"THE Jack"

Five Years Ago Nature by Eal Plto

We met Patty (Marcy) Richards, daughter of the late Dr. George and Elizabeth Marcy, in late May as we returned from a walk in Marcy Woods. She had no good news yet about the probable sale of the Woods. One of her parting comments to me was, “Keep up the writing.” I will.
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Marcy Woods is a host to many edible plants. The late great Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller and Lake of Bay naturalist, Ernie Giles, formerly of Fort Erie, are two that epitomized the ability to “live off the land.” It was at Marcy Woods that I learned the truth of the “Jack-in-the-pulpit.” They grow profusely there. You know what they look
like.
I always told the story of a fellow boy scout, Jim, when on a ramble in Marcy Woods we would come across some “Jacks.” Jim had not listened to our scout master when he told us that the bulbous root when eaten raw would burn your mouth. Jim didn’t listen. Water wouldn’t relieve Jim’s pain as the tiny oxalic crystals penetrated his tongue. Along came Ernie Giles years ago and set me straight about this edible root of the “Jack.” Note above the word ‘raw’. Ernie said to me. “Did you know they call the Jack-in-the-Pulpit,
“Indian Turnip”? He informed me that when they boil or bake the root the oxalic crystals are removed and you have a nourishing food. Our native people would take the boiled or baked “Jack” root and let it dry. They would then pound it into flour.
In spring at Marcy Woods on the Lower Trail you find the green, fresh leaves of Wild Leeks. I take just one or two and enjoy the onion-like flavour. Our early settlers collected the leaves and made potato leek soup.
Many of you who have walked the Marcy Woods trails remember just before we start into the woods are a growing expanse of Marsh marigolds. More this year than before. Food? Yes. Again our early settlers found the plant was one of their favourite greens. Collected, they would boil the early tender leaves. Colonists would also pickle the flower buds.
Come to Marcy Woods in summer and you meet Stinging nettles. Know what I mean? A stinging rash on your exposed legs or arms can be the result if you’re not careful. Bert Miller loved nettles. Bert would cut young nettles in area fields (not in
Marcy Woods) and take a bundle home. He seemed not to mind the stingers. He would add them to other greens or soups for they have a good flavour when boiled.
Many of the Marcy Woods walkers recognize the young, curled up “fiddle heads” of the Interrupted ferns in spring. Picked when tender they taste like asparagus when boiled.
Hold it Plato! Marcy Woods is a private nature entity and we must find these natural goodies some place else where you are allowed to collect these natural foods.
Note: I have a list of some seventeen plants found in Marcy Woods whose roots and leaves are edible. I am sure our native peoples loved this place.
Bert and Ernie knew them all and more. Amazing men.