Category Archives: Washington

Front Yard Forager: Melanie Vorass Herrera

20111209_0400

Growing vegetables and raising animals takes so much time. Wouldn’t be easier to just harvest what you find? When I was working on Backyard Roots I met several city foragers including  Melanie Vorass Herrera in Seattle who keeps an urban farm and forages too. She ended up writing an entertaining and informative book about city foraging that I just checked out. Front Yard Forager is definitely an eye-opener. I recognised so many weeds growing right in my vegetable garden that it really changes the whole idea of weeding–maybe it’s time to start eating the problem. I liked that she includes recipes in the book and that there is  back section on poisonous weeds common to urban areas. Check out her book and blog to see the weeds you could be eating out of your front yard.

Narrow leaf plantain is a "lawn weed that can survive the driest of summers" You can eat the greens, seeds and roots too. The leaves can be used the way you'd use spinach.

Narrow leaf plantain is a “lawn weed that can survive the driest of summers” You can eat the greens, seeds and roots too. The leaves can be used the way you’d use spinach.

Melanie suggests removing the midrib of dandelion leaves as shown to also remove the bitterness. Dandelion greens can be eaten raw or cooked. The flowers and roots are edible too.

Melanie suggests removing the midrib of dandelion leaves as shown to also remove the bitterness. Dandelion greens can be eaten raw or cooked. The flowers and roots are edible too.

Cat's Ear is a dandelion like weed that can be eaten raw or cooked.

Cat’s Ear is a dandelion like weed that can be eaten raw or cooked.

Melanie not only forages, she keeps goats and chickens too and between them nothing goes to waste.

Melanie not only forages, she keeps goats and chickens too and between them nothing goes to waste.

 

Update: Jennie Grant’s Goat Barn

 

20130618_0222

The chickens exit the coop in the morning.

Jennie Grant, author of City Goats and featured farmer in Backyard Roots is the goat go-to person in Seattle. While up in Seattle on my book tour I had to see her new goat barn. It’s a space efficient design that makes use of every inch. It’s got two levels that incorporates a  coop for the chicken, stair-step storage that leads to the upper deck, and a milking station that lets her stand while milking, a recycled dutch door, built-in fold-out shelf… Check it out…

20130618_0218

The barn has stair-step storage so the goats can access the roof for additional space and sun.

 

 

20130618_0241

 

20130618_0250

Jennie grooms the goats on the deck that provides views of Lake Washington.

 

20130618_0231