In my neck of the woods; or farmland I should say, there are remnants of asperagus farms, namely, asperagus plants, growing along roadside ditches, in creek beds, and anywhere there is enough sunlight and proper soil for them to grow. All across Northern Illinois the veggies run wild. And they are delicious!
The best time to pick them is from late april all throughout the summer months with a peak in mid May. I particularly enjoy eating the small ones raw while on the hunt because they contain alot of flavor, they're really tender, amd they provide energy and motivation to keep up the hike for more.
Hunting for these delicious vegetables is a fun activity especially if you love hiking and the outdoors already!
The way I like to prepare the stalkier plants is to broil or grill them. I spead them out on a baking sheet, sprinkle them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and/or any other seasoning or spice that sounds good, and then cook them until the tops are slightly broiled. This makes them crispy, juicy, and delectable.
