With inspiration from recent art shows by the group Kaleidoscope and the celebration of the Humber River as a heritage river, the King Township Museum has been working on some unique interpretation of the flora and fauna of our lovely community.

There is an abundance of colour and grace in the plants of the King Township area due to the proximity to the Humber River watershed. For thousands of years, the natural diversity of the East Humber has provided an abundant home to wildlife and people. The rich soils enabled First Nations Peoples and settlers to grow their vegetables, fruits, flowers, and medicinal herbs. This year, 2009, marks the 10th anniversary of its designation as a Canadian Heritage River.

Many artists in the area, such as Karen Taylor from Kaleidoscope and King City’s Nancy Jones, choose the natural beauty of the area as their subject matter. Both of these acclaimed artists, along with First Nations’ Consultant Jonathan Thompson, will be participating in the Museum’s 1st annual Kidsfest – a massive arts and history-based education program that will see 100 Grade 5 students visit the Museum grounds to explore the wonderfully diverse natural and human culture found in King.

Working with the museum on some of our new initiatives is Jonathan Thompson, a student of wilderness survival training for the past several years. Jonathan is of Mi'gmaw, Blackfoot and Filipino ancestry. He is an avid outdoorsman, and feels that “getting out there” to practice wilderness living skills helps him learn more about his cultures and human culture as a whole. He teaches his skills to air
cadets, schools and at children’s camps and is currently working with the King Township Museum as a First Nations consultant for the Museum’s history and nature based programming.

Jonathan currently lives in the Holland Marsh. He has been an instrumental guide to the wonders of “the backyard” quite literally - he took staff on an exploratory hike of the Museum grounds for the purpose of this article. He maintains that all plants have medicinal, utilitarian or edible uses. However he cautions that people should consult w ith an ex per t before pick ing and eat ing any
plant . No one should ev er harv est w here pest icides are u sed and along roadsides.

Often despised and pulled out, these sunny yellow flowers have quite a history and stir up many emotions with gardeners, lawn owners and those of us just waiting for the signs of spring. Dandelions have provided entertainment, medicine, food, and greens full of nutrients welcomed
in spring after a long winter without food rich in vitamins.

Under appreciated, eliminated and loathed? What is so hated by some and can be highly appreciated by others. The dandelion, stinging nettle and common clover are all considered weeds but with municipal regulations stopping people from using herbicides, perhaps we need to take an appreciative look at the valuable qualities of these
plants. Flowers, roots and leaves can all be used in a variety of ways.

The Dandelion was brought over to be used as food and medicine by the Spanish, Germans, and English and first appeared in Canada in the 1700’s when the French imported it for salads and medicinal purposes. Each group saw the benefits of this plant for its nutritional value and its healing powers for a variety of ailments including liver
dysfunction.

It originated in Asia, where it played an important role in both food and medicine. Physicians, even before the year 1000, used this plant as a medicine. In Canada First Nations people quickly saw the benefits of this plant and started to grow them for the same uses.

The Dandelion also provides an important food source to bees and birds. Because the plant flowers early and often it provides food on a fairly constant basis. More than 90 different kinds of insects use Dandelion pollen as food and the seeds are also important food to many small birds

So take a closer look at the plants growing right in your own backyard. What we tend to take for
granted, the weeds and other sturdy and “commonplace” plants, are steeped deep in our
history. The King Township Museum’s 2009 interpretive garden highlights many native and non-native edible plants to showcase the diversity of King’s rich floral history. We invite you to stop by to have a look!

The King Township Museum
2920 King Road, King City
905-833-2331
kingmuseum@king.ca
Visitor Hours Tuesday-Friday, 10am to 4pm
Ask about our Exhibits, Special events, Children’s Programmes, School Programmes and Volunteer Opportunities

Other common backyard plants have a var iety of uses –
although we suggest you proceed with caution and any attempt to tr y these uses should be done through consultation with an expert.

1. DANDELION

Flower head - flowers dipped in batter and fried in oil make good fritters; flowers also used to make wine, unopened flower buds can be boiled in two changes of water and eaten like brussel sprouts
Leaves - young green leaves still pale in colour can be eaten raw, or cooked like a pot herb
Roots - medium size roots are best for making a coffee substitute, roots must be dried then ground into a powder, dandelion mixed with chicory and beet root is what health food stores sell Medicinal - good all around tonic: made by steeping a palm-full of leaves in 1 cup of hot water, all parts of dandelion aid in digestion and cleaning blood and liver from toxins

2. BIRCH TREE

Sap - can be used to make birch syrup (33 gallons to make 1 gallon of syrup) sap can also be used as tea water Twigs and leaves - steeped to make a tea
Inner bark (cambium) - dried and ground makes a low grade and unique tasting flour best added to other flours, also when cut fresh it can be cut into strips and boiled to make a good survival food called poor man’s spaghetti
Medicinal - twigs brewed in a strong tea can be used for poison ivy treatment, also used as skin wash to remove blemishes and can be used as a scent camouflage when hunting