Sunny Savage | Inviting the Wild Inside

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ALOHA, I’M SUNNY SAVAGE

Internationally recognized wild food forager. I’ve taught thousands of people about wild foods, have traveled to every continent, and enjoy distilling my observations of the natural world into storied solutions.

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Discover six edible invasive species in Hawaii with the Savage Kitchen App. Find wild foods near you, with mapping and recipes for tropical and subtropical locations around the globe. Wild adventures await!

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SUNNY’S WILD WORLD

Blog of all things wild.

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Haole Koa Hui

Wild Spring Greens in the Tropics

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@SUNNYSAVAGEOFFICIAL

Fresh Guaje Mole Verde…another wild creation by

Fresh Guaje Mole Verde…another wild creation by @abuelitatechnology using green haole koa seeds, paired beautifully with this roasted cauliflower. Recipe coming July 6th in the Savage Kitchen App update. Do you have the app? Are you ready for the deliciousness?

📸 @abuelitatechnology
#loveyourwild #foraging #moleverde #haolekoa #guaje #leucaenaleucocephala #rivertamarind #whiteleadtree #savagekitchenapp #recipes #onewildfoodeveryday #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #maui #hawaii

Haole Koa plant monograph is now live in my shop!

Haole Koa plant monograph is now live in my shop! 👆🏽link in bio 👆🏽
What is a plant monograph you say? You get all the factoids, details, current science on medicinal compounds and ethnobotanical uses over time. Want to take a deep dive into haole koa (Leucaena leucocephala)? Click link in my bio for more 👆🏽

#loveyourwild #plantmonograph #monograph #eattheinvasives #haolekoa #invasivespecies #leucaenaleucocephala #guaje #rivertamarind #ipilipil #whiteleadtree #savagekitchenapp #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #sunnysavage #eatlocal #eatlocalmaui #projectlocavore #aipono #onewildfoodeveryday #maui #hawaii

These brown haole koa pods (Leucaena leucocephala)

These brown haole koa pods (Leucaena leucocephala) are perfect for harvesting - free from mold and insect damage👀 be picky, observe before you pick, and always transport your harvest in a sealed container so as not to spread seed of this invasive species. The abundance already floweth, we don’t need more!

#loveyourwild #foraging #wildfood #invasivespecies #eattheinvasives #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #rivertamarind #whiteleadtree #protein #savagekitchenapp #onewildfoodeveryday #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #maui #hawaii

Continually amazed at plant relationships, how thi

Continually amazed at plant relationships, how things all fit together. Old companions. As I work more and more with haole koa (Leucaena leucocephala), the wild indigo (Indigofera suffruticosa) just keeps overlapping. Both originating in Mexico, I think, with their greens and blues so familiar to each other.

Note : I took this photo about 8 years ago, a time when I was still experimenting with adding the sickle-shaped seed pods to the dyepot, something I no longer do, but with tomorrow’s new moon/solar eclipse I was feeling this image.

#loveyourwild #naturaldyeing #invasivespecies #abundancespecies #wildindigo #wildcolor #indigoferasuffruticosa #experimental #experimentation #colortherapy #mexico #maui #hawaii #hawaiianislands

Do you love fermented foods? I adapted @ledameredi

Do you love fermented foods? I adapted @ledameredith recipe for lacto-fermented green tomatoes from her book Pickling Everything, adding unopened haole koa flower buds and some tropical twists like allspice. So delicious!

#loveyourwild #foraging #eattheinvasives #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #rivertamarind #ipilipil #tantan #whiteleadtree #savagekitchenapp #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #onewildfoodeveryday #eatlocal #eatlocalmaui #maui #hawaii

This Lebanese-inspired Fresh Guaje Falafel recipe

This Lebanese-inspired Fresh Guaje Falafel recipe coming soon in the Savage Kitchen App! Recipe incorporates green haole koa seeds (Guaje in Spanish), created by Chef @abuelitatechnology
So many good things coming 💙💚💙

#loveyourwild #savagekitchenapp #edibleinvasives #eattheinvasives #invasivespecies #leucaenaleucocephala #haolekoa #guaje #ipilipil #tantan #whiteleadtree #rivertamarind #creative #chef #onewildfoodeveryday #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #maui #foraging #hawaii

Beauty is such an important part of life. People h

Beauty is such an important part of life. People have been adorning themselves with haole koa (Leucaena leucocephala) for a very long time. Pictured here @momega5000 separating green haole koa seeds from the pod ~ beautifully!

📸 @sunnysavageofficial
#loveyourwild #foraging #beauty #eattheinvasives #invasivespecies #haolekoa #rivertamarind #whiteleadtree #tantan #ipilipil #leucaenaleucocephala #savagekitchenapp #onewildfoodeveryday #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #maui #hawaii

For the love of haole koa (Leucaena leucocephala)… 😍 artwork created by @natureofsophia for Savage Kitchen.

#loveyourwild #foragingart #mandala #haolekoa #rivertamarind #tantan #ipilipil #whiteleadtree #leucaenaleucocephala #invasivespecies #eattheinvasives #savagekitchenapp #sunnysavage #maui #hawaii #eatlocal #art #artmaui #artonmaui

What do you see? #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala

What do you see?

#haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #whiteleadtree #guaje #ipilipil #loveyourwild #eattheinvasives #invasivespecies #savagekitchenapp #onewildfoodeeveryday #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #maui #hawaii

Dill Pickled Buds. The process of soaking haole ko

Dill Pickled Buds. The process of soaking haole koa unopened flowers for 36 hours in water, then boiling to make pickling-ready, is outlined step-by-step in the Savage Kitchen App update on July 6th. Recipe for these Dill Pickled Buds coming then!

👆🏽👆🏽get direct link to App Store & Play Store in my bio website link

Each time you eat one of these it prevents 10-20 seed pods forming from a flower. There are an additional 10-20 seeds in each seed pod. These numbers are variable, but roughly 100-400 seeds you are preventing for each ONE dill pickled bud you eat!

#loveyourwild #savagekitchenapp #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #eattheinvasives #wildfoodlove #invasivespecies #abundancespecies #wildfood #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #guaje #whiteleadtree #maui #ipilipil #hawaii #eatlocal #dillpickle

I’ve fantasized about being a horsewoman ever si

I’ve fantasized about being a horsewoman ever since my cousin Heidi put me on her paint (2nd photo)…never quite came to be, but I’ve heard many reports of horses getting sick from eating haole koa (Leucaena leucocephala). Would love to hear any horse peoples accounts!

#cowgirlup

📸 @tahitihuetter
🎩 @creatures_of_the_wild_unknown

#loveyourwild #horses #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #whiteleadtree #guaje #paniolo #sunnysavage #mimosine #cowgirl #horsewoman #maui #hawaii

Remember those young, flexible green haole koa see

Remember those young, flexible green haole koa seed pods that don’t have fully mature green seeds inside? This is what they can make, a delicious salad!!! This is one of my absolute favorites…fresh, inspired by a Thai youtuber..pods are transformed when cut into thin strips. Recipe will be in the new update to the Savage Kitchen App first week of July.

#loveyourwild #savagekitchenapp #foraging #eattheinvasives #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #whiteleadtree #guaje #onewildfoodeveryday #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #wildfoodlove #invasivespecies #maui #hawaii #hawaiianislands

Let’s normalize this. Indigenous and economicall

Let’s normalize this. Indigenous and economically poor people have been ostracized for being in relationship with the land in this way.

What’s happening here in this photo? We’re processing haole koa, we’re normalizing people in relationship with the land.

#loveyourwild #community #foraging #normalizethis #foodsovereignty

The Haole Koa Hui formed during the past month, wi

The Haole Koa Hui formed during the past month, with weekly foraging and processing of Leucaena leucocephala. It takes moments to forage something, but hours to process in quantity. This work, of reclaiming responsibility for feeding ourselves, is so much easier when we gather together. My heart yearns for more of this, more gathering, more of the incredible connections between people and land based in love and stewardship. What do you think, would you like to gather together with others to reclaim connection to food, people and place?

For the past few days I had the opportunity to gather with old and new foraging friends in Kentucky at the Wild Health Summit. This lifestyle, these people, it blows my heart wide open every time. So much gratitude.

#loveyourwild #foraging #foragingwithfriends #haolekoa #hui #leucaenaleucocephala #kentucky #wildhealthsummit

oh the subtleties of foraging…green, flexible po

oh the subtleties of foraging…green, flexible pods without large (pepita-sized) visible seeds are also edible. Steamed and boiled in Southeast Asia, my favorite preparation is cut into thin slices, soaked in water for 36 hours, then eaten raw but water processed. This water processing will be outlined in detail in the Savage Kitchen App early July.

#loveyourwild #foraging #eattheinvasives #haolekoa #whiteleadtree #guaje #leucaenaleucocephala #wildfood #onewildfoodeveryday #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #maui #hawaii #hawaiianislands

Haole koa (Leucaena leucocephala) originates from

Haole koa (Leucaena leucocephala) originates from Mexico, so it’s an honor to have a Mexican woman share her recipes of a plant with thousands of years of unbroken cultural connection. Sofia Flores @abuelitatechnology created this Fresh Guaje Salad recipe using green seeds, which will be available in the Savage Kitchen App early July —> guaje is the name of haole koa in Spanish.

#loveyourwild #traditions #wildfood #foraging #savagekitchenapp #eattheinvasives #guaje #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #whiteleadtree #originstories #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #onewildfoodeveryday #maui #hawaii

Traditional knowledge for the win! My roommate is

Traditional knowledge for the win! My roommate is from Mexico, and his Huichol friends say haole koa (Leucaena leucocephala) green seeds are eaten before going hunting to increase vision/sight of the animals. Science shows the seeds contain beta-carotene!

Recipe for these rice balls will be in the Savage Kitchen app update first week of July. Do you have the app downloaded? It’s free in both the App Store & Play Store.

#loveyourwild #traditionalknowledge #huichol #guaje #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #whiteleadtree #onewildfoodeveryday #vision #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #savagekitchenapp #sunnysavage #eatlocal #riceballs #wildfoodlove #wildfood #ediblewildplants #foraging #maui #hawaii #hawaiianislands

Gorgeous brown and green haole koa (Leaucaena leuc

Gorgeous brown and green haole koa (Leaucaena leucocephala) pods in perfect condition for harvesting. Do you see the tiny pods sprouting out from the dead flowers?

#loveyourwild #foraging #savagekitchenapp #eattheinvasives #invasivore #ediblewildplants #guaje #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #whiteleadtree #eatlocal #onewildfoodeveryday #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #maui #hawaii #hawaiianislands

Haole koa tempeh, known as tempe lamtoro or tempe

Haole koa tempeh, known as tempe lamtoro or tempe mlandingan, is the third most popular tempeh in Central Java, Indonesia.

This photo showing pans of haole koa tempeh pan fried, awaiting garlic powder/nutritional yeast/salt to finish. Recipe to make haole koa tempeh coming first week of July in the Savage Kitchen app update!

#loveyourwild #eattheinvasives #foraging #tempeh #tempe #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #whiteleadtree #wildfoodlove #wildfood #eattheweeds #savagekitchenapp #onewildfoodeveryday #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #sunnysavage #maui #hawaii #hawaiianislands

There might be 6 edible parts of haole koa (Leucae

There might be 6 edible parts of haole koa (Leucaena leucocephala), but it is the brown pods that really help when learning to identify this plant (you can spot them while driving 60 down the highway 😜). Our group today focused on the finer subtleties of which brown pods to harvest...how to spot mold growth, insect entry and damage. A few photos here, more in stories.

#loveyourwild #eattheinvasives #eattheweeds #savagekitchenapp #haolekoa #leucaenaleucocephala #whiteleadtree #guaje #protein #wildfoodplantsofhawaii #ediblewildplants #foraging #wildfood #maui #eatlocal #hawaii #hawaiianislands