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Pokeberry Calyx Earrings FAQs
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Yes, some of our work from plant casting we mold and replicate, but pieces like these we keep one of a kind.
The plant produces a mountain of berries every year, and by harvesting them after the berries fall off we aren’t competing with the creatures in our backyard for food and we aren’t harming the plant.
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This plant is definitely aggressive, and may encroach on anyone’s backyard whether they want it there or not. It is native to our mid-Atlantic region, and it does a lot to feed wildlife, especially in urban and suburban areas.
We can eat it too, provided we pick the leaves when they are still young and boil them a few times. The berries are toxic to us, messing up our stomachs and intestines. Late season birds can get a little drunk too eating berries that are too mature.
Culinary Uses
Pokeweed has been a staple in Appalachian cuisine, particularly in the form of "poke sallet" or "poke salad." This dish utilizes the young leaves and shoots of the plant, which are carefully prepared to mitigate toxicity. The traditional method involves boiling the greens in multiple changes of water to remove harmful compounds before consumption. When properly prepared, the leaves are said to have a flavor reminiscent of spinach or asparagus. It's crucial to note that improper preparation can lead to poisoning, as all parts of the plant contain toxic substances. Elvis wrote a song called “Poke Salas Annie” introducing it to the mainstream.
Pokeberry Ink
The vibrant purple-red juice of poke berries has found various applications: Both Native Americans and European settlers extracted the berry juice to create dyes for textiles, imparting a rich red hue to fabrics and baskets. Historically, the juice served as a natural ink, with documented use during the Civil War era for letter writing.