Harvest and Preparation of “Heart of Palm” or in Redneck “Swamp Cabbage!”

This prolific state tree of Florida, the Sabal Palm, grows absolutely everywhere here in Florida. These palms also grow as far west as Texas and as far north as North Carolina. The only difference in them is the size, as the hotter it is, the faster they grow. It is also commonly know as the “Cabbage Palm” for a reason. The top 1/3 center of the palm is edible and here is how your get to it!

First you start with a chain saw and cut off the top of the palm.
Take your prize and set it somewhere you can work!

Start removing the outer branches and continue until you get down to the white center.

Then get your pot or bowl you will cut the cabbage into and start cutting!

Keep cutting and removing layers until all of the white portion is cut into your pot. You can see the difference in this picture below between the white part you eat and the yellowish tough part to be discarded. You then move to the next layer, all of the way to the center.

Then you have a pot full! This is a 4 gallon pot to give you an idea of it's size and the amount you can forage from one palm.

Once you have it in your pot cook on high initially to get it cooking and then turn to low and let it cook for about 45 minutes and it is ready...It is great seasoned with just salt and pepper as seen here or you can add pork if you like.

We ate this big pot for dinner all by itself that very same night!

The thumbnail picture is of our grass fed cows on our 20 acres by the kissimmee River.

Here are others in my Eat the Weeds Series if you missed them.
All images and text original from @joearnold.

https://steemit.com/food/@joearnold/survival-food-series-eat-the-weed-s-flowers-and-roots-what-you-can-eat-from-your-own-backyard #1

https://steemit.com/survivalist/@joearnold/survival-food-series-2-eat-the-weed-s-flowers-and-roots-what-you-can-eat-from-your-own-backyard

https://steemit.com/survivalist/@joearnold/survival-food-series-3-eat-the-weed-s-flowers-and-roots-what-you-can-eat-from-your-own-backyard

https://steemit.com/food/@joearnold/survival-food-series-4-eat-the-weed-s-flowers-and-roots-what-you-can-eat-from-your-own-backyard

https://steemit.com/health/@joearnold/survival-food-series-5-eat-the-weed-s-flowers-and-roots-what-you-can-eat-from-your-own-backyard

https://steemit.com/food/@joearnold/survival-food-series-6-eat-the-weed-s-flowers-and-roots-what-you-can-eat-from-your-own-backyard

https://steemit.com/homesteading/@joearnold/survival-food-series-7-eat-the-weed-s-flowers-and-roots-what-you-can-eat-from-your-own-backyard

https://steemit.com/homesteading/@joearnold/survival-food-series-8-eat-the-weed-s-flowers-and-roots-what-you-can-eat-from-your-own-backyard

https://steemit.com/homesteading/@joearnold/survival-food-series-9-eat-the-weed-s-flowers-and-roots-what-you-can-eat-from-your-own-backyard

Disclaimer: As with all edibles, you want to collect away from roadsides that might be covered in heavy metals or other contaminates. This is not intended to be medical or expert advice. Readers of this article and harvesters of all plants takes full responsibility for use of any plant and should use appropriate precautions in identification of any plant before ingesting.

Matthew 7:13&14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.