichen grow on nearly anything that's been around for a while. It also could have fallen on the roof from a tree. Got a picture?

[locouk]

@EatTheWeeds I've no photo atm, it looks like a black gunk of small decomposed particles. Upon lifting the magnet from the water some fall away in a cloud which rapidly sink. There are no overhanging trees, but I guess it' is a lichin. I'll post a video when I get some time and get a close up of the stuff.

[ScottfromTexas]

When I saw the lichen there and you mentioned how old it could be it made me think of it as a terrestrial form of coral. "Land coral." :-)

[FloweringFamily]

I have come across a lot of trees out in the country full of old mans beard lichen and since you have the thing about DDT and such I am worried to collect them. How far away from a farm would you say would be safe to collect?

[EatTheWeeds]

@FloweringFamily Dust can travel. DDT also degrades with time. GIve yourself a mile or so.

[OramAndy]

You live in Central Florida? I live in the Dunnellon/Ocala area. What area do you live in?

[EatTheWeeds]

@OramAndy Orlando but I have a class May 1st in Ocala. See my website for details.

[unicron24]

soak? how long and how many times? or can i boil them? thanks for the meat...

[EatTheWeeds]

It varies with the species and what you soak them in. If plain water they need to soak for a day or more in several changes of water. If you add sodium bicarbonate it takes less time and less water, same with hard wood ashes. Taste is a reasonable indicator. They loose their bitterness. (Taste as wait, bitter sometimes creeps up on your palate.)

[unicron24]

thanks,for the info... keep up the good works..how often can u consume the cladonia?

[EatTheWeeds]

If you have removed the acid, until you get fat.

[rbvmtr]

Never seen any lichens here in Indiana ! they are universal first aid , food , and fire starting :-)

[EatTheWeeds]

They are almost everywhere on earth, even Indiana!

[AirFiveR]

If you have an illustrated book. I want to buy it. I don't see a vid on mimosa. The chinese say it is natures prozac. What say you?

[wilcotaru]

Just found a huge patch of this. Have a bunch in a shopping bag. I boiled some and put in some garlic and butter and salt and some pepper. Delicious. Good with cheese too. Also looking to make bread with it tomorrow.

[EatTheWeeds]

You should soak it in several changes of water first, or with the other means mentioned to reduce the acid content. Otherwise it can truly irritate your digestive system. I am concerned. Cladonia is among the most edible but still... you should soak it first. Are you all right?

[wilcotaru]

i boiled it twice. yeah im fine. a little gassy but fine.

[wilcotaru]

i forgot to mention i boiled it with a lot of baking soda both times

[wilcotaru]

And i just got finished with some lichen scramble. (scrambled eggs with lichen)

[b1gje55e]

How'd that bread turn out?

[EatTheWeeds]

Usually leeched lichen is an additive, to boost nutrition or to jell. It is usually not the main ingredient.

[wilcotaru]

well i followed some icelandic recipie. it wasnt exactly tasty but it was filling. it would be a good famine food lol

[Jomina1]

I must say you are a very likable fellow, with a nice mellow voice and well educated in your field here. I'll be watching all of your vids, as well as going to your website and studying in detail. My wife and I just wanted to say, thank you for all of this, and keep green my friend :) This is a great service to mankind

[EatTheWeeds]

Thank you. That was most kind.

[SoundPath]

Great video, very informative. I live in the New Jersey pine barrens and there is Lichen everywhere but I never knew it was edible until now. Thanks!

[EatTheWeeds]

Ah... The Pine Barrens...John McPhee wrote about them and their residence. Lichen are quite edible, some of them tasty, but the claydonias always are a bit earthy in flavor. Thanks for writing.

[czarwright]

Love this stuff, Keep it up.

Peace

[EatTheWeeds]

Thanks. It's nice to hear someone got something out of it.

[gogreen3]

do you teach people in your area? If you do I'd love to get some lessons.

[EatTheWeeds]

Yes, I'll send you an email about it.

[EatTheWeeds]

The treatment time varies with the species. Rock Tripe can be soaked in multiple changes of water or once for three hours in a 1% solution of potash. Others are soaked for one or two days, the Indians steamed some for two days, and some like usnea and some claydonias can be eaten in SMALL amounts unsoaked. As they soak they become less bitter. Many of them are like eating aspirin and as they soak they become less acidic.

[feralkevin]

Well done! Maybe you should have edible lichens part 2. I want to know more. Also, how can you tell when they have been treated long enough? Is there a taste difference?

[EatTheWeeds]

Exactly, and rangiferina means reindeer-like.

[EatTheWeeds]

Yes, but I tried to avoid the term because it really isn't a moss.

[cabushcrafter]

well it is easy for me to remember and I live up north so that what they call it because it looks like reindeer antlers

[cabushcrafter]

isn't that that lichen reindeer moss

[yardsnacker]

Thanks Green Dean, you in my opinion are in the top 5 most important youtube subcriptions I have. Great work!

[EatTheWeeds]

Thank you, I appreciate your comments.

[cabushcrafter]

basically almost all of them are edible. Even the poison one you cant a bit of it

[EatTheWeeds]

That's the bottom line, though lichen should have the acid leeched off and it is best to avoid those specific two. They are listed as poisonous but it would take a lot of them to do you in, so the authorities say. Soaking them in water with additives speeds up the process but several changes of water can do it as well.