Wild Food Foraging- Common Milkweed

[@o0Avalon0o]

I've never seen someone put so much care into their videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@monke.2191]

[@christal2641]

Common milkweed is one of the prettiest native wildflowers and it's AMAZINGLY FRAGRANT!

[@ekoukano]

Awesome. 10/10 on information, close-ups, presentation style and clarity of voice and identification. Keep up the awesome work!!!

[@Munden]

Loved the drone shot too showing the milkweed growing in the open field.

[@ekoukano]

Munden: That shot was super cool. "Grows in open fields (close up into HUGE OPEN FIELD" So sick.

[@joyreinhardt7621]

I agree to your kudos on this video !

[@tracischeelk29]

Well said. PERFECT presentation in every way.

[@oOVanillaMelOo]

Here in Quebec, we have fields of milkweed that are used for the fiber in the pods. That fiber is actually more resistant, waterproof and isolating than any natural or artificial fiber! They are even starting a new line of professional sport clothes for those who are going to very harsh climates like Everest, using that fiber. It also provides a great home for the monarchs all summer since the harvest is only in fall. :)

[@aaroniouse]

I'm wondering if the seeds are edible..

[@bluesap7318]

Mel Pascal I made a shirt out of it years ago and it felt better than any of my other shirts my mum threw it away though.

[@hechetonchieres]

No kidding! Even warmer than fur? That's incredible!

[@hechetonchieres]

Do you have more information on this topic? How are they harvested? Do they plant the seeds once they separate them from the down?

[@christal2641]

Save the seeds and distribute them in vacant lots (full sun).

[@miwin1000]

Milk weed grew wild and rampant in Wisconsin when I was a little girl. I would go out foraging with my mother as she picked mushrooms, asparagus, etc. She always told me not to eat the milkweed because it was poisonous....but OH they smelled SO GOOD!

[@FlowersOfIcetor]

When I was little I would eat the silk out of milkweed pods growing on the side of the playground. I ate them regularly for about four years before the plant got removed!

[@FlowersOfIcetor]

Kind of like if you mixed skim milk with more water and a little raw sugar, and then made it the texture of cotton candy that never melts or dissolves

[@regularaccount4556]

Woah thats cool, I live in an island.

[@linhfphung7867]

...i thought the video stated you cant eat them raw?? How didcha survive XD

[@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa4932]

I kinda wanna try some now. Shame that my park has no edible plants, actually, it has toxic plants.

[@stirfry741]

@cristopher wong make sure you only boil parts of the plants with monarch eggs in it

[@joshbabb7470]

Dogbane can feed you to. Although it is not edible. The stock fibers are strong and can be made into cordage. It has been historically been used for fishing along with every type of milkweed plant.

[@guacre2675]

What do you mean for fishing?

[@atlasking6110]

Here in Colorado we have the Showy Milkweed. Exactly the same as Common Milkweed except they have larger flower clusters with longer petals on each flower, and they are brighter pink. Edible, with the same processing as Common Milkweed.

[@monke.2191]

🔆

[@jamstagerable]

I love them after boiling and then adding a little butter. Get them in my back yard but I never get enough for how much I like them. I first tried them a year ago after watching this video. Just went outside 5mins ago to get some which brought me back here to where I first found out. ✌️

[@mikeratcliff1446]

I never knew this about milk weed. We always thought they were a nuisance plant but now I see they have great value.

[@MrBelongings]

Really enjoyed this video. I often use the seed pods fluff for fire starting and always overlooked the young pods. Thanks for sharing the additional uses

[@___LC___]

MrBelongings We need the seeds to seed more milkweed, as human intervention (herbicides) is destroying the monarch population and other pollinators that depend on milkweed. Please find other tinder.

[@GuitarUniverse2013]

Great idea regarding fire starting! Easy to pack…I’m gonna try it.

[@GuitarUniverse2013]

Respectfully, the solution to the problem of herbicides is to stop using herbicides in industrial farming. Once again some elitist is trying to frame the problem off on the individual citizen.

[@Trinity4me]

One of my favorite channels. Info is always spot on.

[@Pro1er]

WOW! Very professional presentation!

[@hungariancottageadventure77]

Great video I found this plant on my land in Hungary but didn't know what it was, a subscriber identified it hence I found your video...wonderful!

[@1vtmom966]

Thank you for your video! I was concerned about misidentifying Dogbane vs. Asclepias. This is good information, especially in these shaky times.

[@ontariofirs7347]

I want to grow these on my garden to attract butterflies. I absolutely looove it when common milkweed blooms, the fragrance lingers in the nearby air when one is close to the plants

[@monke.2191]

🦋

[@PREPFORIT]

👍🏼. This grows like crazy here in Ontario Canada. A LOT of them were planted to attract and maintain the Monarch butterfly population - As mentioned in this great Video !

[@jeil5676]

milkweed was everywhere near toronto 40 years ago due to all the open feilds where the suburbs now lie...i dont think they had to plant any.

[@___LC___]

The Great Lakes monarch population is in decline and they need that milkweed. Humans have tried to eradicate it and the result has been the loss of pollinators. No pollinators, means no vegetables. The milkweed plant hosts an entire ecosystem that is unique to its chemical composition. While fun to eat, it is needed for making other foods that are fun to eat.

[@TinaShay]

In COLORADO they have listed this plant as a noxious weed and give you a fine if they find it on your farm...

[@same8078]

@@TinaShay That sounds sinister. Like fines for collecting rainwater.

[@Cold417]

@@TinaShay No, that is not correct. Milkweed is not listed in the noxious weed list by the state.

[@cjw2661]

I LOVE growing this. Not only for the butterflies and bees. BUT because they SMELL WONDERFUL !!! They are VERY fragrant !!!

[@ideoformsun5806]

I love the way the flowers are scented! And the gorgeous Monarchs that are attracted to them!

[@vickymarcon5612]

I found this growing in my flower bed, and didn’t know what it was. May have yanked some out ugh. I’ll make sure the seeds fall in the same area for following years. Thank you so much for explaining.

[@sustainablemonarch8458]

Save the milkweed! Save the monarch! Keep planting seeds :)

[@tvfrance3667]

I live in the deep South appreciate your reference to the geography of edible plants. Especially those that grown in the South jungles and forests of the Southeast US. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@monke.2191]

[@Freestyle420z]

This video is one of the best video's about a single plant I have seen.

[@bz2unow]

You videos are so well done being educational and inspirational! Those milkweed seed pods looked tasty when stir fried.

[@monke.2191]

[@jmlnursing1084]

You remind me of Les Stroud! I love you! I hope you get A LOT more subscribers!

[@alberthabib4220]

I’m from Australia and enjoy these informative vids. Some plants you describe are the same as those we have although we call them by different names. Regardless, the precautions you outline apply as does the potential. Thanks

[@monke.2191]

[@bujubenji6804]

New sub. Fantastic channel mate. Really incredible info and then production quality is incredible

[@jeffreyyenior9757]

Good Video. So many videos are done by people that seem to want nothing more than get clicks. Their content is incomplete or inaccurate, but because of the exciting title, they get clicks. Yours is informative, accurate and even though you didn't talk about every use for milkweed, you covered what you said you would and ensured people knew to take responsibility for further study. That is responsible work, good job! -Nature's Access

[@___LC___]

The best use for it is to let pods mature and then seed new areas to restore the milkweed population to save the North American migrating monarch population and our own stupid behinds for almost killing off several major pollinators, because we didn't understand the implications.

[@stationplaza4631]

I never knew until now there was an edible species of this family. We don't have Monarch butterflies in the UK but I often enjoyed growing A currassavica in the garden. They produce copious amounts of nectar for butterflies and other insects, and provide a great show of colour with their reddish orange outer petals with yellow centres.

[@Bman10496]

Incredible production quality

[@metro2673]

I remember trying the "Milk" from these multiple times when I was a kid.

[@metro2673]

HeavenHammer no it really isn't I'm not even autistic so I really don't have an excuse.

[@Normandy-e8i]

Well, I ate some grass as a child because I saw a rabbit doing it.

[@jeil5676]

i got some in my eye when i was a kid..it swelled shut but i got the day off school!...swelling went down later that day.

[@virg0_lem0nade]

“HeavenHammer” autistic people are more tuned in to sensory information than you are, actually - i’m sure you don’t care about that since you were just using “autistic” as an insult, though, which does nothing but reveal you to be a gigantic fuckin tool! (: hope everybody else except you has a great day (:

[@nrs4866]

It’s sooo spicy like I remember and it’s spicy and bitter

[@Litzbitz]

I ORDERED MILKWEED SEEDS FROM AMAZON AND PLANTED THEM 4 YEARS AGO. I ADMIRE THEM FOR THEIR FLOWERS AND THE SCENT. NOW NEXT SPRING I WILL TRY THEM AS A FOOD. AWESOME.

[@___LC___]

Grandma Liz's Kisses Or you could help save the Monarchs by panting any seed you get, if you can get then to grow, as the continued existence of a species and the pollination of other food crops outweighs a novelty meal.

[@ericemmons4541]

My grandmother use to cook up the leaves of milkweed and serve them as greens with a meal. they are particularly good with horseradish. I still eat them to this day.

[@forrestsmouse1475]

Common milkweed tastes like a cross between asparagus and cabbage. Love it.

[@monke.2191]

[@stacyfrederick9183]

I found this article fascinating. Sadly, I have no wild foods expert to confirm what I have in my backyard is milkweed or dog bane. I have to assume that is the latter and not the former. The stems are solid so it is probably dog bane. So I just enjoy the beautiful pink flowers and the heavenly scent which is like honeysuckle. My life is insanely busy and my kitchen a disaster; so I just enjoy not only the monarch butterflies that come to feed but the Ruby throated humming birds too. I pay the ultimate price for enjoying these works of nature in the one section of my suburban lot which I keep natural for a variety of reasons including the fact that the terrain is uneven and not good for the lawn mower and also that I have Queen Ann's lace, violets, strawberries, rhubarb, iron weed, catnip, sweet Annie etc. I have a sadistic building inspector who goes around fining everyone out of existence along with fat cohort, a crooked judge and township commissioner who has nothing better to do but torture me. But to my real point. I recently lost a dear friend to a heart attack. His favorite wild flowers were Queen Ann's lace and milk weed. No cemetery is going to let you plant that on someone's grave. Cut specimens die quickly. Planting in a pot is also impractical. I have found on the internet very high quality examples of Queen Ann's lace for sale at reasonable prices. No problem. The trouble I am finding is finding a company that reproduces faux versions of milkweed specimens. I know this is not your area of expertise but is there somebody out there that is? What do museum exhibits do for crying out loud? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@monke.2191]

[@mikeconley9590]

Thank you for your time and effort.

[@ScottWConvid19]

Very excellent video. I've been eating the pods for a coupe off seasons. I like to batter fry them after parboiling them. FYI: Sometimes the common milkweed does branch out. Whitetail deer like to browse on the common milkweed when the plants are young. If the top of the young plant is cropped, it will branch into two main stems.

[@bearrivermama6414]

Such great info. We have tons of milkweed in our yard. Can't wait to try your recipe!

[@Farmboy762]

Just cooked up a half dozen using your recipe. They were excellent! Going to go harvest some more! Thanks!

[@___LC___]

Just kill off the pollinators needs for many farms to produce plants for your novelty meal.

[@themarblers4399]

We used the sap/milk as paper glue just for fun. I love this plant! But now I love them more!

[@monke.2191]

[@ideoformsun5806]

5:15. "The cooked silk mimics melted cheese." Can you describe this in more detail? Or demonstrate the cooking technique or recipe for this?

[@kushpaladin]

Did you not see the part where he boils them for 10 minutes? He cuts it open and the inside resembles melted cheese

[@roseannerainwatersmith12]

Yum to butter and soy sauce! Thank you for all your hard work. ❤️

[@darrelllancaster9554]

Excellent tutorial. Thank You. 🎯

[@SquiggySquog]

Super awesome video! Always love this kind of stuff. Makes me want to go out and skip work...

[@kathleenlairscey5934]

I've never heard of this, thanks for the whole preparation and recipe.

[@FECtetra1918]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: you've got a great channel going on here! You deserve more subscribers!

[@TheOutsiderCabin]

+Carlos Amaral Thanks Carlos!

[@zachduperron8543]

I’m very familiar with my milkweed varieties and I can identify most of them. I didn’t know common was edible if cooked properly. Also I used to call dogbane “fake milkweed” and also I found out that labriform milkweed Asclepias labriformis is the most poisonous milkweed species in North America. Common milkweed is quite distinct compared to most other milkweed species in North America, showy milkweed being its closest cousin, Asclepias speciosa.

[@phxtonash]

I really like how you specified that it was the caterpillar of the monarch butterfly that only ate milkweed. Because I know personally that the butterflies themselves enjoy some of the nectar from the flowers I have in my yard which are not milkweed. I like these type of videos you do, of course I would rather be watching you building your log cabin. I wish you put videos out more often, but I understand. I hope all is well. Thank you

[@garyjohnson9037]

Great show, I've always hoped someone would put on some thing exactly like this, beautiful, an for someone who is dyslexic this help one to absorb the info with great advice..thank you, Peace

[@hamsterama]

I spent much of this summer collecting monarch eggs to raise caterpillars indoors, and milkweed to feed them. There's a park a couple miles from where I live that goes on for miles along a riverbank. The city intentionally planted common milkweed throughout the park so as to attract monarchs. So it's a great pesticide-free source of milkweed. I did not know that immature milkweed pods are edible. Next year I'll consider gathering some pods and trying them out. Might as well gather some food for myself when I'm out gathering food for the caterpillars.

[@___LC___]

hamsterama The problem is that we don't have enough milkweed to support the monarch population. A single caterpillar can eat several plants. The seed is often collected from these places to plant other butterfly gardens. I also rear wild butterflies, but I'm also on the creating habitat to support migratory Monarchs and we need more seed and help planting new gardens of milkweed.

[@repairdrive]

Awesome video! I see those all the time on my walks in Chicagoland and wondered what they were.

[@___LC___]

repairdrive They are desperately needed to sustain the dwindling monarch butterfly population, as humans killed off most of the milkweed. If you are around Chicago, they likely were planted intentionally by groups seeking to save the Great Lakes Monarchs.

[@diakristy6262]

Very COMPLICATED intricate plant!

[@zanyjosh4047]

That looked so weird when you opened that mature seed pod. The seeds looked like scales. Any way, great video dude! Maybe I can cook some this up when I get around to it.

[@crittercosner2877]

I clicked to see if you were going to mention Monarchs and I was happy you did.

[@___LC___]

Critter Cosner However, he didn't mention that the decline in the monarch population is greatly in part due to the removal of milkweed plants and seed pods. So, while fun to eat, it is needed for others more than it is needed for us.

[@jmlnursing1084]

Your videos are fantastic!!!

[@adrianismyname6090]

I knew you could eat milkweed I just didn't know how THANKS

[@PIAMUSA]

Very nice and educational...thnx for sharing....

[@skawesomeone]

my grandparents had some milkweed in their backyard. i hadn't thought of milkweed in years, but i suddenly remembered opening up the seed pods and looking at the silk. i don't think we ever ate them, though

[@jimothyj2638]

That shot at 2:32... wow! What kind of drone did you use?

[@islaykarp681]

Back when WW II was going on.My dad as a child and his friends would gather the seed pods for the war effort. They would make the silk into life vests for the troops.

[@ShiGuy89]

Islaykarp which they most definitely didn’t use lmao

[@system2thinker659]

I'm currently trying to grow four milkweed plants on my deck. I really liked the idea of creating a home for the monarchs. They have been a little tricky to grow and very slow but I'll keep at it.

[@___LC___]

System 2 Thinker Are they in a large enough container? They form a very long tap root and the container must accommodate that. As you can see from your efforts to grow them, why it is important that we leave the pods to seed more milkweed, rather than eating it out of novelty.

[@amaineac2133]

The green outside taste like string beans the inside taste like corn. Tried it at a dorm in Orino Maine.

[@Wisconsin.pikachu]

Been watching a few of your videos and surprised how many of these grow near me and never knew it was edible (had milkwwed in our fields and had black walnut and white pine around our house and cat tails in our fields near a creek)

[@monke.2191]

[@cadechristopher6456]

Do you eat the whole pod or just the silky inside?

[@TheOutsiderCabin]

+Cade Chrristopher Once cooked, the whole pod is edible. Thanks Cade for asking that clarifying question.

[@brothermanbilljeff6623]

The Outsider thanks, I was going to ask the question:D

[@smamysmoop9415]

I was going to ask it tooooooo

[@atlasking6110]

I eat the whole pods.

[@chuckg2709]

@@TheOutsiderCabin Hello sir , i am very glad you do these vidios , i would hope that you would friend me so that we can talk about what we have for wild eats here in vermont ..... My name is Charlie Galante and yes i am on Facebook please find me

[@kathvg]

Ate some fried milkweed pods today. It tasted like cheesy zucchini and honestly 10/10 would recommend

[@l.g.n.8385]

Awesome and grateful for your information ✌

[@outwardpanicjoe8950]

Hey have you ever though about doing an episode on eating acorns?

[@obiwankenobi1685]

Michael Fresh I’d recommend putting them in the coals of hot fire and acorns pop like popcorn

[@Erewhon2024]

Other Asclepius species than A. tuberosa ( butterfly weed) are more likely to be confused with the common one, though apart from showy milkweed (A. speciosa, which tends to replace Common west of the Mississippi) which is also reported to have a relatively low toxicity, they are more rare. A. sullivantii (prairie milkweed) ( which spreads less aggressively by rhizomes and I think has smooth pods) and A. purpurescens (the eastern Purple Milkweed, which doesn't form rhizomes and has prettier, darker flowers) are vegetatively similar but have higher cardenolides (heart poisons). Get to know the milkweeds in your area ( or intentionally plant the ones you want--Common for food, others for landscaping or Monarchs [except, ironically, butterfly weed which has good nectar but such tough leaves that female Monarchs will rarely lay eggs on it if something else is available). In Chicago, milkweed bugs (which look almost the same as boxelder bugs-- true bugs similar to stinkbugs, with orange and black aposemitic colors) swarm & feed on the pods of milkweeds and their close relatives. Do the pods become more bitter if attacked by insects?

[@monke.2191]

[@suzanneparrish1849]

I love you, too! However, I'm confused about the rest of the pod; do we only eat the inside, and not the outside?

[@nunyabisnass1141]

The farm I work at has a field that requires constant maintainence, so kfor the passed couple years we've been collecting and raising the monarchs before mowing it over. There's an adjacent field that has plenty of milkweed that we only mow in the fall, long after most native species have gone to seed.

[@stay_blessed23]

We have so many of these in our backyard every year, I actually didn't know they are edible!

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

Samuel Thayer states that milkweeds can be taste tested raw using the wild edible taste test procedure; nibble a small portion and spit out to see if its the right plant, All non edible versions will be bitter, not to mention they do not even look like this version, except Dogbane of course, the Common Milkweed will be sweet, even the milk, this is also a conformation that the right plant has been identified.

[@BoingotheClown]

I have often eaten milkweed pods, although I usually chop them before boiling. I have eaten small numbers of young pods with no ill effect, although never more than a few at a time. The flavour is very similar to snow peas. Newly blossomed flowers also taste like snow peas, but are much sweeter. However, as the flowers get older, they tend to become dry and unpleasant. Again, I have never had more than a few at a time, so I have not noticed any effects.

[@googiesfairyfarm4834]

I’m growing red and orange butterfly weed (aka: blood flower) in my front yard and I can tell you the sap is not clear but milky just like common milkweed. It can also burn and eventually numb your skin if you get it on your face or any other sensitive area.

[@virgilchristopherson3626]

Thank You for the information, I never knew you could eat the young pods, I'll try them.

[@OMNIBOT2000]

How does boiling it make it edible ? What makes it poisonous and how does heating it up make it not poisonous ? Interesting video !

[@plainsimple442]

I eat it raw and cooked, taste to me like green beans. Dogbane is bitter, so if your milkweed is bitter, you have the wrong plant, take a taste before you harvest it. After eating it for 50 years, I am still alive.

[@lesnyk255]

I often forage for the young tops in early summer, and the flowers while they're still green. I was told that you need to change the water at least twice (for a total of 3 different waters) to completely dissipate the bitter essence - not true? I've tried the pods a few times, but they don't seem to agree with me. I'm thinking maybe I didn't cook them long enough, or harvested them too late in the season. Time to try them again, maybe (with your stir-fry!).

[@markvezina7002]

What area of Ontario are you from. I’m from cambrigde Ontario. I’m just curious to differences in plant life. Your videos are amazingly resourceful. Great detail. Cheers LNR

[@songyiworld]

i love this video. vey interesting and informational. thank you

[@canadianwoodlandsurvival1564]

Pretty cool but I think Imma pass on this one leave it for the butterflies 🌸🦋

[@brianspencer4220]

Very well done video I just got some milkweed seeds that after freezing for 3 months I intend to plant next spring. Brian 77

[@kleineroteHex]

Kinda like poke😊 cook well, change water. Your pods remind me of pickles!

[@vincentfloyd4344]

Was wondering if you had the nutritional value of the milk plant by chance? Love your vidieos!!!

[@ActNaturally]

This is awesome!! Thanks for the information!! +1 LIKE

[@joelima3756]

Im looking to see how the log cabin is coming along

[@TheOutsiderCabin]

Hey Joe! Even though my tractor is still out of commission, I have been able to work on other aspects of the log cabin, and I'm quite happy with how things have been coming along. I'm hoping to have the next episode 10 of LCB out before Christmas, or shortly following the New Year.

[@surfingwithsnakes]

Never fails to amaze me

[@tomthomas334]

excellent vid bro

[@giveyourselfahandle]

2:43. Isn't a brown stalk indicative of dogbane?

[@oktoberskyy8661]

Keep it up ..❤❤lovee this

[@Freestyle420z]

Excellent.... universe knowledge :)

[@skyeredd]

Got so excited to see this pop up on my feed. What's the texture like after cooking? Visually it reminded me of okra.

[@monabo1]

Awesome video.

[@danielallouche2493]

I have seen pickled milkweed pods. I assume the boiling part is the same.

[@christal2641]

Normally, picking early pods/fruits causes the plant to produce MANY more fruits.

[@heterodox3487]

Christa L thanks for sharing that, will pick more to see how that works🍀

[@superjeffstanton]

Great advice!!!

[@Oukoyami]

Great video. I had no idea you could eat Milkweed.

[@FatherAndSonFun]

Another Awesome informative video! 👍

[@joyreinhardt7621]

Yes, very well done !

[@kidgamer7172]

It can be stripped and crushed for fiber which can be used for tinder or made into thread

[@Snowwarrior]

Great video

[@MUDSWAT]

I wanted to see you eat some :( Cool love these videos !

[@fenrirgg]

The monarch butterfly gathers in Michoacan Mexico during winter, there are so many butteflies that tree branches bend under their weight!