Plant Lore of an Alaskan Island

About the Book

"Plant Lore of an Alaskan Island" identifies the most common plants in the Kodiak archipelago. It includes edible and medicinal plants, with recipes for preparing for your table plus a special index section of medicinal plants with a brief description of their use. Native uses of these plants are emphasized, making the book somewhat of an ethnobotany. It's a good "armchair book" because it includes stories of gathering adventures, a section on the history of Ouzinkie, with stories and pictures, a full description and illustration of each plant, plus a "plant family index" with information about each plant family represented. Color and black and white photos enhance the pages. Take this book on foraging trips or enjoy reading it at home. Though focused on Spruce Island, these plants or a similar species can be found in many Alaskan locations.

About the Author

I was born in Connecticut in 1938; moved to Colorado in 1947. In 1969, I was playing 5-string banjo and bass and singing with a music group, and we got jobs in Alaska. While we were playing in Kodiak, I met my future husband, Les Kelso. At the end of that year I quit my music group and moved back to Kodiak to stay. Les and I were married, and in 1973, I saw Spruce Island for the first time. Les and I started building a house there on a homestead claim. Unfortunately, our marriage did not last. Because I wanted badly to live on Spruce Island, I garnered help from a couple of friends, moved to my homestead, and built the house where I lived for the next 20 years. I was fortunate enough to get a job teaching adults in the village of Ouzinkie, a mile and a half walk from my homestead. I have always been interested in wild plants, so I started a study group in the village to study the plants on our island. I gathered together a small group of friends who had a similar interest. For the next few years, we had a class once a week, a plant identification hike almost every week, and a monthly potluck featuring dishes from wild plants, fish, or game. The girls would always say, "You eat it first, Fran. If it doesn't poison you, we will try it." Fortunately, we have all survived. In 1982, I won the Alaska Adult Education award for the best adult educator in the state. At the time, I was in the process of writing the first edition of "Plant Lore of an Alaskan Islalnd". It included information our class had learned over our years together, plus added research. The book was published by Alaska Northwest Publishing Company in 1985. The new edition includes stories and data gathered over the last 20 years. In 2000, I moved back to Kodiak, mainly for economic reasons. To keep my plant connection strong, I started a small business called "Backwoods Botany." I took Kodiak locals or visitors on plant ID hikes. For 3 years, these hikes included trips for Kodiak cruise guests. .As I am relocating in Gustavus, Alaska, it will now be my turn to explore a new area and learn what plants are there.