Wild Grapes in Texas - Mustang Grapes

Wild Mustang Grapes

There are several types of wild grapes that are fairly common in the State of Texas. The three main species of wild grapes that are found locally are the Mustang Grape (Vitis mustangensis), the Sweet Mountain Grape (Vitis monticola), and the Winter Grape (Vitis cinerea var. helleri). Mustang Grapes are fairly abundant and the most easily found. The Mustang Grapes can have a rather tart flavor and have very tough skins. Mustang Grapes make very good jelly that can often found at some specialty grocery stores and at local farmers markets. The other types of grapes are sweeter but much less common and are a lot harder to find. Most of these grapes ripen from late summer to early fall. They are a pretty hardy type of grape and you can also make a fairly decent wine from Mustang Grapes.

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

Wild Tea in Texas - Yaupon Tea

Yaupons are a native species of holly found in Texas and are a known species among holly native to North America that contains caffeine. It is also the only wild tea that grows in many parts of Texas. Yaupons grow profusely in many areas of the state and are very hardy plants. In its native environment, yaupons are practically indestructible once established. The amazing thing about yaupons is that the dried leaves and stems of yaupons can be used to make an excellent tea.

Very few people know this interesting fact about yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), also known as Texas holly. This is a relative of the South American maté (Ilex paraguayensis) and provides the only wild tea with caffeine in Texas and occurs in other areas of the southeast coastal plains of the United Sates.

The Latin classification, vomitoria, comes from the ritual practice of coastal Indians who made and consumed a tea made from the leaves, berries and bark before going into battle. This very strong tea was called "black drink" and caused vomiting which was viewed as a ritualistic way to cleanse the body and soul. During hard times, many coastal residents made a tea by drying the young, tender leaves and stems and then steeping them to make a tea. Yaupon tea is still enjoyed by many long term residents of some of the more remote coastal areas in the United States. A word of caution about yaupon tea, don’t use the berries as they can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It’s the berries that are emetic not the leaves and young stems.

The leaves can also be used as a stimulant when chewed directly but are somewhat bitter in taste. Roasting or drying the leaves and steeping the leaves in hot water makes a much more palatable and enjoyable drink.

The main use of yaupon tea was in the southeastern United States where Spanish, English, and French explorers described its use among Native Americans from southern Virginia to areas west of the Mississippi. It was also called “Spanish tea” by many people. Native Americans that used yaupon tea included the Cherokee, Choctaw, Natchez, Seminole, and Caddo in Texas. It was also used as a coffee substitute by Southerners during the Civil War when the supply of coffee was often limited. The use of yaupon tea, also known as the “black drink”, appearred to have reached its limit in the interior areas of Texas among the Caddoan Indians. Jean Louis Berlandier, a French biologist, was a member of a scientific expedition that was sent to Texas in 1827 who discovered that Caddoan Indians used an infusion (tea) of Ilex vomitoria for medicinal purposes.

Got yaupons? Make some tea!

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

Foods Potentially Poisonous to Pets

Even though they may not be dangerous to humans, there are numerous foods that are hazardous to pets. The following is a list of foods that may be dangerous to your pet:

Alcoholic Beverages: Any type of alcohol can be poisonous to your pet and aside from intoxication, can cause a coma or even death.

Apple Seeds: Can have varied effects on pets.

Apricot Pits: Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Cherry Pits: Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Candy containing the sweetener Xylitol: Can cause liver damage and even death.

Chocolate: Although pets should never have any type of chocolate, milk chocolate is not nearly as dangerous for animals as semi-sweet or unsweetened bakers chocolate. Chocolate poisoning can cause irregular heart rate and rhythm, restlessness, hyperactivity, diarrhea, vomiting, panting, muscle tremors, abdominal pain, bloody urine, increased body temperature, seizures, coma and possibly even death.

Coffee: Can result in increased breathing and heart rate, restlessness and affects the central nervous system.

Grapes: Large amounts of grapes can be poisonous to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea,
lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.

Hops: May cause panting, elevated temperature, increased heart rate, seizures and possibly death.

Macadamia Nuts: Can cause vomiting, lethargy, hyperthermia, abdominal pain, stiff joints, lameness and tremors.

Moldy Foods: Can have varied effects on pets including vomiting and diarrhea.

Mushrooms: Different types of mushrooms can have varied effects on pets such as, depression, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, tearing, hallucinations, defecation, liver failure, seizures, drooling, urination, kidney failure, heart damage, hyperactivity and in some cases, death.

Mustard Seeds: Can have varied effects on pets.

Onions and Onion Powder: Can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Peach Pits: Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Potato Leaves and Stems: Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Raisins: Large amounts of raisins can be poisonous to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.

Rhubarb Leaves: Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Salt: In large quantities can cause electrolyte imbalances.

Tea: Can have varied effects in pets.

Tomato Leaves and Stems: Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Walnuts: Can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, as well as respiratory issues such as sneezing, breathing and coughing.

Yeast Dough: Can be dangerous as it will expand and result in gas, pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

Preppin' Tip - Alternate Use for Nails & Spikes

Some tips from down here - those big a$$ nails (60d - 6"+ length) are well worth carrying in the field.

I've used them as fire irons, using them to support a small cup of water for cup-of-soup.

Driven into ground, they allow a small skillet to be supported over the fire.

Driven lengthwise through the long end of a potato, they cook the inside of a potato more efficiently when cooking over a fire, heating inside and outside simultaneously. No more raw interior / roasted exterior. They make even larger 8" - 9" as well, but all I've seen are galvanized - believe they are classified as spikes.

Here’s a good link to them, as well as working weight usage.

http://www.sizes.com/tools/nails_common_wire.htm

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

J.R. Guerra in south TX.

Mistakes I Have Made - Part 1

I firmly believe that we can learn from both our Successes and our Mistakes. I also believe that we learn more from our Mistakes than from our Successes, at least that has been my own personal experience. The Lord knows that we all make many, many Mistakes as we grow in life.

Sooo, with that in mind, I propose to share with ya'll some of the worst Mistakes that I have made over the years and hopefully save some of you some grief that I have endured over the years.

Years ago, when I first purchased this little piece of seclusion in the Hill Country, I decided that one of the things I could do to improve the overall productivity of the "Turf", would be to put in a Fruit Orchard.

Having done some extensive research as to which types of fruit would grow best in this area I decided on several types of each fruit (Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plumbs and Figs ), would be needed for cross pollination, extended season and other reasons.

I further decided that "Dwarf Fruit Trees" were the choice to make because they mature and produce fruit quicker, take less room to grow and are easier to harvest than standard trees. So far so good!

I had selected an open are about 50' x 100' to be the "Orchard Area". By planting the trees on 10' centers (Recommended), I would be able to fit 40 fruit trees into that area. With the "Plot Plan" made up I was ready to go.

Spring Vacation was coming up and the local garden supply had their stock on sale and now was the time to get started. I purchased 40 trees, 8 of each type of fruit at $9.95 each for just over $400.00. (Sounds cheap but this was 1973) I hate to think of what this project would cost today.

Vacation week came and went. Trees got planted with time to spare and that was a good thing as I now realized my first small Mistake. The Orchard Area was 420' from the well head to the front edge of the Orchard. I had only 100' of garden hose… Spent the rest of the week hauling water in 5 gallon buckets to set the trees in good and proper.

I was not living on the "Turf" yet - Just coming out and spending the weekends cutting brush, picking up rocks, putting in perimeter fencing and now hauling more and more water for the trees as the weather got warmer. By the end of May I was the proud owner of 600' of cheap garden hose.

By the middle of June the Fruit Trees were looking great not a single tree lost with all looking fresh, green and lush and I was feeling pretty smug about this project and the outcome.

Now came the 4th of July weekend. As I arrived the first thing I noticed was that there were no leaves at all on the Fruit Trees. What could have happened - The soil was still damp - Yet NO LEAVES!

By this time I had met my neighbor (WWII Vet) who lived on the 200 acres just to the north of me. I asked him about my situation. His response was just one word - DEER! He also advised that if I kept on watering them they would probably come around by Fall. I followed his advice and sure enough they came back to life.

The next year the same thing happened - Looking great one weekend the next weekend NO LEAVES! AAARRGGHH! Another Mistake! By now I had done more research and discovered the need for some elaborate fencing to keep the deer at bay. I then made the decision to postpone the Orchard Project until I had moved to the Turf.

I hope this was not too long and that ya'll were able to see the error of my ways. See ya'll again on "Mistake II.

Hang In There

Belwether

Tuesday's Tips for Preppers - Pesky Critters

Pesky Critter Tips:

1.) Got a problem with those pesky little barn swallows nesting on the front or back of your porches causing SHTF (Stuff Hitting The Floor)? Simply put a bead of lemon-scented dishwashing liquid (Joy, etc.) along the edge where they are trying to build a nest and they will go somewhere else. Caution: Barn swallows are a federally protected species and you’re not supposed to interfere with their nests once they’re started.

2.) Got a problem with slugs or snails in your garden? Sprinkle the area around your plants with either coffee grounds or crushed egg shells. This creates an abrasive barrier that they won’t cross.

3.) Got a problem with the deer munching on your plants? Take your deodorant soap scraps; place them in a piece of old hosiery (Do Not use the wife’s good ones!) and hang in and around your garden and your plants. The fragrance from the deodorant soap will discourage their appetite for your goodies!


These are just a few tips you might find useful. Got a tip of your own on how to handle pesky critters? Leave a comment and make yourself famous!

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

Share Information With a Fellow Texan!

Just like to invite anyone that has an idea or a tip that someone may find helpful to post a comment. If you would just like to share some information on a great web site you know about or anything else that may be useful, that would be great also.

Thanks


Riverwalker