Plantain uses and workshop news

The next Wilderness Survival workshop is October 22, 2022 and there are still a few slots open and it looks like I'll have another on Nov. 5 for the folks who cannot make October's. 


'The plant of the month this month is Plantain, this is from my Master Naturalist monthly column.

This month's plant is Plantain ( Plantago Major ), both wide leaf and narrow. Plantain is another introduced plant to our area; it is from Eurasia and is believed to have been introduced to the New England area by the Puritans.

As food, the young leaves of both plants, however the wide leaf is superior, can be used in any method that spinach is used. You can make Plantain chips with the leaves, and there are many recipes online. The seed heads of both plants can be used in soups/stews, or you can dry them and make a usable flour. However, the seed heads are tiny and may not be worth your time to harvest. If you grew up an outside kid, you probably used the narrow leaf seed heads as 'shooters'. 

Medicinally, the leaves may be one of the best plants for skin ailments and sting/bite relief. I have chewed a Plantain leaf poultice on more than one occasion and witnessed almost instant relief to bee stings. The leaves can be made into tinctures, salves or lotions. They can be dried for later use, so now is your last chance to harvest until next spring. 

As in harvesting all wild plants, make sure the area that you harvest is safe from pesticides, herbicides, chemicals and animal poop !! '


I'm happy for fall to be here, it makes me excited about practicing my fire making and exploring new trees that will work for friction fire. Keep practicing and go out on those cold, wet days and see how you do.