On Fiddleheads and Our Spring Forage with Anthony Michael Blowers

ME: (accompanied by a photo of the underside of my front porch, sorta) “Hey send me some info. or a link on Fiddleheads and what they’re all about - would love to put up a post vis-a-vis your workshop TYA!” ANTHONY: “Will do! Those really do look like Ostrich Fern, which is exactly what you’re after. They should have a papery covering thats over the unfurled fern, and a u-shaped groove on the stem.” ME: Bammm! (caption to the second photo sent and pictured above). ANTHONY: That is definitely Ostrich Fern. Very nice! Those are on the larger side and look healthy, too. Fantastic! So delicious just fried up in butter! Love to harvest a few!

Above reads a recent text exchange between Me (Paul) and Anthony (Michael Blowers), our main mushroom man and leader of our first 2021 Nature Walk. With a focus on Morel Mushrooms and their well-know mystique (flyer below) our pre-plan also touched on the young, coiled leaves of the Ostrich Fern, aka Fiddleheads. Aptly named because they look like the scroll on the neck of a violin or fiddle, most ferns grow Fiddleheads, so identifying the right type to pick is important. Because choosing the wrong specimen can lead to poisoning (yikes!) I appreciated Anthony’s pictograph that identified the immature fronds, the brown papery sheath, bright green hairless base, and black skeleton of the year’s previous growth.

Here, Fiddleheads unfurl every Spring, bursting to life all over the front yard, and annually unwinding amongst colorful flower beds. Considered a delicacy and favored by chefs, including our own culinary head honcho Chief (spelling au Francais) Chris Ferris, growers have been cultivating fiddleheads with varied success for centuries. Ostrich Fern love our rich soil, high in nutrients fed by the middle branch of the Black River and wetland streams, growing wildly. That’s why my stoke was equally high to see The Chicago Tribune announce their newly Michelin starred restaurants, thinking Chefs from Boka, Goosefoot and Alinea would love to check out our Morel workshop and wild, wild edible scene (sung to The Talking Heads Wild, Wild Life). Whoever shows up, it’s sure to be another great walk in the woods, with good memories of Anthony’s last Fall Forage, registration open for our upcoming Spring Workshop , and a fiddlehead or two fried up just for you.

Aho Matakuye O'yasin! (All My Relations -or- We Are All Relatives)

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I glanced at my calendar this morning and could not believe that this great group of people — Amanda, Laura, Love, River, Ashley, Kelly and Becky, with Macy and Grace down front and Rock Man Tyler “Can You Jet Ski” Kanczuzewski out of the frame— were in the proverbial house, and specifically the retreat house, a mere eight days ago. So much has come to pass since then I thought it was weeks back. In the words of my Teacher Shinzen Young, “At first, every retreat changes you. Then every sit (or formal meditation) changes you. Until eventually when every moment changes you.”

As to beliefs, change and dwelling in space and time for a few more minutes, hours, days, or even years, it’s all moving at an interesting clip. And at times feels utterly exhausting. But what else is a physical body for (?), if not to cause some serious trouble in the material world, otherwise known as soulful transformation. This group supported one another hugely in that quest, exuding the conviction many indigenous cultures hold that one’s family is not only made up of immediate blood relatives, but extends to those within their extended tribal clan. The abundance of this family, our true spiritual family, is the measure of one’s wealth, creating the very foundation for sound, healthy living. If your heart longs for a spark, while your mind craves a do-over, or you simply need support and more genuine connection, we’ll be doing the Ritual again mid-May, as we do it every month, along with the very special Morel Mushroom Mystery Tour lead by the marvelous Anthony Michael Bowers one week later, on Saturday May 22nd, with registration information up this week.

Until then, here’s Macy’s take on how we came together to collectively turn things around: “I attended The Way of the Contrary Workshop at Higher Haven and it was an amazing and spiritual experience! From the moment we arrived we felt welcomed, the property was gorgeous, and the Lodging was so cozy. The Inipi Sweat Lodge Ceremony was something I will never forget, so beautiful and spiritual. I also learned so much from the meditation class. I left feeling refreshed, at peace, and so serene. What a great hidden gem Higher Haven is, I will definitely be back!” -M.D.