slug fest?

[kengr]

Came across a link to an interesting article while re-reading some old posts in other folks LJs (I'm cleaning up the old comment notifications, and read the original posts to get context)

Seems banana slugs are edible.

http://rickshawunschooling.blogspot.com/2007/10/wild-food-killing-our-own-meat.html

Another comment after the one with the link notes that you should keep them for several days and feed them on "safe" stuff to make sure they are purged of any toxins from eating things they can eat but humans can't.

even with that caution, it is tempting to go out to Forest Park to harvest some.. :-)

Oh yeah, several sorts of garden snails are edible as well. Though you have to isolate them for even longer because they may have picked up pestocides from other peoples gardens.

Comments

[stickmaker]

My French ancestry rejoices. The rest of me shudders. :-)

[kengr]

Well, given that in the West Hills there are reliable reports of banana slugs the size of actual bananas (or bigger) that's a lot of protein "on the foot".

Hmm. "Farm"-raised banana slugs. Then a booth at the state fair with "slug on a stick" (breaded and deep fried like a corn dog). You *know* you could get some frat boys or the like to eat the first few on a dare. Then word spreads that they are actually kinda tasty...

[kayshapero]

Why not, snails are. Mom once tried the "catch your snails, purge them for a week or two on oatmeal, cook and serve" routine. OK, but frankly the wild ones were too small and chewy - I much prefer the farmed ones I get at the store. Cooked in mushroom caps with garlic butter - mind you snails are mostly an excuse to eat garlic butter anyway. :)

[kengr]

Local banana slugs are anything *but* small. :-)

Like I said, there are reliable reports of veritable slugzillas in the West Hills.

[kayshapero]

Mom was dealing with the bitty little Helix snails in our garden in Los Angeles. Banana slugs do sound more.. practical unless they're too chewy or something - some things scale up better than others. Mind you, I think banana slugs are sufficiently cool as is. I might settle for simply watching the critter for awhile instead of having it for lunch.

Well, it's official - I'm picky enough to edit a message just to place a missing period. :)

[alatefeline]

...but I don't WANT to eat the slugs in my garden plot; I want them to stop eating the things I *like*.

:)

[kengr]

We haven't bought it yet, but we are gonna get some copper "tape" to run along the top of the boards for our raised bed.

Apparently this feel really *nasty* to slugs and they won't cross it.

[alatefeline]

Ooooooh. I want. Ick slugs, get out of my lettuce.

[kengr]

Well, I've seen the tape at Parkrose hardware (about 105th and Sandy)

Probably available at most hardware stores that have garden supplies.

It's sticky backed, but I'm going to see if they have copper nails (used with some kinds of roof flashing) and if they do I'll *nail* it to the wood.

Don't want to use steel nails because that'd make the copper corrode around them.