
Foraging for fiddleheads: A springtime tradition in the Maritimes is in full swing
Just off a road in a wooded area that hugs a river, dinner is sprouting. Some fiddleheads, the curled greens that have been a staple in New Brunswick for generations, are waiting in plain sight. Sometimes, they're hidden under the brush.
With a bag in his hand and his eyes on the ground, Andrew MacLean explains how to forage the ostrich fern.
'There's only a two-week window where these things are ripe, so you have to be pretty quick on the ball,' he said. 'If they grow too large, they're bitter.'
Some people like to boil the fern and add vinegar, explains MacLean, but he says they taste best sauteed with lemon and garlic.
MacLean first went fiddleheading with his grandparents in Tide Head, N.B., which bills itself as the world's fiddlehead capital. It's a tradition he continues every spring.
'This is kind of a major thing for my family, but not just my family, but New Brunswickers from all over, all ages,' he said. 'You can just kind of tell the story of New Brunswick based on fiddleheads.'
Fiddleheads through history
'In the beginning, the Wolastoqiyik, Mi'kmaq, and the Passamaquoddy really loved the fiddlehead. When the Acadian population came over in the 1700s, they were taught about the fiddleheads by the Indigenous peoples,' said Maclean, a historian and author who tells stories of Canada's past in his books and on his website backyardhistory.ca .
'And then, very soon after the English arrived with the Loyalists, they didn't have much food in the beginning. And they went for the fiddleheads, which grew very early in the spring.'
Maclean says, in the 1980s, Vermont tried to make the fiddlehead its official vegetable, sparking an angry response from people in New Brunswick who protested with poems. Vermont ultimately didn't go through with it, he says.
Maclean's family freezes the fiddleheads and eventually cook to add to Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner. A quirky tip to wash them is to use a bingo cage. 'If you put that in shallow water and the fiddleheads inside them and use it to wash them, it's way less of a fuss, Maclean said.
'Since time immemorial, we've picked fiddleheads'
On Tobique First Nation, Shane Perley-Dutcher carries a traditional woven basket through a grassy area next to a stream. He's on the lookout for fiddleheads and doesn't want any that have overgrown.
'You want to get them when they're nice and curled up,' he said.
Like MacLean, Perley-Dutcher has been doing this since he was a kid. He grew up picking with his aunts, uncles and grandmother.
'We always had spots. 'Our secret spots' they would say,' he joked, pointing out people are protective of the areas where they forage.
As he quickly spots, picks and throws fiddleheads into his basket, he leaves one in the bunch he picked from – a lesson he learned from his family to leave one for the next person.
Perley-Dutcher says fiddleheads are a traditional staple and medicine because of their nutritional benefits.
'It's like the first medicine of the spring, of the year,' he said. 'Since time immemorial, we've picked fiddleheads. And it was always known as part of our diet, our traditional diet, along with salmon.'
He washes his fiddleheads in the stream in the traditional basket he brought to remove any brown, papery scales.
Jamie Simpson, author of Eating Wild in Eastern Canada, points out how the ostrich fern likes to grow along riverbanks, particularly riverbanks that get flooded in springtime.
It grows into a full-size fern with a big frond that kind of looks like an ostrich feather, he says.
Eating them safely
According to the government of Canada, fiddleheads can cause food poisoning if they have not been stored, prepared or cooked properly.
Health Canada recommends cooking fiddleheads in a generous amount of boiling water for 15 minutes or steaming them for 10 to 12 minutes until tender. The water used for boiling or steaming the fiddleheads should be discarded after.
What's the best fiddleheads recipe? It depends on who you ask.
'A little bit of butter, some salt, a little bit of lemon juice, a little bit of vinegar, and they're just perfect,' said Simpson.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Rescue efforts underway at B.C. mine where three workers are trapped underground
Rescue efforts are continuing at a northern B.C. mine where three workers are trapped underground. Article content Operator Newmont Corp. has said it was working to assemble specialist teams from nearby mine sites to respond to the situation at the Red Chris Mine in a remote area near Dease Lake, B.C. Article content Article content The three contractors, two from British Columbia and one from Ontario, were trapped Tuesday after two 'fall of ground incidents,' in what the company says is the access way to the underground work area. Article content Article content It says the workers were more than 500 metres beyond the first fall and were asked to relocate to a designated refuge station before a second collapse blocked the access way and restricted communication. Article content Article content The company says that before communication was cut, the workers confirmed they were in a refuge bay, which has enough food, water and ventilation for an 'extended stay.' Article content The company has said it was assessing technologies to restore communication and bring the workers to surface, while Premier David Eby, who announced the accident on Wednesday, says a senior geotechnical inspector has been sent to support the rescue. Article content Imperial Metals Corp. has a minority stake in the mine and has said that its priority is ensuring the safety of the three workers and the emergency response teams supporting the rescue effort. Article content


CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
'We're the protectors now,' says Sheshatshiu youth after 130-kilometre walk to Gull Island
A group of young Sheshatshiu residents completed a 130-kilometre journey in protest over a proposed hydroelectric project at Gull Island — and one says it's a sign that youth are ready to take on leadership roles to protect the land. Angel Jourdain, Percey Montague and Patrick Jourdain began the long walk earlier this month from Sheshatshui to Gull Island to to join several people who have been protesting Hydro-Québec's preliminary site survey work. Angel Jourdain said land is a place where Innu have gathered for years and said the walk holds a lot of significance for her. "I hope it shows them that we're peaceful, that we love our land but we won't step down when it comes to it, that we'll be here to protest it, if any bad decisions are made upon the land," Jourdain told CBC. "We're the protectors now. Now that most of the elders are gone, we were ready to step in." She said the group, which included Percey Montague and Patrick Jourdain, began their journey on July 13 and arrived in Gull Island on July 20. Jourdain is pleased they did this and she's feeling well, even though she's tired and sore from the long walk. "Emotionally I'm still strong and I'm ready to do whatever is next," she said, adding Montague and Patrick Jourdain are excited for any future challenges. Throughout the week-long walk, community members dropped off drinks to keep them hydrated as well as equipment like walking sticks and even junk food, to help "keep our spirits up." "We had people stop to give us hugs and to talk to us and tell us we're doing great and just giving us words of encouragement," said Jourdain. Innu Elder Elizabeth Penashue also joined the trio for a 12-kilometre portion of their walk, which Jourdain called a "big motivator to keep going." Jourdain said many elders Penashue's age are dying, so "it's really important to hear her say that, and that she trusts us to protect the land and to appreciate it the way they have done for so many years." When the group arrived at Gull Island, she said they were greeted by a crowd, from community leaders to young children. "It's not just the walk, it's an achievement for the youth of Sheshatshiu. Something like this has never been done, so seeing the support from it will definitely encourage others to do more," she said.


CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
North Bay showcases green efforts for community in competition
A welcome to North Bay sign hightlight the city's pervious win in Communities in Bloom competitions is shown on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) Two judges from the national Communities in Bloom competition visited North Bay, Ont., on Wednesday, to assess the city's dedication to environmental stewardship, cultural preservation and community collaboration. Expand Autoplay 1 of 8 North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards A welcome to North Bay sign hightlight the city's pervious win in Communities in Bloom competitions is shown on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Sights from around North Bay, Ont., on July 23, 2025, as two judges from the national Communities in Bloom competition visited the city to see how citizens are committed to nature, culture and coming together to do good things. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Sights from around North Bay, Ont., on July 23, 2025, as two judges from the national Communities in Bloom competition visited the city to see how citizens are committed to nature, culture and coming together to do good things. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Sights from around North Bay, Ont., on July 23, 2025, as two judges from the national Communities in Bloom competition visited the city to see how citizens are committed to nature, culture and coming together to do good things. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Two community members walk through the city's waterfront as judging was underway in North Bay, Ont., for the 2025 national Communities in Bloom competition on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Communities in Bloom judges Tina Liu and Karen Stephenson are seen touring a backyard garden in North Bay, Ont., on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Communities in Bloom judges Tina Liu and Karen Stephenson are seen arriving in North Bay, Ont., on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Harriet Madigan, chairperson of Clean, Green, Beautiful North Bay, is seen socializing with community members as judging was underway in North Bay, Ont., for the 2025 national Communities in Bloom competition on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) National judges tour city's natural and cultural highlights Tina Liu and Karen Stephenson explored various locations, tourist attractions, and natural sites, evaluating efforts to combat climate change and promote a healthy environment. Their itinerary included a morning walk through Laurier Woods and a visit to a local backyard garden. North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Communities in Bloom judges Tina Liu and Karen Stephenson are seen touring a backyard garden in North Bay, Ont., on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) The judges meticulously documented their observations, with Liu taking notes and photographs. Strong community involvement noted 'The community involvement is very solid in North Bay,' Liu said. 'We actually saw during our tours that people just walk by something and pick up garbage.' North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Communities in Bloom judges Tina Liu and Karen Stephenson are seen arriving in North Bay, Ont., on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) This year's competition evaluates six key criteria: community appearance, environmental actions, tree management, heritage conservation, landscape and plant and floral displays. Liu highlighted the city's strategic planning 'We see the municipality has incorporated that into their master plan and strategic plan,' she said. 'This is what grows healthy communities.' North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Sights from around North Bay, Ont., on July 23, 2025, as two judges from the national Communities in Bloom competition visited the city to see how citizens are committed to nature, culture and coming together to do good things. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) North Bay's previous success in the competition In 2023, North Bay participated in the provincial Communities in Bloom competition, earning a perfect 5/5 Bloom rating with an overall score of 83 per cent. This achievement qualified the city for the 2024 national competition. Judges at the time praised the result as an 'outstanding achievement, particularly for a first-time entrant' in the 50,000 to 100,000 population category. North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Sights from around North Bay, Ont., on July 23, 2025, as two judges from the national Communities in Bloom competition visited the city to see how citizens are committed to nature, culture and coming together to do good things. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) A year later, the city repeated its success, securing another 5/5 rating with a slightly improved score of 83.15 per cent. Additionally, North Bay won the TECK Community Appearance Award and received special recognition for the Northern Pines Transitional Housing complex. Focus on continuous improvement Liu encouraged communities to view the competition as an opportunity for growth rather than a strict scoring system. 'I tend to tell the communities not to fixate on how many points you get and to look at the recognitions and the recommendations,' she told reporters. Harriet Madigan, chairperson of Clean, Green, Beautiful North Bay, emphasized the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges. 'They were talking about streetscapes and gave us recommendations on how to enhance it and make it better,' Madigan said. 'We need to really use the word 'we' and not 'I.' That, and we're going to manage climate change. We can't change it.' North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Harriet Madigan, chairperson of Clean, Green, Beautiful North Bay, is seen socializing with community members as judging was underway in North Bay, Ont., for the 2025 national Communities in Bloom competition on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) Celebrating community pride The judges attended the Centennial Celebrations Festival Wednesday evening to engage with local non-profits and residents. The final results will be announced in mid-October at a symposium and awards ceremony in Stratford, Ont. North Bay competes for Communities in Bloom awards Two community members walk through the city's waterfront as judging was underway in North Bay, Ont., for the 2025 national Communities in Bloom competition on July 23, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario) Despite the pending results, Madigan expressed confidence in the city's efforts. 'We've already won because of how our community has come together,' she said. 'In my heart, I know we've already won.'