Let's talk RAMPS
The botanical name: Allium tricoccum
Related to leeks, onions, and garlic
There are white ramps and red ramps.
They are in the lily family.
It blooms a pretty off-white snowflake-like blossom in early June.
Location: They can be found throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas, West Virginia (the ramp capital of the world), Pennsylvania, Ohio and even Michigan. They like a lot of moisture and soil with good drainage. They are shade-loving and can be grown around your yard.
When? Depending on several factors (mildness/harshness of winter, elevation, etc.), start looking for them around mid-March and by mid-April they are ready to dig. You can gather ramp seeds in August and September.
Uses & benefits:
Ramps picked later, by the end of May, are good for pickling.
They freeze well in freezer bags, mason jars, or in water in a milk jug. Blanch them or sauté them before freezing.
They are delicious raw, added to a sandwich if you pick them early.
They can also be poached, fried, roasted, braised, or boiled.
They have twice the Vitamin C of an orange and contain high amounts of Vitamin K and they also contain Vitamin A.
They are full of antioxidants to decrease inflammation.
Helpful for weight loss.
Great for cardiac and digestive health.
Iroquois made a root decoction as a GI cleanse to rid oneself of parasites.
They lower blood sugar.
They contain the infection-fighting element sulfur which makes them great as a cold remedy. A folk treatment of earache was to pour warm ramp juice into the affected ear.
It has also been used to treat croup.
They have been used as a spring tonic.
If you're making your own ramp hoe, the handle made of hickory or ash and then soaked to tighten the handle is ideal.
Breakfast Ramps Scramble
Wash the leaves well.
Put them in a large stock pot and cover them with water.
Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
While the ramps are cooking on medium-high, fry a few pieces of beef or turkey bacon.
Drain the grease after the bacon is cooked.
Drain the ramps of the water after they are cooked until tender.
Add the ramps and a couple of eggs to the bacon.
Scramble and cook until the eggs are to your preference.
You have a great Ramps Scramble!
Sites & Sources
Buy ramps to grow!
1) Seeds: Amazon.com: Ramp,Wild Leek Seeds (Allium tricoccum) Perennial (100 Seeds) : Patio, Lawn & Garden
2) Bulbs for sale: Wild Leeks, Ramps, Allium Tricoccum Bulbs only. Great for planting. Organic Wild Foraged.
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