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WILD EDIBLES & MEDICINAL OF SOUTHERN
APPALACHIA by Ila Hatter
Ironweed Productions (Robbinsville,
NC.) Summer, vols. I & II, and Autumn. 30-35 minutes.
Three videos follow the seasons.
Approximately 30 minutes each. This is one of the best video herb walks I've
seen. Going on an herb walk with Hatter, even via video, is a fun
experience. her warm, friendly style shines through as she shows the viewer
eight to nine Appalachian herbs in each of 3 videos. It is easy to see that
she has been doing public herb walks for some time. the videos combine
artistic photography with lots of herbal information on wild herbal medicines
and foods as Appalachian music plays in the background, adding an especially
nice touch. Each one begins with a historic view of medicinal herbs at the
Oconaluftee Indian village in North Carolina.
Helpful overlays give Latin names of
the plants and various facts such as cautions about collecting on public lands
and using certain herbs. Hatter presents both Indian and Appalachia "granny"
knowledge, lore, and stories along with her own experiences. (I especially
liked the shots of the possum during the persimmon story.) She shows visual
demonstrations of harvesting techniques and how to tell the difference to aid
in plant identification. Hatter's rule of three is positive Identification,
an unpolluted Location, and leave the first three plants for Multiplication.
Other plant experts, such as those at
the Great Smoky Mountain Environmental Institute at Tremont in North Carolina,
are brought in. All videos review all the herbs discussed at the end. Small
color photos of them also appear on the back of the video boxes. Finally,
there are recommended websites and books - like the classic "History, Myths,
and Sacred formulas of the Cherokees", by James Mooney.
Hatter's favorite quote:
"The woods and fields are a table always
spread" Henry David Thoreau
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