Dear Sun Spots: Could you please find something out for me? I don’t have a computer and I don’t want that stuff in my home either for I am a simple person. Now this is what I’d like to know: Can one eat the maple seedlings that sprout all over in the graveyard? I’ve been pulling them like mad or we would have a forest so dense that not even a bug could squeeze through. I know the people here eat unusual things such as dandelions and fiddleheads. I’ve even eaten dandelion greens myself for they cleanse the blood. And now that I’ve seen all those maple seedlings sprouting it is a shame that they go to waste. If they could be used as a food source, it would be wonderful. Thank you very much. – Heidi W., Dryden.

Answer: Sun Spots does not believe eating dandelion greens or fiddleheads is that unusual. You’ll find plenty of recipes and aficionados who enjoy them when in season. Mainers, you’ll note, are very fond of their fiddleheads. Sun Spots has even featured several Fiddlehead recipes here in the column. According to www.mainefiddleheads.com, a Fiddlehead is the beginning stage of the ostrich fern. It’s a Maine delicacy that appears in the early spring usually sometime in early May. Fresh fiddleheads are gathered in early spring, when the ice goes out, and the local streams and rivers begin to subside. Locals eagerly await this spring ritual and being scouring the local riverbanks looking for their patch of fiddleheads.

Fiddleheads are snapped off at ground level and gathered in pails. Once gathered, fiddleheads are cleaned, washed and brought to market. This vegetable has a unique flavor that is somewhat mild and difficult to compare to any other vegetable. Try this Maine delicacy for yourself and see what keeps the locals busy throughout the spring season. The most popular way to eat fresh fiddleheads is to clean and boil fiddleheads for about 30 minutes, season with salt, pepper and butter. Many locals serve with vinegar. Fresh fiddleheads can be blanched and frozen or canned. Pickled fiddleheads are also a delicious condiment. For more creative Fiddlehead recipes, visit our the site’s Fiddlehead Recipes section.

In the meantime, in checking with Sun Journal gardening columnist Jody Goodwin, she notes that if the maple seedlings are in a lawn, they will die if they just keep mowing them. Otherwise, unless they want to use chemicals, hand-pulling is the most efficient. Regarding your question about whether they’re edible, she has checked in her trusty L.L. Bean cookbook, which gives recipes for such things as chipmunk chowder, but nothing on maple foliage. Perhaps there are other readers out there who might be able to advise you here.

Dear Sun Spots: Is there a store in Portland that sells plastic canvas books. I have some books to swap for some that I don’t have. Some are new. Who do you see about senior housing? And where can I get my wall clock oiled? – Muriel Sawyer, No Town.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you might consider checking out Michaels Stores, (www.michaels.com), 490 Payne Road, Scarborough, 883-8419. Or, Annie’s Attic online at www.anniesattic.com. They have several patterns that might be of interest to you.

Regarding your second question, contact Lewiston Housing who welcome seniors and offer elderly housing at Meadowview Apartments; elderly/disabled housing at Blake Street Towers; family development at Hillview Apartments, Rosedale Acres and Lafayette Park as well as many one-, two- and three-bedroom units throughout Lewiston. Contact the administrative office for more information and a brochure at 783-1423.

For your wall clock, contact Rohman Clockworks at 350 Minot Ave., Auburn, 784-1211, Michael Lovejoy in South Paris at 743-8222, Doug Parker 892-4205, 506 River Road, Windham, ME 04062 or Fred Ricker, 3 Hilltop Drive, York, 363-3143.

• Knitters seeking others to knit with at the Auburn Knitting Club; should please note the club will now meet on Thursdays (through August) at 9 a.m. in the Grand Reading Room of the Auburn Public Library. The day of the week has been updated. FMI please call the reference desk at 333-6640, ext:4.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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