Can you eat the weeds in Minnesota lakes?
From Curious Minnesota by Minnesota Star Tribune
May 26, 2026 · 11 min
About this episode
Curious Minnesota explores the edibility of aquatic plants in Minnesota lakes through expert interviews and discussions.
What happens when a fishing trip turns into a foraging question? Recording live at the Minnesota Star Tribune’s Strib Unbound Festival, Curious Minnesota investigates whether the weeds growing in Minnesota lakes are actually edible. Inspired by a listener who wondered if the plants tangled on fishing hooks could be eaten like seaweed snacks, host Erica Pearson sits down with food reporter Sharyn Jackson to separate myth from meal. Drawing on interviews with foraging experts, chefs, and ethnobotanists, the episode explores the surprising world of aquatic plants — including eelgrass, algae, wild rice, cattails, lotus roots, and wapato (also known as “rat potato”). Along the way, they discuss food traditions, Indigenous knowledge, toxic lookalikes, water safety, and why the most abundant wild foods are often found where land and water meet. It’s a conversation about curiosity, ecosystems, and the hidden buffet growing around Minnesota lakes.
People in this episode
Host: Erica Pearson
Guest: Sharyn Jackson
Topics covered
- foraging
- edible plants
- aquatic ecosystems
- food traditions
- Indigenous knowledge
Keywords
- weeds
- foraging
- Minnesota lakes
- edible plants
- aquatic plants
- food traditions
- Indigenous knowledge
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Minnesota Star Tribune
Places: Minnesota, Minnesota lakes
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