Barry and Steven 2014 - More Fresh Food






Wild rice
In north-central Saskatchewan, there is lots of wild rice.  The above picture is in August.  The seeds will not be ripe for harvesting until September.  I have never seen wild rice growing in northern Saskatchewan where I frequent.  In previous years, Steven and I canoed in bays after portaging where even when we stood up in the canoe it was not possible to see over the rice and the growth was so thick that paddling was difficult.





Cattails
Cattail is another excellent food plant that I do not see in the areas I canoe much farther north.  The best harvest is earlier in the growth cycle - fresh shoots, unripe heads and pollen.  The rhizomes can be gathered any time of the year, but require more preparation.