On this West Virginia Morning, family recipes are a way for people to connect with their ancestors, but what do you do when the measurements for the recipe aren’t exact and you’ve never actually tried Grandma’s potato candy. Brenda Sandoval in Harper’s Ferry had to find out. Inside Appalachia’s Capri Cafaro has more.
EDIBLE MOUNTAIN – Rock Tripe A Winter Survival Food
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Rock Tripe
Knowing what is edible in the wilderness can create a sense of security in our wild world. But what if you need to feed yourself in the dead of winter? What would you eat?
Rock Tripe (Umbilicaria mammulata) is a type of edible lichen, and it is plentiful in North America.
Chuck Kleine
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RocK tripe growing on sand stone
A lichen is not just one organism–it is a mutual, symbiotic life form comprising of a species of fungus and a species of algae. They work together to survive, needing very little from their surrounding environment.
Chuck Kleine
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Rock tripe in February
In the dead of winter, when just about every plant is dormant, Rock Tripe is still thriving. It’s not great tasting, and you may even struggle to keep it down, but it will alleviate hunger pains. It contains a similar amount of calories as cornflakes.
Soldiers from the Battle of Valley Forge journaled that they ate Rock Tripe by the bushels to combat starvation through winter months of 1777. God forbid anyone is ever in such a dire situation, but when push comes to shove, now you know that Rock Tripe can be on the menu.
EDIBLE MOUNTAIN – Rock Tripe A Winter Survival Food
Edible Mountain is a bite-sized, digital series from WVPB that showcases some of Appalachia’s overlooked and underappreciated products of the forest while highlighting their mostly forgotten uses. The series features experts, from botanists to conservationists, who provide insight on how to sustainably forage these delicacies. It also explores the preparation of these amazing delectables, something that many could be achieved in the home kitchen.
Edible Mountain follows botanists, conservationists, and enthusiastic hobbyists in the field as they provide insight on sustainable forest foraging. The episodes are designed to increase appreciation and accessibility to the abundance found in Appalachia, celebrating the traditional knowledge and customs of Appalachian folk concerning plants and their medical, religious, and social uses.
When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech during the March on Washington in August 1963, he had no way of knowing the narrative and legacy the speech would leave behind.
Tallow is rendered animal fat and has been used primarily in traditional food preparation — as an ingredient and as a cooking oil. In addition, tallow can be used in making soap, candles, healing salves, skin moisturizers and perfumes, as well as lubricants for wood, leather and metal working.