Program: Wildwood Produce

Ila Hatter introduces us to some folks who know how to take advantage of what’s available in the wild that can make for some good eating.

Arnold Crisp shows Ila how he finds a colony of wild bees so he can either gather the honey or move the colony to a new hive near his home. First he sets out bait to attract honeybees; then he watches carefully to see which way they go when they leave. He follows their trail, which will eventually lead to the hive, but as Ila finds out, it can be quite an adventure getting there.

Col. Richard Stewart has kept bees nearly all his life, and his domestic bees make so much honey each year that he can sell a little to friends. Ila asks both bee experts their opinion on a continuing controversy: is there such a thing as sourwood honey? The answers might surprise you!

Mushrooms are another wild treat found all over the Appalachian mountains. But this is one item that dictates caution and the need for expert advice. While poisonous ones are fairly rare, they can often look very much like edible ones, so mushroom pickers should get some help when gathering.

Alan Muskat, known as the “Mushroom Man,” takes Ila on a gathering expedition to sample some of the common varieties easily found. Then he cooks up a batch for lunch.

Ila also visits Dr. David Ramsey on his mushroom “farm,” where shitake mushrooms are grown for commercial sale, a growing practice as the market demand for fresh mushrooms continues to expand.