From Fiddleheads to Chanterelles

One of the fairly clear, but underdeveloped ideas we had when moving to a large oceanside property in rural New Brunswick was “food independence.” We knew about the fiddleheads, common in central New Brunswick, the delicious, natural (and expensive) delicacy only available in late spring. That was a starting point at least. 

After we arrived, there were a number of, let’s call them “recalibrations,” on what moving towards increased food independence would look like. Fiddleheads do not grow in southeastern New Brunswick, at least not in any place we’ve found, and certainly not on Deer Island. We planned to grow vegetable gardens, only to find the thin, acidic soil on the island was not suitable for growing much other than spruce trees and blueberries. As we began to explore options, we found our hope to produce and eat more natural local foods was possible, and even kind of exciting! 

We started by creating raised garden beds and with information from New Brunswick Facebook gardening groups, we learned how to fill them with organic, available materials, including, one of the best - wait for it … seaweed! Now, that’s something that Deer Island has a lot of. 

We also have a tidal cove in front of our property where clams, mussels, sea urchins and edible sea plants can be harvested. Joining the New Brunswick Wild Edible Foragers Facebook group, I learned there were many other options, like Chaga, which we found on our property. 

Mushrooms are everywhere! I was so excited to find my first chanterelle! We have since found many locations where they grow and we gather them to make pizza and to freeze for winter. There are also delicious pine mushrooms, but the deer always beat us to them. 

We had considered having laying hens only to discover our neighbour raises them and we can affordably purchase them from her. They came to my birthday party and brought us organic chicken and duck eggs as a present. Amazing! 

And those delicious fiddleheads? It turns out a high school classmate of Deb’s, living in central New Brunswick visits us with a large pail each spring. We of course send these lovely folks back on the ferry with some lobsters.

And so, what we’ve learned is that the idea of food independence has grown into the reality of “food-interdependence.” A much healthier way to live in every way.