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Oakland Museum LectureMay 3, 2009
“Historical and Modern Uses of Edible CA Native Plants” 
 Notes 
Background on Historical CA
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Sir Francis Drake was presented with tobacco and Brodiaea and other lily bulbs by theCoast Miwoks
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The first invasive plants were introduced with the missions, the Mediterranean annual,red stem filaree (Erodium cicutarium)
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3,423 species considered native to CA, 1,416 endemic to CA
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Almost 25% of all known plant species in North America, north of Mexico, arefound in CA
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 Natives found in adobe bricks:spike bentgrass, sedges, goosefoots, pigweeds, rushes,forget-me-nots
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Interments had milling stones buried with them
It's Resources,
 
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A virtual edible landscape, Topography Foods alone covered the whole spectrum of what was available in the environment:acorns, berries, fish, game, meat, mollusk flesh, pine nuts,salt, seeds of all kinds
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Game, seafood, plants, seeds were main supplement since prehistory
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Typical CA Indian diet: 6 kinds of acorns, 3 grasses, 3 clovers, 6 berries, 2 pine nuts,wild oats, buckeye, sunflower, chia, sages, grapes, prickly pears, yucca, Brodiaea bulbs,over 500 plant items used for food
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Acorns entered the diet around 2500-1500 B.C.E. 1,300 -1,750 # per acre. Probably because of over- hunting
What was it like obtaining food in historical CA
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Cornucopia of abundance
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Diverse Microclimates
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Most flora and fauna were tested for food
Agriculture/wild farming
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Agriculture as in farming, didn't take hold until late because of abundant wild foods,
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 Not an agrarian society in the traditional sense of the word
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When Europeans arrived, the managed “wild landscape” looked untouched and thoughtthe indians were lazy and wasteful of the landscape because no farming was going on.
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The Indians were called “diggers”because it was noticed that they poked at the ground.
Landscape Management/frequent burns
 
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Were more intense on land management and pyrodiversity than most other tribes
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Recognition is growing among land stewards and park administrators that strict firesuppression policies need to be reevaluated
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Fire ecology
Historical plants in use now
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Basic methods for cooking vegetable foods in Native CA included: Parching in baskets, roasting in coals, simmering or boiling in soups and gruels in cooking basketssteatite or ceramic vessels and slow roasting in earth ovens or pit hearths
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Over 1,000 introduced nonatives
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At least 30 natives have become extinct in the last 100 years
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30% of plants are listed endangered
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95% of vernal pools and tidal salt marshes have disappeared
What can we do now to propagate historical natives-The role of small regional farms, markets, place based produce
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Monocropping practices of Agribusiness has not only minimized biodiversity but hascreated artificial agrarian landscapes in which natives have been eliminated
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Mix o both domesticand small farms would not only increase biodiversity but create amarket for wild foods, wild berries acorns, onions, tubers
Native Americans rediscover native foods for better health.
By Edie Jarolim, for 
 EatingWell,
 November/December 2008For southern Arizona’s Tohono O’odham tribe, the desire to return to the past is more than nostalgia:it’s a matter of life and death. “Fifty years ago, when we ate native foods rather than white bread andMcDonald’s, we weren’t obese and didn’t have diabetes, but now they’re rampant,” says Terrol DewJohnson, a member of the tribe, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 12 years ago. Because many Native Americans are genetically predisposed to developing diabetes, the current American diet, rich in processed food, has created a health crisis among the Tohono O’odham nation.In 1996, Johnson co-founded Tohono O’odham Community Action (TOCA) in an effort to reacquaintmembers of the impoverished tribe with disappearing native foods—such as squash and tepary beans.In the heart of the Sonoran Desert, 60 miles west of Tucson, he successfully re-established two workingfarms to grow and sell traditional native foods in the community and also teach O’odham membershow to harvest and prepare them.But habits are hard to break and Johnson worries: “We’re on a time schedule. The elders are dying.We’re working hard to get as much information from them about their traditional culture as we can.”For details on all of TOCA’s programs, go to tocaonline.org."Super foods" are foods which have a significantly higher nutritional value than most others. I've listedfive such foods, native to the Americas, which appear on almost all these "super food" lists. If you wantto eat a healthier diet, start including these delicious foods in your meals. To get you started, I've linked
 
in a recipe for each food.
Blueberries
Blueberries are native to North America and were an important food source for the Native tribes for centuries. These Native Americas used the blueberries in something called
 pemmican,
which was driedmeat pounded with blueberries and fat. Since you may not have any dried bison meat around, I'velinked an old fashion blueberry crisp recipe for you to try. Blueberries are full of flavor and nutritional goodness, yet at the same time are very low in calories.They are very high in vitamin content, fiber and most importantly, antioxidants. In recent studies blueberries were found to be at the top of the list of fruits in their ability to destroy free radicals. Manyconsider this an important factor in preventing various types of cancer. Red wine has been touted for itsantioxidant benefits, but blueberries have almost 40% more antioxidants than red wine.While the best way to enjoy blueberries is raw, they're great used in all kinds of recipes. Besides fresh,they can be found frozen and dried, so you can enjoy them year round.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are another American "super food" that the Native tribes prized for its culinary andmedicinal value. They probably didn’t make  pumpkin seed pestorecipes out of them, which is the recipe I've linked for you here.High in fiber and protein, these seeds are also a rich source of minerals including magnesium,manganese, iron, and zinc. Pumpkin seeds are believed to be beneficial for things like prostrate health, bones strength, and arthritis. Pumpkin seeds also contain compounds called phytosterols, which are believed to reduce levels of harmful cholesterol and also improve the body's immune system.Pumpkin seeds can now be readily found at health food stores, or higher-end grocery chains. They aresold, raw, roasted, shelled, and unshelled. Try them in this pumpkin seed pesto recipe, which uses thetoasted seeds. It's a delicious, and easy way use this nutritious food.
Avocado
The delicious and nutritious avocado has been cultivated in Central America for over 5,000 years. TheMayans believed the avocado had magical powers and was an aphrodisiac. We can't confirm thoseclaims, but what can be confirmed is that the avocado is clearly one of the world's healthiest foods.Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, the avocado is also very high in oleic acid. Oleic acid is atype of monounsaturated fat that can lower cholesterol. It has also shown promise in offering protectionagainst breast cancer.Studies have shown that another unique benefit of avocados is that when they are added to salads, the body absorbs more nutrients from the other vegetables and fruits than it would have if the avocadoweren't included. That's why the recipe linked is for a colorful, and deliciousavocado, arugula andgrapefruit salad. The firm, creamy texture of a ripe avocado is hard to beat, and the fact that it's so goodfor you is just another reason to start eating more of this great American food.
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