Eating Cactus and Other Desert Edibles(Yucca, Ocotillo) -Junkyard Fox

[@Li0niii]

Now i wanna go eat the whole desert

[@Mabbdaa]

Ikr rock sandwiches are the best

[@bw8972]

at least there are enough toothpicks there 😁

[@Li0niii]

@@bw8972 high quality tooth picks, straight from nature itself! 😏

[@abdidarwiish740]

😂😂😂

[@juteeb4955]

😄

[@martalynne2550]

I love that you are doing these videos! I live in the southwest and can give you some ideas or critique. Soaproot Yucca is wonderfully gentle shampoo for your hair and also incredibly strong hand wash for mechanic greasy hands. Amazing that it can do both. The Yucca fruits are from the Banana Yucca, and when they are ripe you cook them just like you did and they are sweet. Green ones probably use like plantains. For the prickly pear pads, what you are doing is great minimalist survival food. But for camping, much better to slice the pads into pieces (after removing thorns and glochids). Simmer in a little water in a pan and cook them down till they are soft, and mix with eggs. They are tart like tomatillo or green tomatoes and thicken like okra. This is a traditional way to use them. They can be bought in grocery stores in the Southwest. Just ideas, and I learned things from your video. So thanks!

[@pango-y8j]

Enjoy your show Tucson Arizona Sonoran desert,🌵

[@coleenkelly5239]

The Sonoran desert is a very rich place to live the people that lived here had it made. Thank you for showing us some of the things out there. It’s a beautiful place.

[@Malice_Lonewolf]

@7:33 you'll notice the majestic natural beauty of the miller light. This is an indigenous water source to the desert.

[@fernandomillan1843]

@@todddavidson1332 you guy’s meant NATIVE AMERICANS.

[@t3stella]

@@todddavidson1332 they sure do call themselves native, or indigenous although quite a few reclaim the i-term as slang and the older population uses it more

[@trentondalrymple]

Thank you! Great video.

[@bureaucratbayonet]

So good to be able to see these.

[@guybronconut1754]

Thank you so much for being the only desert survival channel. You rock.

[@urielmartinez2161]

This is a very important skill for someone that lives in the mojave

[@janetshook8968]

I appreciate the new information about the fruits. Thank you!

[@hotforhaha1]

I live in Nevada where a lot of the cacti you showed we have as well. It's thanks to videos like yours I can take my teenager on hikes and show her these skills. You've become a favorite channel. Stay awesome!

[@JunkyardFox]

So nice of you, we apprecaite the love!

[@mikeburrill779]

I'm from Nevada also. I always wondered about eating the desert plants

[@geraldgauthier8717]

Excellent Video Keep going...Thank you

[@erikrsoto]

Love that bag!!!

[@williamreffett5862]

I always love are American plants Thank you. For showing a way of cooking and eating them

[@JF098]

Love how you leave some for the other animals.

[@DesertMoon]

Allowing the wildlife to eat (and spread) seeds helps create more plants also.

[@Purposemusique]

Oh my God I love your videos its so clear and at the point

[@JunkyardFox]

thank you so much, our mic actually broke while filming this video lol so audio is a bit lower than usual

[@PsychicIsaacs]

I grow yuccas on my farm, in semi-arid central Victoria, Australia. My plants are too young to be making fruit, but one day they will. I didn't know they had seeds like corn kernels, so thanks for that! I have always struggled to grow corn here.

[@JunkyardFox]

Wonderful!

[@PsychicIsaacs]

​@@JunkyardFox I thought the information on the Ocotillo was interesting as well. I went onto eBay and was able to find three Ocotillo plants for sale, so I bought them. Thank you for your useful info, it is a lot of help to me in setting up my permaculture farm in this difficult climate!

[@ddsmiles6382]

I regrow them w seed’s. I have pink, yellow and a friend just gave me red yucca ( the flower’s) so planting like crazy. Such a wonderfully beautiful useful plant. I love them.

[@splashafrica]

Yuccas are invasive here but I think the variety that is closest to me is toxic so I can't eat it

[@PsychicIsaacs]

@@splashafrica Thinking of species as being invasive is often not helpful. There is usually a reason why a species does well in an area and if you just think of them as being "invasive" and concentrate on killing them, you will never get rid of them! If you find out why there are so many of them and correct that problem, the species will go away on its own! For example, a little while ago, I had too many rats, hundreds of them, and they were destroying my garden and my home, chewing on wood, raiding food stores and ravaging plants. The reason why I had so many rats is that I didn't have a cat! This makes sense, right? But cats were becoming hard to obtain in my area, because of this, there were too many rats. Now I have two cats and a lot fewer rats! Also, even toxic plants usually have some function or other. Yucca leaves are bitter and poisonous as they contain high levels of saponins (soaps). Soap is bitter and toxic, if you eat it, but it has a function, right? Yuccas also have a function. You can crush the leaves into washing water and make suds to clean yourself with. It does have edible seeds, though, they can be eaten green like peas or they can be dried and crushed to make a flour, like grain. I hope that all of this helps you and I wish you all the best!

[@toddshook1765]

Thanks much. This is the channel to really learn. Like the series Survivor Man with Les Stroud is some things may not taste the best but will keep you alive. Now I have to go back and watch the last 7 years of your content.

[@badalphas]

Great video, thank you!

[@JunkyardFox]

Glad you liked it!

[@RabbitKisses]

Thank you for this video and your shared wisdom. 🌵 🌸

[@ericlawrence9060]

6:45 When in the desert, when you don't have bread or spread, try this rock and cactus sandwich... more of a rockwich. Low in calories, hard to chew, but loaded with minerals and fiber, and a thorny surprise in the middle. Yum!

[@thetruejuanalto]

Very nice, glad these videos are out and available for the people to learn the basics.

[@IrishZombieNation]

Excellent video brother! You are a virtual Encyclopedia of what I would ever need if I'm in the desert.

[@PhatomHavok]

Woooow!!! I’ve lived in a desert my entire life and never knew any of this. Definitely gonna appreciate the desert more!! So interesting

[@JunkyardFox]

Our pleasure!

[@paulkish007]

ThankYou Junkyard Fox for the instructional video I do have three types of prickly pear and will try your recipe. I am a strong believer that hunger is the best sauce.

[@christianwilliams4795]

For a long time I subscribed just because I like your style. Now I'm living down south in San Antonio Texas. You and Bob Hansler are great sources of skills regarding southern survival and woodcraft

[@JunkyardFox]

awesome brotehr, im glad you like our stuff. im hoping to meet up with bob on an adventure later this year.

[@DatRaccoon1215]

Very nice cook set I love learning about what is edible in the desert.

[@JunkyardFox]

Thanks for visiting

[@DaZebraffe]

Another good thing about mature yucca seeds: I hear, from another desert-based KZbinr, that their flavor and texture are similar to barley, so whatever you'd use whole barley grain for (barley soup, sausage additive, etc.), mature yucca seeds work as an acceptable alternative.

[@JunkyardFox]

were planning to make some yucca seeds videos this coming year, including making yucca cakes

[@FlxAlxFlx]

Very good sir. Liked and subscribed. Thank you for an excellent educational video.

[@JunkyardFox]

Welcome aboard!

[@dougbourdo2589]

From Alamogordo, NM. Great videos. Learning many 'survival' / Naturalist info here. Thank you.

[@garyholman2947]

Thank you for the good quality desert info.

[@cliffordbaldwin9157]

I keep watching the food video ! ! ! ! ! Over and over ! ! ! ! ! And God bless you and your family ! ! ! !

[@JunkyardFox]

Thanks so much. be sure to watch our wild edibles playlist to check out other wild desert foods

[@nathanielcohen9890]

this brings back a lot of memories. i lived south of tucson for 30 yrs eating those plants along with manzanita, quail, and rabbit. with some fish occasionally. salt from tumbleweeds. at 70 i'm wanting to do it all again. you gave me the fever.

[@JunkyardFox]

sounds like wonderful times. its always a magical experience to spend time in nature.

[@ScriptedLinks]

It's cool as hell that you can make a fence out of the ocotillo. I'd love to see that!

[@juanacholo3014]

Wow this is Really intrestin video. I guess that Everyone Should see this video it may Safe your Life . Thank you so much for taking your valuable time and make this Video brother . GOD Bless You

[@JunkyardFox]

Many many thanks

[@rsturkey]

Very informative! I do a lot of hiking in the desert. Thanks!-Ron

[@JunkyardFox]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jplamb77]

Another great video James/ Cuervo,,,, I bet if you sauté some onions, green pepper, yucca seeds , cactus pads , Bacon and throw in some scrambled eggs,, that would be a amazing breakfast,,, !!!! Now Iam hungry,,,!!!!! Anyway,,, God bless,,,Appalachian Trucker

[@NicksHEAT1995]

I love the desert landscape. I live in Florida, which is more forests, beaches and swamps than anything. My brother is movin out to Arizona soon, so I'll have the opportunity to get out there and venture into the desert. Finally.

[@JunkyardFox]

arizona is a beautful land! ill be camping there soon

[@littleme3597]

This is wonderful. Good to know for survival. Excellent video! Thank you.

[@JunkyardFox]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jasonpolk3491]

Excellent video. Thank you!!!!

[@JunkyardFox]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TampaBayFossilHunter]

Awesome video brother. I would really like to see the yucca seed bread video you plan to make. Sounds really interesting. Keep up the good work.

[@JunkyardFox]

hoping ot use it for our stone oven we jsut made too

[@auberthere3737]

I wonder when dry the seeds and season them like a nuts for a snack?

[@BorderCowboy66]

great video, thankya for the knowledge my friend

[@theresa2245]

This is a fascinating video! Coming from Northern California and Oregon, I know nothing about the South West desert, and it was so fantastic to see your amazing authentic ancient knowledge of such an amazing and beautiful terrain. I will definitely subscribe and look forward to seeing more. Thank you. I'm so glad you decided to do these videos. They are historical -- perhaps the smithsonian museum would like to collect your videos; give them a call and find out. Awesome videos and such a likeable, friendly, personable presenter that is a true native of this land.

[@JunkyardFox]

i ma very thankful for your kind words. im glad you enjoyed our video!

[@Horserider75]

Theresa, glad you loved the vid, but PLEASE, love our So. west desert from afar. The unfortunate result of people from ALL of CA & OR, is you come here to change US into YOU. NO THANKS!

[@maddyp2571]

I love occatilo plants, the leaves taste great, like green apple skins, i havent tried the flowers yet but they sound good

[@crazytexan7532]

I really like your videos, not only are these informative about what is edible in the desert, but you also use natural items to do most of the work, I liked the rock usage to harvest and scrape the prickly pears, I have lived in the desert most of my life, currently in El Paso, and especially with everything that is going on in the world I think that information like this is going to be invaluable in the near future, I am about to start some Palo Verde trees and prickly pears in my yard, I had thought that yuccas were edible but was not 100% until searching for what edible plants we have in El Paso. Thank you for creating good videos on KZbin and imparting knowledge.

[@JunkyardFox]

im gald our content is helpful! if theres anything 2020 has taught us, its that we are far less in control thatn we like to think, so planning ahead can make a big difference.

[@elizabeththompson4424]

Cacti have the most BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS! from my time in TX the Prickly Pear Cactus is like a weed it's not the BIG Thorns you have to worry about it's those TINY things at the base of the BIG Thorn that GET YOU! back then I wasn't into survival & eating Cacti think I tried it once...

[@teresabarrett8676]

I'm in North Las Vegas and just added fruit trees to my front yard. I have been delighting in my Prickly Pear Cactus bothpads and the Tuna or fruit. BBQ'd is my preferred cooking method for pads. They are extremely nutrient rich and the flavor is out of this world delicious🎼💩🍆

[@adamvickers6901]

Thank you for the videos

[@elsasancho9818]

Excelente vídeo nice cactus 👍🇺🇸🌵

[@LaineyBug2020]

Cactus foraging is why I like to have tongs handy in my edc

[@SantoMuerte187]

Sweet video bro, you can also eat the black seeds from flower pods that grow on top of barrel cactus

[@brasstard7.627]

Ive seen roasted ones for sale on the internet but have only tried the raw ones fresh from the fruit

[@JunkyardFox]

yup, we have a video on cholla and barrel cactus coming later this summer

[@DesertMoon]

Thanks!

[@JunkyardFox]

thankl you so much, i appreciate the tip!

[@lovelylight1972]

love your vids I like trying all the survival food

[@irishgrl]

Incredibly useful! Thank you for sharing this! Even the desert has bounty.

[@JunkyardFox]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jamesapplewhite9478]

Wow, I'm a Native New Yorker. And I'm very interested into trying live, wild desert food! Terrific video. Thanks for sharing and educating a "Tender Footed" Easterner. Peace!

[@loncho5079]

Knowledge is power, this video can save someone's life. What may seem strange to some, are quite normal to Native Americans & Latinos. In fact, You can buy prickly pears, and cactus pads (called Tunas, and Nopales in Spanish) in most supermarkets in the southwest and in every Latino market in the United States. To me, Nopales taste like green beans that have been sprinkled lightly with lemon juice when eaten plain, although, I prefer them scrambled with chorizo and eggs or cooked with beef in a red chili sauce "Chile con carne". (cut nopales into small pieces, boil them in salted water and drain them in a colander/sieve and the cooked pieces can be stored in the fridge for a couple of weeks, easily added to salads, soups, and meals) Also, not all tunas/prickly pears are red/purple when ripe, there is a large variety that is green/greenish-yellow when fully ripe and extremely sweet that taste similar to a pear crossed with a watermelon. Here's a 20 second video on the correct way to peel a tuna/prickly pear---> kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2rWfWqej6mLmMk

[@casper14301]

Thanks for the info!

[@AutismFamilyChannel]

My wife and I learn a lot from your videos. Thank you.

[@JunkyardFox]

im glad we can help, i appreciate your support! new video coming tonight

[@RoadDogSteve]

As usual well done and informative..... awesome video

[@granvillej3316]

Thank you for sharing these videos I live in Colorado and never think about what it it will be like trying to camp out for a few days in the desert conditions but you make it so satisfying and you can drive out there thank you brother can't wait to see more!!!

[@JunkyardFox]

awesome! the desert is harsh but if you look closely, theres resources to be found everywhere. except water, that can be a real pain lol

[@shamachelon]

Those first flowers 🥰 boy, what a fast transition of taste-chamomile to DISH SOAP, haha! I’m new to the channel. I love yucca, and have it around my neighborhood. I didn’t know of the saponins in them! Great info!! I’ve heard the needles being used for sewing. I’m goi g to subscribe so I can see more of this content!!

[@JunkyardFox]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@poemsandthoughts685]

Enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing 🙂

[@JunkyardFox]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@stevecardon4834]

I live in Baja California, and I can’t wait to go to the desert for some tea and nopales. I will find some clams in the bay and round out the menu. Great video.

[@craigbetts1586]

always interesting to see what plants can used as food from different regions of the country enjoyed watching James

[@BarbaraRathbone57]

Thank you. You always come through with wonderful information.

[@JunkyardFox]

thank you very much barbara, i very much appreciate your love and support!

[@ibungeikiriko8061]

Interesting video, and enlightening thanks bro.

[@JunkyardFox]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@artthrower7773]

Wow thank you for the info it will be very helpful here

[@JunkyardFox]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bewilderment9268]

While out at Terlingua as a kid, we were there when the "strawberry" cactus fruit was ripe. Absolutely fantastic.

[@Okorokanze2000]

Oh the wonderful desert and it’s delicious bounties lol

[@Okorokanze2000]

I’m definitely not messing with those cactus ever again. My first experience was trying them without reading manuals lol imagine hundreds of those spins in your mouth and tongue. Worst experience ever. Lol

[@JunkyardFox]

very true! always carry tweezers when going to the desert, they will come in handy lol

[@chelseagirl1253]

Wow! You are awesome! I love how you prepare the food with the forraged items instead of just telling us how to do it. I really appreciate it! You have such kind eyes and are super knowledgeable! Definately subscribing! I would love to learn more from you! Do you ever offer classes?

[@JunkyardFox]

Thank you so much! im glad this was helpful. we had some classes planned but then all this covid stuff happened so we had to put the brakes on that, hopefully next year we can start planning them again.

[@danstar1985]

Enjoyed your video man, I'm from the UK but would love to venture out to the desert! Interesting to watch what's edible out there! Nice work

[@shannonevans3029]

Loving this! I am a forager and grw up on the east coast. Moving to AZ near nm border in the highlands. It's so hard to find videos on that part of az which is so different than what typical people think of when they hear arizona. This video is great! Please do more!!

[@JunkyardFox]

Thanks for watching! be sure to check out our playlist on desert edibles videos

[@batemanjb]

Thanks for the video :)

[@mikedebell2242]

Nopales definitely have a flavor all there own. I've eaten evening primrose leaves and roots and they also have a flavor all there own.

[@adamdarby43]

Always look forward to watching your video. Thank you and I hope to watch many more.

[@JunkyardFox]

a new video will be dropping tonight!

[@franzvanjulio5523]

You’re awesome! Looking forward to seeing more content!

[@JunkyardFox]

More to come!

[@davidallen4552]

Ten thumbs up. Great job.

[@youtube.commentator]

Love your content, keep pumping them out, thanks!

[@JunkyardFox]

new video coming later today!

[@kurohikes5857]

Yay veggie survival! Thanks!

[@JunkyardFox]

Hope you enjoy!

[@MSnow-1967]

I really do enjoy your desert food videos as most of it is available in my back yard or just across the street, here in southwest Az. I also like the music!

[@JunkyardFox]

thanks for watching, plenty of cool new content coming this summer!

[@gfloress2008]

A excellent video! Genial for deserts survival. Congrats.

[@JunkyardFox]

Thank you kindly!

[@otter_popz8979]

Excellent video!

[@TripleAAA53]

OUTSTANDING tutorial on edible desert plants and fruits !!

[@JunkyardFox]

thank you very much!

[@life-rethought]

living in the desert now. thanks for more knowledge. will be checking out more of your videos.

[@JunkyardFox]

Awesome! Thank you! be sure to check out our playlist section!

[@harshlifespotlights]

Great Vid! Very knowledgeable

[@JunkyardFox]

Glad you think so!

[@gregwright392]

Nice! Always enjoy your wild food shows.

[@JunkyardFox]

i appreciate your views, greg!

[@myopinionwhileIcanstillhaveone]

I'm loving this video! Thank you so much.

[@She-M-C]

I am making flour from the prickly pear seeds. Also a concentrated dehydrated powder for smoothies from the prickly pear skins and meat. Nothing to waste from making jelly.

[@JunkyardFox]

damn i never even thought of making flour thats genuis!

[@oldkbellguy5156]

Great video. I'm excited I e found a "regular" size prickly pear cactus that survived a Missouri winter. There's a native prickly pear that's pretty small and stays close to the ground, but this puppy looks like I brought home it from the Texas hill country. Enjoy your channel, thanks again.

[@lunaticvulpine]

Thanks you! I had no Idea Ocotillo were edible!

[@TheAlpine49]

Very interesting! Thanks for the info.

[@coydog669]

Truly enjoyed the video! More tools for the tool box and looking forward to using them next time in NM and SW Texas.

[@Stevemacleod58]

Great information on wild cactus edibles. Love to learn more. Will definitely sub. 👍

[@WisdomInTheWoods]

Love to see other territory survival technics! We in Oregon have a lot to eat 😉

[@noahgilbert8630]

I would definitely rather be in AZ with sane people

[@susantemple2232]

I really like your videos because you do things rather that just talk about stuff. It's always so interesting and informative.

[@JunkyardFox]

Thank you very much! I believe actions speak louder than words, especially in survival skills. We just released a new video, be sure to give it a watch.

[@robinflea]

First time watching your show. My friend grew up in a Navajo Rez. She told me about some of this, very cool.

[@JunkyardFox]

Welcome aboard!

[@DavideHu]

Quarantine time i rewatching all those video :D

[@JunkyardFox]

youve got great taste lol

[@RoguePreparedness]

I’m all about that wild foraging life but my desert wild edibles could use some work. I’ll be at Big Bend soon and will be on the lookout for some of these! Thanks!

[@Perktube1]

Woo Permian Basin foraging. All these videos are informative.

[@JunkyardFox]

yucca fruits and young prickly pear should be found in that region. im hoping to visit big bend later this summer too

[@trooper2221]

I love big bend

[@coleenkelly5239]

Thanks

[@oliverhel9629]

wandered over to your amazon shop, nice gear lists, and tested items, good stuff

[@JunkyardFox]

Awesome, thank you! its only a few cents per sale that amazon gives us but its a few bucks to help us get outdoors and film cool stuff.

[@jojomoonify]

This is excellent! I want ocotillo tea now!!