This episode is a conversation with Jesse from Feral Foraging about two of North America’s most overlooked wild foods — Wild Plums and American Lotus. Jesse is a skilled forager and educator who shares practical tips on plant identification, wild tending, and cooking with these forgotten staples. His work blends deep ecological knowledge with hands-on techniques that help people connect to their food in a meaningful way.
Episode Overview:
- Jesse’s background and the mission behind Feral Foraging
- The Gather Foraging App — features for plant ID, seasonal timing & lookalikes
- Wild Plum species in North America (American, Chickasaw, Mexican, Pacific, Canada plums)
- How to identify wild plums vs. Bradford pear or crabapple
- Why wild plums are disappearing (invasive species, habitat loss, fire suppression)
- Tips for scouting wild plums in bloom, best harvesting techniques, and seasonal timing
- Wild plum flavor profile, traditional uses, and recipes (jam, wine, sauces, fruit leather)
- American Lotus basics — how it compares to Asian lotus and its overlooked history
- Foraging lotus seeds and tubers: canoe gathering, wading, and digging in mud
- Lotus recipes & nutrition: porridge, bread, flour alternatives, and long-term seed storage
- Why American Lotus and Wild Plums are still worth foraging today for resilience and food culture
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Watch the Video Episode on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/live/pU2202bP58Q?si=o5_hNZ6Bq7UCNA2k
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Connect with Jesse:
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Download the Gather Foraging App:
https://gatherapp.co/
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