Eat The Weeds: Episode 125: The Silverthorn

[2962nicktucker]

I'm some what of an entomologist I work with plants of all types and specialize in st. Augustine grass and other turf grasses. I am 100% sure it's false oleander scale. I don't see scale being bad if ingested but I'm not the expert. Some insects carry nasty parasites. Anyways thank doc for the help

[2962nicktucker]

Mr. Deane I have a question I found one of these silver thorns while I was hiking but I noticed it had false oleander scale all over the leaves and fruit. Will the scale be harmful if eaten? Thanks green hope to see you on the river on day

[EatTheWeeds]

@2962nicktucker Are you sure its scale or just they natural waxy surface of the leaf?

[iwasapenny]

I LOVE your videos! I live in northeast Florida but moved here from Minnesota. Foraging for wild edibles is something i have done sine I was a kid, and when I moved here I was disappointed as I couldn't  find anything. Not anymore! Thanks to you!

I look forward to more vids.

[tribalwind]

Autumn Olive grows Massive and plentiful near me in Bethpage state park. (bethpage,ny)

makes a delicious frozen smoothie / sorbet.

i've wondered if something like a Blueberry rake could work for harvesting, perhaps there is a gentler type rake since these berries are on the tender side ?

[EatTheWeeds]

@tribalwind Hmmmm. Not that I know of. Google Feralkevin and ask him.

[Plum369]

they look like sunflower seeds when they are out of the shell, do they taste similar?

[EatTheWeeds]

@Plum369 No. The kernel is mildly bitter but edible. It has a good dose of omega 3 fatty acids. Actually the entire seed is edible but usually is not eaten.

[texture6]

Is this good chicken feed ??:)

[EatTheWeeds]

@texture6 By inference, yes. One of the problems with the Elaeagnus is the birds like them and spread the seeds around quickly. As chickens are birds....

[texture6]

@EatTheWeeds Thank U :)

[tigger8895]

Thanks again Deen, let us know about the TV series...

You're a ROCKSTAR! lol

Hugs, Gina

[cocoakeke]

awesome, i hope it's a national TV show so that we can check you out here in GA

[DemonHide]

Excellent as always! Will be sending that e-mail again, your Newsletters have superb content.

[PirateOfTheInternet]

Wow, that's great to hear about the TV series! Hope that works out!

Since I live in California, I don't think the silverthorn grows here but I think the russian olive might. Looks like I've got another edible to hunt for!

[EatTheWeeds]

@PirateOfTheInternet Look at the videos on Elaeagnus by FeralKevin. He's in your area and talks about the genus.

[phantomcreamer]

The Russian Olive is an invasive and hardy plant of the intermountain west. I've seen it growing in the sand along ditches in the bad lands of the south eastern wyoming utah border area. This can probably be attributed to its cozy relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria.

[gypsydragongal]

Can you compare the taste to something familiar?

[EatTheWeeds]

@gypsydragongal Sweet and juicy like a cherry, but not flavored like a cherry.

[MarkMcGrath]

Hey being a idiot this whole time, I should have asked could you get a tape measure like the forensics guys have(black and white visiable in pics and vid) so you can show the size of leaves, and edibles. That would help on identification. Also have you written many books, someone I know says she has some, and I am harassing her for them.

[EatTheWeeds]

@MarkMcGrath I have measures in some of my videos. I should do more of that. I have written two books, but they are not about plants.

[BikeManDan1]

Yay another episode!! Thanks!

You mentioned being careful about polluted soil. I was under the impression that fruits did not contain any toxins the plant itself might have taken in; that it was "filtered". This is what I was told at least

[mrcaymanislands1]

I learned alot thank you great vedios keep making them!

[Farfromhere001]

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A NEW VIDEO! MAKE ANOTHER!

[fegolem]

This is perfect. This is the plant I've been wanting to know about but didn't know how to ask. I have one in the yard that my mother planted a long time ago. Although small, it has very fragrant blossoms. The honey bees love it. I've been curious about the fruit for a long time. My dad cautiously ate one a long time ago with no ill effects. I wasn't so bold. I want to look up the varieties to confirm which one I have. The meat is bright red. I'm in Texas gulf coast.

Glad to see you.

[JustFresh099]

I just learned that plant today with at my gardener schooling.

It's called olijfwilg in dutch which tranlates to olive-willow.

Our sample of the plant had yellow spots on it, maybe because it was the cultivar: 'Maculata'. Can you eat the fruits of that species too?

Tim

[EatTheWeeds]

@JustFresh099 The red fruit of the Elaeagnus pungens "Maculata" is edible.

[LeonRFpoa]

FINALLY more eat the weeds is on. Popcorn time

[feralkevin]

Thanks Deane! I agree the tradition in landscaping is to hate edible plants, the paradigms behind this I believe are a microcosm to everything that is wrong with the planet today

[m005kennedy]

Hope you TV deal works out! Love to see you on a show. Keep them coming.

[PartisonConfederate]

Green Dean, in East Texas and I assume the rest of the South but for sure East Texas, there was a weed that if you boil it you can eat it. In the great depression this was largely eaten and I was wondering if you knew what it was. Sorry for the scarce details.

[EatTheWeeds]

@PartisonConfederate That could refer to manhy plants but I will guess the Poke Weed.

[wanderinggibbon]

Pungens ... How does it smell?

[EatTheWeeds]

@wanderinggibbon Pungens means "with spikes."

[wanderinggibbon]

@EatTheWeeds Thank you.

[johnu78]

I'm glad you made this video! I saw this plant when I was at the Burger King drive thru last Sunday.I got out of my car to pick one of the berries and broke it open to look at it further, then I threw it away because I didn't know what it was. Now I know what it was. Thanks Deane!

[godsend420]

so glad winters almost over and that a new vid is up cheers

[CrypticCRICKET]

Green Deane, you're back! Nice to see you in my inbox again!

[EatTheWeeds]

@CrypticCRICKET Thanks... been busy negotiating for a TV/cable series on eat the weeds and that just takes time... got two more meetings this month... and the weather has been lousy, record wet and cold. Yesterday was the only warm sunnny day this week so I did a quickie video. Also I have a different computer and it is a step back video-wise. What used to take a few pleasant hours now takes and entire difficult day.

[ikeikeforty]

@EatTheWeeds what channel will the tv show be on?

[EatTheWeeds]

@ikeikeforty Well, that is one of the things we are having meetings on later this month.

[eowdaoc]

@EatTheWeeds a TV show would be awesome!

[Snowwarrior]

Can't wait for your TV show, really looking forward too it

[feralkevin]

Where did you hear they aren't worth it? Hopefully not from my video about them. :) They are great, it's just that I've only seen them fruit sparsely. It's amazing in that it can flower in fall and fruit in spring! I kind of gave up on mine producing more than a few fruit hear and there, so this year I cut them way back, we'll see how that affects fruiting in their 6th year.

[EatTheWeeds]

@feralkevin I actually have published sources that say either it is toxic or not worth eating. I think people who make landscaping/country garden books secretly hate plants as food. Your videos on the various Elaeagnus are excellent. I had a hard time not immitating you, and of course, everyone should see your videos.

[gaiagale]

I've missed you're videos so thanks for sharing again I'm pretty sure this plant grows out side of my area cause there is about three feet of snow and it is warmer today -5 but yesterday was -25

[SECRETBOL]

I too eat the weeds

Good to know info. The "Russian Olive" grows like crazy in my area (Southern Ontario)

[RichTheRidgeHunter]

Great to see you back! Very nice video. I know what I will be looking for this weekend. Are the fruit of Russian and Autumn the same shape as the Silverthorn?

[EatTheWeeds]

@RichTheRidgeHunter No, different shapes and color.