Speaking of this, have you ever foraged wila? I would really like to do that if Iβm in your neck of the woods. Know anyone who makes traditional wila bread?
Discussion
I never have. I had not heard of it until you mentioned it. But ive started researching it.
Supposedly it rarely grows below 700ft. So most of western washington wont see it. But I bet there is alot of it in the Olympic National Forest, and in the Cascade foothills. And Im sure there is alot of it on the highway from Vancouver B.C. to Whistler B.C.
However, i found a map that shows the native tribes in my area used it as a food source, while the surrounding tribes did not. meaning that there must be a source somewhere near here. or there was...
Going to rainforest areas of the PNW is a bucket list trip, and as part of that I would love to be involved in a party of folks who know what theyβre doing gathering and preparing this.
Are you in western WA, then?
I am. Rural Puget Sound basin.
Speaking of the Hoh rainforest, there is a plant that I read about as a kid that I have been wanting to find. It's called a vanilla plant. It is apparently similar to Stevia, but with a hint of Vanilla flavor. Apparently, there was a brief period where it was being grown commercially before big sugar wiped everything else out.
We arent quite rainforest here, (although its hard to tell with as much as its been raining lately) but were close enough that we could probably grow it. if i can find it.
https://www.wnps.org/native-plant-directory/10-achlys-triphylla
Omg look at this incredible thing πβοΈ
First thought was βlooks like mayapple leaf with a crazy flowerβ and sho nuf both are Berberidaceae
People eat it?!
well no. it was aged and dried like tea. one of its names translated is βsweet after deathβ. so i would imagine decay releases whatever enzymes are responsible for the sweetness.
the Skokomish tribe used it as a treatment for tuberculosis, and as a shampoo. which seems a strange combo.
Second post Iβve read tonight pointing out the problems of agriculture subsidies.