Dealing with invasive species by eating them? Not everyone's cup of knot weed.

[Anna N]

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"Not only is eating invasive species a solution, but we’re taking pressure off the food system, saving resources,” says McMaster. “Japanese knotweed is incredible, it’s like a mix of asparagus and rhubarb.” At Silo it is on the menu year-round, used in more than 20 menu items, made into pickles and ferments and even used in cocktails. In Japan it is considered a delicacy."

 

"But eating invasive species is not without its critics. As with any wild plant, misidentification is a concern. “People can become seriously ill from eating plants they misidentify, and often there are edible plants that look very similar to poisonous ones,” says the Royal Horticultural Society. “Instead of eating them we would recommend managing their spread with physical or cultural controls.” And for professional forager Adrian Boots, neither Japanese knotweed nor Himalayan balsam offer much in the flavour department, “though some will try to convince you otherwise,” he says.

 

Edited May 27, 2023 by Anna N
To fix broken link (log)

[heidih]

It gets tried but as with the species noted in this link (nutria, Assian carp, bullfrogs) it seems more a novelty.  https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/invasive-species-turned-into-sustainable-delicacies/

[Maison Rustique]

Our yard and the woods behind us have been nearly taken over by invasive plant life. You're all welcome to come forage! 

[gfweb]

Locally there's been an invasion of hemlock. It looks like it would saute-up great.  Its in the carrot family

 

But its poisonous as heck.

 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24122-poison-hemlock

[chromedome]

3 minutes ago, gfweb said:

Locally there's been an invasion of hemlock. It looks like it would saute-up great.  Its in the carrot family

 

But its poisonous as heck.

 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24122-poison-hemlock

Just ask Socrates...