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Wild Blessings

Wild Blessings

A learning resource that can help you get outside and connect with nature.

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A Personal Hero, Linda Runyon

April 5, 2012

Our Wild Picnic Indoors

Last week, I had the privilege of meeting the Queen of wild foods and my mentor, Linda Runyon. It was the first time I’ve met her in person, though I have read all of Linda’s books, listened to her radio programs time and again and have communicated via countless emails with her.  Her leadership and encouragement in my ‘wild’ adventures has had a significant impact on me.

Anticipating a sunny Spring day I packed a wild picnic.  And since it rained…we ate inside.

Elderberry Spritzer & Bee Balm Tea
Wild Hummus  &  Veggie Sticks
Sumac Jello
Red Clover Buttermilk Muffins
High Bush Cranberry Jelly & Violet Jelly
Cream of Nettle Soup (Wild Roots & Bone Broth Stock)
Wild Energy Balls w/ Plantain Seeds
Peppermint Tea
Forest Fairy Centerpiece Made by Kendall and Meredith

Linda no longer melts icicles for laundry water, mud does not cover her exposed skin to protect from the black flies and she does not forage for breakfast, lunch and dinner… all of which she did for decades.  Rather, she lives in a lovely retirement center in South Jersey.  Wild reflections are evident in every corner of her room, plants (rather weeds and moss) grow on her window ledge, wild plants and seeds line the shelves in her cooking corner and scrapbooks of wild memories are stacked about.

Linda’s Wild Kitchen
Linda has already made a serious mark with the ‘old’ folks in organizing and directing their nature related craft programs and has sparked curiosity by planting a wild food plant walk in the courtyard.  She even has everyone hooked on the Decorah eagle saga that streams real time from the computer in the common area. http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

 Linda’s Wild Plant Walk, Crafts, Linda & Holly

Treasuring past memories yet embracing each leg of her journey Linda lives a rich life.  Her 15th book on foraging for edible plants came off the press last Fall and her current book projects look fabulous. Doodles are on scraps of paper capturing some new idea or other.  Passionately wanting to help people to prepare for any eventuality, Linda makes it easy for those of us following in her wake.  Her books were born from necessity to survive off the grid and thrive off the land.

It was a day to remember and one I hope to repeat!
Wild blessings abound!
Holly

P. S. More about Linda and her remarkable life can be found at this link. https://wildblessings.com/2011/09/03/wild-woman-linda-runyon-eats-the-trees/

Linda Runyon’s Woodland Gift From Me
 

Filed Under: April, Cooking, Nature crafts, Plants, Spreading seeds, Spring, Uncategorized, Wild Food Feasts Tagged With: forest angel, indoor wild food picnic, Linda Runyon, my wild mentor, Plant walk

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About the Author

holly

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Comments

  1. Natalie says

    April 6, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    What a wonderful story Holly and a great way to celebrate our “elders”!!! Keep doing what you do to share your gifts with others.

    Reply
  2. Kim says

    April 7, 2012 at 10:27 pm

    Holly,

    You are well on your way to being the same kind of mentor & inspiration.

    Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • holly says

      April 7, 2012 at 11:56 pm

      Thanks Kim for your kind words.

      Reply
  3. Pamela Torres says

    April 23, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    I so enjoyed reading about your time with Linda – What a Big Blessing that God gave you.
    Inspired writing and reading

    Reply
    • holly says

      January 14, 2021 at 9:39 pm

      I think about Linda so often. Been rereading her books and always learning something new. I keep wishing she were still here to give me feedback on all my wild musings.

      Reply
  4. jodi says

    June 13, 2012 at 6:42 pm

    holly its nice to to know i can talk freely to you here, this is an awesome story, thank you for sharing lindas story, thank God you see the bigger picture and are helping people the wise way! your awesome! i REALLY enjoy your site and all the knowledge you share with our creators gifts, keep doing what your doing, its much needed.

    Reply
    • holly says

      June 13, 2012 at 7:23 pm

      Thanks Jodi! Linda is the real deal. I just try to follow in her worn path. So blessed to have her in my life!

      Reply
  5. Rand Heaslip says

    January 25, 2013 at 12:04 am

    Holly, you have a great site going here. This story of Linda, your wise owl, is just wonderful.
    It is the middle of winter up here right now – so I was doing a little research on what I could forage from the white woods and fields, when I stumbled upon your site. I love foraging more and more each day, let alone each year. Eating wild food is like drinking fresh glacier water, or taking a deep breath of air on a mountain top – its one of the best feelings in life. Keep up the great website, and continue to spread this love for mother earth.
    Blessings to you Holly.
    Rand Heaslip
    Gatineau Quebec Canada

    Reply
    • holly says

      January 25, 2013 at 1:01 am

      Rand,
      You sound like a kindred spirit! I went “shopping” in God’s grocery store on Monday, January 21, for wild food to prepare fresh for a display table I was to man the next day at a health fair, Never disappointed…a basket full of vibrant Chickweed and wild onions for a yummy hummus! thankful!
      Blessings to you too!
      Holly

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The Passing of a Pioneer, Linda Runyon says:
    March 19, 2017 at 1:16 am

    […] did.  Meeting Linda in person was such a thrill that I had to come home and write about it on my blog.  She even blessed me with a few of her homestead mementos which I now treasure.  Along with the […]

    Reply

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About Wild Blessings

Welcome to my website. My name is Holly Drake and I love to study, teach, and talk about wild foods. I live in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina with my husband Jason and my dog Max where I explore the beauty of God's creation to learn as much as I can about wild foods that are available to us for free.

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