This month, we are honored to present Devon at Nitty Gritty Life as a guest teacher on Rootsy. She has a background in foraging and is an avid homesteader and herbalist. Her lesson on incorporating foraged herbs into cookies looks mouthwatering!
Devon at Nitty Gritty Life is s homesteader, herbalist, forager, wife, and mother living in the Pacific Northwest and blogging all about her experiences. She is inspired by the natural world and all that it has to offer and says she is never afraid to do something the hard way. While raising her large family, she hopes to offer the next generation a greater appreciation of holistic, sustainable living. We think she’s doing a terrific job!
What are you contributing to Rootsy this month?
I contributed a video tutorial on cookies made with foraged ingredients. These foraged dock seed thumbprints with chestnut cream are perfect for the holidays.
What aspects of DIY Cookie Baking are you most interested in?
I love bringing together tradition, whimsy, and the unexpected. I borrow ideas from other cultures, classical literature, and family tradition and incorporate it into my baking.
What was your inspiration or push for this lifestyle?
There is practically nothing that we truly need that the mother nature doesn’t offer. I try to live by the philosophy of “take only what I need and leave the world a little better” than the way I found it. My goal is to consume less and live a simple life.
How did you pick up your cooking from scratch with foraged ingredient skills?
Haha. I have always been a fiddler, a tinker-er, somebody that just sees things a little differently. I have a strong sensory imagination and love to create new recipes out of foraged ingredients. I have never been afraid to try anything!
What’s your best piece of advice for the beginner home cook or forage?
Grab a few field guidebooks specific to your area and focus on learning to identify just a few plants at a time. Take pictures of everything that you are curious about and don’t be afraid to ask a more experience forager about your findings. We are all learning all the time – and expertise is always relative!
If you could give just one piece of advice on your cooking from scratch/foraging pursuits, what would it be?
Have FUN with it! Be creative and don’t be afraid of failure. Good identification skills and an imagination are your best assets!
Where did you gain your knowledge/experience in this field?
I am an entirely self-taught forager and learned everything I know by reading, doing, and asking a lot of questions in identification forums.
I take a lot of pictures so that I can reference something that peaks my curiosity. I have also taken special care to understand the sustainability of aspects of foraged foods so that I can educate and preserve our resources for years to come.
You can find Devon at these links: Nitty Gritty Life – Facebook – Twitter @nittygrittymama – Instagram @nittygrittymama – Pinterest
Related Foraging Posts: Abundant Apples, Herbal Cordials
