A Tribute To Linda Runyon

A Tribute to Linda Runyon

I only met her once, but Linda Runyon opened up a whole new world for me, one that was hidden in plain sight!  Back in 1990, a friend invited me to a luncheon, held at the Landmark Restaurant in Mesa Arizona.  Everything that was served was prepared with local desert plants, yet it was presented like a gourmet meal.  It was all surprisingly delicious too!  I was most blown away (pun intended) by the Tumbleweed pancakes with Prickly Pear syrup!  Who would have thought to eat Tumbleweed in the first place?  Linda Runyon of course.

Linda spoke that day and told the story of how her and her husband quit their professional careers and moved their family to the wilderness of the Adirondacks in 1972.  She learned to identify and eat the plants that naturally grew there from Willie Whitefeather. She also learned how to serve meals that would satisfy and sustain her family. 

In 1986, Linda moved to Glendale Arizona to take care of her parents. She jumped right in and learned to eat the plants of the desert! She also developed a wild foods walk at the Glendale Library and taught others whenever she could. 

Linda, along with her son, documented as much as they could so her wild food wisdom would continue after she entered into a retirement of sorts, and beyond.  Her books and teaching tools are available on her website https://ofthefield.com/

I felt so sad when I heard that Linda passed away on March 12, 2017 at the age of 79. 

I hope you will visit Linda’s website and learn more about her life and wild foods.  I will endeavor to keep her knowledge alive by teaching wild food classes around the valley.