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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Did You Know? Garlic Mustard—An Invader Species That’s Good to Eat!

This native pant of Europe has few natural enemies and is covering New Jersey’s forest floors (and neighbor states) at an alarming rate. 

The danger extends beyond rapid growth with lots of seeds—garlic mustard also uses chemical warfare. Its toxicity is deadly to the larva of native butterflies; and some of the chemicals released can inhibit growth of other plants and reduce the survival of trees seedlings.

On the plus side, the pungent, garlicky flavor of its broad leaves are ideal for stir-fries, sautés and salads, so eating it is an enjoyable act of conservation.


Garlic Mustard Saute 

Boil the garlic mustard leaves for about 7-10 minutes to reduce bitterness, till the water is bright green. Drain well. Then saute the greens with butter or olive oil and garlic. Cover pan on low heat for 5 minutes. Remove cover and add a dash of balsamic vinegar.

In-Print plant-based diet Roots Plant Medicine Garlic Mustard Garlic Mustard Recipe
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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