I have several red buds in the yard and can’t help but notice that they have a tendency to spread. Though it’s only in the last three years or so that they have started what looks to be a full-on invasion of the property.
I only fairly recently learned that the flowers that form on these trees are not only edible but also delicious.
While they have a sweet, almost honey like taste, and I suspect they would be perfect in a salad from time to time, we should leave some for the pollinators as well.
The young leaves, buds, and seed pods are edible as well. I have mixed the leaves and seed pods into stir fry and found them quite tasty.
The boys haven’t warned up to the idea of eating trees just yet, though I have gotten the youngest to try the flowers. He said they were delightful. Not really something I was expecting to hear from a five year old, but I’ll take it. He’s becoming more adventurous in trying new foods and loves growing plants from seeds.
Above is a surprise flower he brought home from school. His teacher had planted the seed, and he’s been taking care of it since it sprouted.
I’m trying to get all three to learn as much as possible about foraging. With the ever looming threat of food shortages, I feel obligated to teach them as much as I can about securing as much of their own food as possible.
My grandmother’s family on my mom’s side survived the great depression by eating peanuts. They barely pulled through, and she developed scurvy and suffered some bone deformities.
I remember my grandfathers backyard was filled with two huge gardens. He grew a great many plants, and grandma canned and stored it all. Nothing went to waste.
They also had an apple tree that bore five varieties of apples, and I believe he had grafted them all, if I remember correctly.
I sincerely wish I had half of their knowledge about growing my own food, though they had little choice but to secure their own food or go hungry. I fear we may be once again headed in that direction, so I’m preparing now for what may be. I pray I’m wrong, but like a seat belt or a parachute, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
May your ventures be met with success. For more on red buds, below is a link, and there are likely thousands of other sources for information using a quick Google search.
https://eattheplanet.org/redbud-a-bold-and-beautiful-tree-with-edible-flowers/
Slocum's Creak 