Ramp it Up

Ramp season is upon us. For those of you who are unfamiliar with ramps please allow me to introduce you to these wonders.  A ramp is also referred to as a wild leek. They taste like a cross between a pungent garlic, scallions and sweet onion. They are peppery, earthy and delicious. Not only are they a delicacy they are highly nutritious. They contain high concentrations of vitamin A, C and K. They also contain high amounts of the minerals selenium and chromium. They not only provide us with nutritional benefits they are also highly significant to their contribution to their ecosystem. Ramps provide the nutrients in their green leafs which are recycled and returned to the soil after their brief emergence. They supplement the soil for their summer neighbors that share the ecosystem. Since their habitat is so specific and fleeting due to habitat losses as a result of land use changes, ramps deserve our respect, attention and preservation. They are a species that indicate healthy, mature ecosystems. They thrive under the canopy of hardwoods such as sugar maples and beech trees. Since it takes a minimum of seven years for the seeds to grow to maturity it is important to sustainably harvest them by leaving the bulbs and root system intact and only trim the leaves. When you discover a healthy ramp ecosystem you will often find blue cohosh, trillium, bloodroot and trout lilly. All of these species offer medicinal properties that were important to the Native Americans.

Ramps are a culinary prize. They fetch a premium at farmers markets and specialty food stores where they may sell for $25 a pound.

In three weeks we will be foraging this Springs bounty in the Catskills. There is one section of our property that I call Ramp City. It is an unbroken blanket of these beauties. I was up there at the end of March nervously scouting out the ramp habitat to ascertain whether we will have a successful foraging trip at the end of April. To my surprise and amazement the ramps were forcing their way through the rich and nutrient dense soil. A hopeful sign that ramp season will be a prolific one. After spying the ramps the remainder of my hike allowed me to enjoy the quiet confidence and intelligence of nature and its magical bounty.

We will have a limited amount of ramp butter for sale as well as bundles of fresh ramps. We will keep you posted!