I've been thinking a lot about eating more indigenously, and so would like to throw the concept out there to the community to get some thoughts on it.
It seems there's a small-but-growing community (in the general culture) around the cuisine of indigenous cultures - see the recent "The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen" book by Sean Sherman, a number of restaurant openings in CA and Minnesota, and the buzz around the Smithsonian Mitsitam Cafe in DC. But what I'm talking about isn't so much about recreating the food of these cultures (of which I'm not a part), but more about discovering the ingredients indigenous to my part of the country. This would be taking "locavore" to a deeper level - instead of favoring, say, turnips and broccoli grown within a few miles of my home in Maryland, I would instead be looking for sunchokes, and topping them with sauteed dandelion greens, both of which are native here.
The problem, of course, is that this is a much more difficult endeavor nowadays - many of the indigenous ingredients in this area are not sold commercially, so would need to be foraged or grown. It would be hard to become a true "indigevore", say, eating only food indigenous to your geographic region. Instead, it would consist of favoring certain items over others when they are available, learning the foodways of the indigenous cultures (for inspiration), and adapting everyday recipes to use native foodstuffs.
It's worthwhile to ask why someone would do this. For me, part of it would be to learn about and connect with a new place. But I also suspect that indigenous ingredients are easier to grow in their native regions, and thus may become more environmentally sustainable when produced at scale. And this would only happen if a community developed to create demand. I'm sensitive to perceived appropriation here, which is why I make the distinction between indigenous cultures (which are doing great things in this area), and use and development of indigenous/native *ingredients*.
I'm curious about the thoughts of the community here - is anyone trying this now, or have experience trying it in the past? Is it a worthwhile endeavor? Is there an active community around it that I don't know about?
Yeah, it's a good question. The closest ready-made resource I've found is the USDA PLANTS database, which lets you search by distribution area, native status, and characteristics.
For example, here's a list of plants found in Maryland, native to the continental US, and produce edible products (seeds, berries, etc.). It's not exactly what you're asking for, but close.
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/java/...
<Why not prefer plants that *want* to grow where you are>
Just to throw another wrench-let into this idea (which I'm not disparaging!), even if a plant - corn, let's say - was around when dinosaurs walked the earth, the version you find today is not the "original gangsta" version. It's the one we've manipulated to maximum size or nutritional value or sweetness or whatever. So just because it wants to grow where it is doesn't mean it wants to grow how it does.
I agree this is something to consider. Eating on the Wild Side which is plant science and history is a good read about how things have changed. Here in the US we've gotten a sweet tooth so fruits and vegetables are sweeter than their original varieties. I have trouble finding corn that is not a super sweet variety. Even sugar enhanced varieties have gotten scarce at farm stands.
"But I also suspect that indigenous ingredients are easier to grow in their native regions, and thus may become more environmentally sustainable when produced at scale. "
Why do you think that? A plant may be indigenous to a region for a variety of reasons, not just a 'easier to grow'. It was part of a native ecosystem - growing alongside, in cooperation or competition, with other plants and animals. Restoring native vegetation usually requires removing the competing invasive species (around here that means knotweeds, hybrid blackberries, brooms and ivies, etc). And the optimal density for a given species might be too low for 'at scale' production.
You're right, I think "at scale" is probably a red herring.
This is partially a response to the almond example - you can claim to be a locavore and eat almonds grown locally in California, but is that really getting you anywhere, environmentally speaking?. Why not prefer plants that *want* to grow where you are, given your climate, and eat those instead?
But the almond example applies by analogy to the overwhelming majority of foods Americans eat almost everywhere in the US. Most of the grains and fruits, and many of the vegetables, we eat aren't native anywhere in the the Americas at all, and even among those that _are_ indigenous "to the Americas as a whole" that are a more and less common parts of most peoples' diets (corn, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, kidney-bean-type legumes, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, a few "minor" nuts, apart from the leguminous peanuts), many/most are not indigenous to "most places" in the US. (And except for fish and turkey, none of the meat we eat on a regular basis is indigenous at all, much less was available "everywhere" in what is now the United States.)
I think it's very interesting, and would be a good learning tool, and as far as landscaping/non-food gardening is concerned, can in fact be very practical for many reasons. But I really don't see it becoming a significant contributor to people's diets. For many practical reasons involving its production, but mostly because it would involve really radical changes to most people's diets except as a minor "supplement" to them. And except sometimes on what usually ends up being a short-term basis, most people are very reluctant to make purely voluntary, radical changes to their habitual diets...
Does a plant have to be something that grows in the area in the wild to be considered indigenous? I would think so, but I wouldn't think there would be that many plants that fit that description in most areas. (Does broccoli actually grow wild somewhere?)
I try to be as local as I can with my food, but this seems nearly impossible to me. I'll be interested in others input.
Meh.
So what constitutes indigenous or native? Something that could be found growing there 50 years ago? 100 years? 200 years? The Earth is constantly changing. Thing grow "naturally" in places that did not in the past, and stopped growing some time ago that sustained for hundreds or thousands of years. Species also evolve, or cross-breed, so what is available now may be very different from what it used to be. Also, the logic that you can scale something up because it is native may be a false flag. Some plants don't survive farming or growing in density, but are naturally sparse.
Interesting concept, but not sure of the practicality or usefulness.
Bingo.
Which of Cygnus' different observations were particularly "Bingo" for you, please?
All of them as illustrative of the problem of using the term with respect to foods as equivocal precision. I think of the place where I live: before European settlement (which occurred about a generation after most of the then-native people died off from divers illnesses from contact with European fisherman who fished along the coast during the warmer season), it was a groomed mixed forest dominated by enormous (200-300 foot plus) white pines (the largest of which the English promptly reserved for the Royal Navy), with some agriculture in riparian areas at the bottom of the hills. What about that agriculture was "indigenous"? Maize came from thousands of miles away. Likewise the other two siblings of the rightly fabled three sisters: beans and squash. For foraging, high bush blueberries were likely in the woods and maybe the far tastier low bush blueberries along crevices of hilly outcrops, but native cranberry bogs were not close at hand by comparison. There was lots of game, of course: that was the point of grooming the forests. And fish/shellfish from working the marshes a few miles away and inshore waters and rivers/streams. The Columbian Exchange was preceded by a series of other great foodstuff (and illness) exchanges: across the Americas, north and south, and across Eurasia, east and west. And possibly trans-Pacific (particularly with regard to the curious travels of the sweet potato...).
While there is a certain logic about planting natives and avoiding non-native invasives, the thing I observe as a long time gardener is: natives are not inherently superior in thriving (indeed, invasives illustrate that problem), and there are plenty of invasive natives no less than non-natives. Attempts at wildflower gardens will bear this out over time; I do fondly remember a very elderly neighbor who was born on the block on which she lived for decades, and assiduously tended her wildplant yard - which took more work than a more conventional garden/yard. I tend towards a Darwinian approach to experimentation: that which thrives without damage or inconvenience is more or less welcome to stay while it does so, but there's an end to most things.....
So, working within imagined constraints might be an interesting intellectual exercise, but less so as a way to connect with the land. Connect with the land: smell it, work with it, don't abuse it or create problems with it for neighbors. Low concept. Simpler.
It's probably easier to create a garden with native plants, without trying to grow much that's edible. People who lived in the area without farming usually had to travel quite a bit to collect food as and where it was available. In the Pacific NW the densest populations depended on salmon runs, and other seafood, plus berries in season (salal in the lowlands, huckle in the mountains), camas roots, and even tree bark and roots. Everywhere there was a lot of local knowledge (even technology) involved in finding, preserving, and preparing food.
All of the West coast has a 'Mediterranean climate', cool wet winters, dry summers. Seattle in July and August has some of the driest sunniest days in the country. A 'rain garden' is one that depends solely on rain (or lack there of) through out the year. Here's a list of such plants for PNW and California:
https://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers...
We do enough hiking that I have a pretty good idea of what's native, and what grows where and when. But the only foods that we've harvested for eating are berries. Most abundant in season is the Himalayan blackberry, but that's feral not wild. Salmon berry and huckleberry give just a taste. A nearby park has enough salal to make a quart or two of sauce.
This is a fun question. Sumac is probably my favorite example of something that grows wild here in New England yet is ignored. But, it's a popular ingredient in some cultures. I understand Native Americans also used it as a beverage. Nobody makes switchel anymore but it used to be a popular beverage during hot weather (contains vinegar and water but might not be an indigenous recipe).
Here's one catalog from which I've purchased something "native" https://www.fedcoseeds.com/trees/?lis...
I think learning the foodways of a different culture is a good reason. You might explore Meet Up groups or start one of your own. I met some interesting people through a permaculture meet up group. You might start there. I had some wonderful daylily kim chi at one meeting.
The Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner NH has a heritage garden where they grow indigenous foods and have a seed library. Other Native American Museums might have something similar so you might see what's in your area or a place you might visit on vacation.
Considering Pop Tarts are popular breakfast item, perhaps it's a good idea to start investigating what "we" used to eat.
How much inulin can you tolerate? :)
Very interesting topic.
Not at all strictly indigenous, but about eating only foods currently grown/raised locally (locavore) and the challenges thus presented, and published 2007, Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, vegetable, miracle
http://www.kingsolver.com/books/anima...
https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Vegetab...
Several Native American cookbooks were published well before the Sioux Chef's; I have no idea which might be more authentic: by Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs; Lois Ellen Frank; and E. Barrie Kavasch.
I loved the Kingsolver book and, for awhile, went to meetings for a group that was encouraging "eat local". Despite living in New England, farmers in our area are using affordable high tunnel technology to extend the growing season. We have winter markets where they sell fresh hardy greens, storage vegetables, and, at the larger markets, meats, milk and cheeses. It's expensive but it's possible (and difficult to find) locally grown flour. The utility grade Braeburn apples I bought at the orchard in November are still in good shape in my garage fridge. I can buy honey and maple syrup but not local white sugar. I would have to go without bananas but I have PYO strawberries and blueberries in the freezer. I would hate to give up coffee but there's a plethora of local breweries and wineries. I'm lucky to be in area where I have access to a lot of local products and growers who love farming. But I'm also a cheapskate and still buy meat and fish at the local supermarket except for occasional local ground beef, sausage and bacon. In one of the most beautiful northern NH small towns, there's a company growing incredible mushrooms. Heck, in the summer I can buy locally grown ginger. Visiting farmers markets is a fun road trip. You don't have to starve. You don't have to be 100% locavore but it really helps to buy local and support local agriculture.
Assuming you are in NH, we have some of the same local stuff here in Boston and the local mushrooms someone is growing in Mass, and the root farm in Northampton, the local-ish at least New England beef/pork/poultry, fantastic cheese from several New England states, and yes, the locally grown ginger. There's a farm in Central Mass where immigrants are growing their local greens and vegetables, including lemongrass and the best okra I've seen since I left NC decades ago, sorrel and beautiful herbs of all kinds. I wouldn't give up olive oil or coffee, and I wouldn't want to drink only wine from New England, and our summer season is oh-so-short, grab it when you can. The produce and food situation is *so* very much better than it was even 10 years ago, and even more better than 15 years ago. T
As this discussion indicates, what is "indigenous" has always been changing globally, with soil, weather, pollination, invasive plant species changing and mutually influencing each other constantly....very quickly now, but started happening thousands of years ago, or more, as soon as the planet was born. he farms that are bringing back "heirloom" tomatoes, apples...they are wonderful, but I do think that the taste is probably quite different than when they were originally cultivated because of weather, soil, pollination, etc.. They taste so much better than the newer bred to be shipped. I remember reading somewhere how long it took the Incas to bred potatoes not to be poisonous...and they have so many interesting varieties I'll never see in a market.
I live on a small, cold island off the coast of northern Europe. There are relatively few foods that are native - although others are now grown here which were originally imported. Tomatoes, for example - whilst they are grown here in large numbers, many are imported from warmer countries, such as Spain. To eliminate all fruits, vegetables, etc that are not strict natives would result in a very restricted diet, particularly in the winter months.
I have no idea what is allowed to be taken by the Seminole or Micasookee on their lands, but several of the species they would take are protected in the rest of Florida. The many preserves allow nothing to be taken and most hunting is restricted by season. Now if you would eat invasives, you would probably do well.
I am in favor of eating invasives. Good food, good for the environment. Here is a fun thread on the topic of eating burmese pythons.
Lets see, hurricane Andrew left us the "seeds" for established breeding populations of Burmese and African Rock pythons and Nile Monitors. There are also some exotic venomous. Tegus from South America have also established breeding populations. Five animal import facilities were destroyed during that storm. Because the two python species can lay upwards of 80 plus eggs, their populations exploded and a new cross with the nastiness of the Afrock and the size of the Burmese has developed. Iguanas established back in the '80s I believe. Oscars have been being dumped into our fresh water systems for a long time messing up the native bass populations. Solution, introduce Peacock bass. Snake heads are now taking over our fresh water systems. Lionfish are prevalent in our reef systems. These are just a few of the invasive animals, there are many plant species as well.
In my area, I can't wait for freshly picked, from my local farm stand, Butter and Sugar corn. I steam it and eat sans any butter, salt etc. It's perfect on its own.
by Jen Wheeler | Need a spring vegetable guide to what's in season? Consider this your spring produce cheat sheet—complete...
by Rachel Johnson | Whether the kids are still distance learning or returning to a classroom, with school back in session...
by Kelly Magyarics | You’ve sprung for a gorgeous piece of enameled cast iron cookware; protect your investment by cleaning...
by Debbie Wolfe | Home chefs love wood cutting boards because they are durable and reliable. Wood boards are attractive...