The first day of my kids’ spring break also happened to be the first warm day in a long stretch of grey, cold ones – so we opted for a hike at Wintergreen Gorge. Formed 11,000 years ago, after Four Mile Creek eroded glacial debris, this 6-mile long canyon in Harborcreek Township is always a winner or runner up for Best of Erie’s Best Hiking Trails category, and is maintained by adjacent Penn State Behrend.
These early spring days in Erie haven’t brought much in the way of locally produced fruits and vegetables yet, but that doesn’t mean things aren’t growing.
Approximately one minute into our hike at the gorge yielded a healthy handful of wild ramps – a native allium plant that is basically a wild onion, but more like a cross between a shallot and garlic. Super flavorful, leaf to bulb. My teenager, who was initially reluctant to join us on our hike, immediately brightened up at the idea of finding food in the woods and went on to point out some wild chives growing just a few yards away. As we walked we uncovered patch after patch of ramps, taking just a few from each section of growth and leaving the roots (so they continue to grow and flower, and so that everyone can have some – a good practice)…