Spice that could grow or forage in Zone 3 or 4

[230gr]

I was just reading the first book of the “World Made By Hand” which takes place in a back water small town in upper state New York some years after a series of terrorist macular attacks collapses the American economy and dollar. While paper money is still used to some extent, it has very little value (a creel of trout went for a $1000 and 1 oz of gold was valued at ¼ million dollars).   One of the things that I noticed was the extent that people went to add some flavor to their limited diet. This led me to thank what spices could be raised or foraged in a northern climate. I know that my spice supply will run out eventually and here are some of the spices that could grow/forage for the group. What might be added in a zone 3 or 4 climate?


American Prickly Ash bark- black pepper
Basil
Caraway
Chive
Coriander
Dill seed & leaf
Horseradish
Juniper berry-  give a gin flavor (female seed cone)
Lovage- tastes like celery and parsley
Nasturtium- chopped leaves have a black pepper taste
Mint
Mustard seed
Onion
Oregano
Parsley
Peppers, hot & sweet
Poppy Seeds
Sumac berries- lemony
Sage
Sassafras leaves- gumbo flavor
Spicebush- pulp and skins sweet, allspice-like taste (seeds peppery)
Tarragon
Thyme  (creeping thyme)-
Wild Ginger- good Ginger flavor
Wood sorrel- sour lemony

[WolfBrother]

For those who do not know what your plant hardiness climate is:
 
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardiness_zone#USDA_hardiness_zones
   Zone       From – To                           From – To
0 – a        < (−65° F)                            −53.9° C
0 – b       (−65° F) – (−60° F)              −53.9° C  – −51.1° C
1 – a        (−60° F) – (−55° F)              −51.1° C  – −48.3° C
1 – b       (−55° F) – (−50° F)              −48.3° C  – −45.6° C
2 – a        (−50° F) – (−45° F)              −45.6° C  – −42.8° C
2 – b       (−45° F) – (−40° F)              −42.8° C  – −40° C
3 – a        (−40° F) – (−35° F)              −40° C  – −37.2° C
3 – b       (−35° F) – (−30° F)              −37.2° C  – −34.4° C
4 – a        (−30° F) – (−25° F)              −34.4° C  – −31.7° C
4 – b       (−25° F) – (−20° F)              −31.7° C  – −28.9° C
5 – a        (−20° F) – (−15° F)              −28.9° C  – −26.1° C
5 – b       (−15° F) – (−10° F)              −26.1° C  – −23.3° C
6 – a        (−10° F) – (−5° F)                −23.3° C  – −20.6° C
6 – b       (−5° F) – (0° F)                    −20.6° C  – −17.8° C
7 – a        (0° F) – (5° F)                      −17.8° C  – −15° C
7 – b       (5° F) – (10° F)                    −15° C  – −12.2° C
8 – a        (10° F) – (15° F)                  −12.2° C  – −9.4° C
8 – b       (15° F) – (20° F)                  −9.4° C  – −6.7° C
9 – a        (20° F) – (25° F)                  −6.7° C  – −3.9° C
9 – b       (25° F) – (30° F)                  −3.9° C  – −1.1° C
10 – a      (30° F) – (35° F)                  −1.1° C  – +1.7° C
10 – b     (35° F) – (40° F)                  +1.7° C  – +4.4° C
11 – a      (40° F) – (45° F)                  +4.4° C  – +7.2° C
11 – b     (45° F) – (50° F)                  +7.2° C  – +10° C
12 – a      (50° F) – (55° F)                  +10° C  – +12.8° C
12 – b     (55° F)                                  > +12.8° C
     
USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map URL - enter your zip and it'll tell you down to the a or b
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Default.aspx
 
Where you can purchase a 40x 60 USDA Plant Hardiness Map
http://whmap.com/plant-hardiness-zone-map/

I do like the global warming dance around the USDA did.  They stated that the 10 degree higher difference was NOT a statement on global change but the result of different data gathering methods.

One final note - there micro-climates in various places.  Those generally fall into a different number from the surrounding area.

[230gr]

For perennials and trees, I strongly recommend using the old charts (10oF cooler!) to govern your planting and then think 1 zone colder. If you look at the the weather preseeding the 1177 BC Dark age and the later Mini-Ice Age in France, you can see how they are similar to our "climate change". decades of increasing warm temperatures, then years of heavy precipitation and crop failure ending in a sharp drop in temperature and crop failure. As a rule, planting heartier and shorter day to maturity cultivars, in anticipation of climatic cooling, will still produce for you now and be an insurance policy for the future.     

[pqtb]

One must not forget Garlic.

[230gr]

Can't for get garlic: spice, food and medical plant!