Kaylee loves the road less traveled. |
Finding a path to walk through was a challenge. |
After almost getting stuck in ankle-deep mud a few times, I decided it was time to turn around and get to the main path, but there's one good thing that came out of the experience: I noticed that the area had an abundance of cattails.
There were large bunches like this strewn throughout the marsh. |
There isn't a part of this plant that isn't useful in many different ways: it's edible, it's medicinal, it can be used to make roofs and mats, it can be used as a slow-burning torch, it can be used as stuffing in clothes, it purifies water...what's not to love?
Usually I only post one or two articles for each plant I profile, but cattails have so many uses that there's no way to only post one link. Instead, I scoured the internet for the best informational articles on each of its uses, and I found many articles with step-by-step instructions:
1. General information: http://www.backwoodshome.com/the-incredible-cattail/ and https://survivallife.com/cattails-survival-uses/
2. Cattails as a food: http://tacticalintelligence.net/blog/how-to-eat-cattail.htm and http://www.eattheweeds.com/cattails-a-survival-dinner/
3. Cattails as a medicine: https://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/holistic-medicine-library/cattail-pocket-herbal/
4. Cattails as stuffing: http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/cattail-plants-zmaz80jazraw
5. Cattails for basket/mat weaving: https://www.wickerwoman.com/articles/processing-cattail-leaves
6. Cattails as cordage: http://easylivingthehardway.blogspot.com/2013/02/cattail-cordage.html and http://www.nativetech.org/cordage/
7. Cattails as a water purifier: https://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/inexpensive-arsenic-filtration-system-based-on-cattails-could-help-clean-up-the-drinking-water-of-57-million-people.html
Cattails and additional plants that can also be used to purify water: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/plants-clean-contaminated-pond-water-47124.html
Next time you see this plant, maybe you will look at it with excitement and awe like I do :)
Bonus challenge: Can you spot the cattails, jewelweed, and Joe Pye Weed in this picture? |
**Make sure cattails are harvested from areas with clean water as they absorb what's in the water (as seen above). As always, use precaution when consuming anything new, make 100% sure you have identified a plant correctly, and consult a physician before starting any new medicinal routine.**