This is fairly uncommon tree, found in the South and East, it has a small nut that looks like a mini-chestnut. They are quite delicious. Here is a link to a article about the Chinkapin.
28 years ago, my professor, friend and mentor Dr. Dan Holliman invited me to go with him to the Audubon Mountain Workshop, which was held at Camp Alpine for Boys in Mentone, Alabama. The late Dr. Holliman saw in me my enthusiasm for all things Botany, especially my unique interest in Edible Wild Plants. He also needed someone to drive the van from Birmingham-Southern College, something I did for him for many bird watching, research, and field excursions. That begin my love affair with the Audubon Mountain Workshop. Over the past 28 years I have taught at the workshop 17 times, only missing when we lived in Maine and Texas. Now that we are back in Alabama I have reconnected with the great folks that put this workshop on and it is a real joy and honor to take part in this annual event. I encourage you to check out the Birmingham Audubon Website and to register for the 2015 workshop when registration opens next year. This photo gallery has some images of plants encountered at the workshop, not all of which are edible, as you may notice some of these plants are the carnivore!
Was honored to teach a session for the Young Naturalist at the Birmingham Audubon Mountain Workshop in Mentone, Alabama. The young naturalist had a great love for the outdoors and they got to sample some wild treats, Sassafras root beer, Sassafras Candy, Cattail Pickles, Wild Ginger Cookies, ground cherry coffeecake, Sumac Lemonade, Blackberry Scones, Elderberry and Sumac Jelly, Fried Dandelion Flowers, Dandelion Greens! A great time was held by all.
Encountered serviceberry while hiking in Mentone, Alabama over the weekend. this great wild edible is often used in native landscapes. Here is a link to a article in Mother Earth News,
"The objective is to teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands."
-Aldo Leopold
Pink Lady Slipper, Mentone, Alabama
Great couple of days with the Birmingham Audubon Mountain Workshop, here are some of the wild edibles gathered for class
Pokeweed, Dock
table with food served at the Young Naturalist workshop
16th Annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival, September 12-14, 2014
The 15th Annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival is held at Lake Snowden near Albany, which is located about six miles west of Athens on US 50/SR32, it is about 2 hours from Columbus, 3 hours from Cincinnati and 4 hours from Cleveland.
http://www.ohiopawpawfest.com/index.html
J.T. Dabbs, author of Southeastern Edibles (and owner of this web site) will be teaching a Introduction to Wild Edible Plants at the Audubon Mountain Workshop in Mentone, Alabama.
May 15-18
www,birminghamaudubon.org