I am a millennial, though I am not usually one to fall prey to trendy hashtags; but when a friend on LinkedIn posted about #plantsgiving, I was intrigued. Turns out, in my standard living-under-a-rock way, this is NOT a new hashtag, but one that was born in 2019 by Dr. Chris Martine at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. #PlantsGiving is a social media campaign in which people challenge one another to count the number of plant species used in their Thanksgiving meal. Well, you dear reader, I challenge you to reflect on your recent Thanksgiving meal to truly understand what plants went into your menu.

My Family’s Menu

• Turkey with herb butter
• Mashed potatoes
• Gluten-free green bean casserole
• Bread and biscuits
• Gluten-free sweet potato casserole
• Bagged mix stuffing
• Greens
• Pumpkin pie
• Cheesecake with praline topping
• Cranberry salad
• Cherry pie
• Ambrosia

Where Did Our Ingredients Come From?

So, we had 15 plant families and 24 genera represented in our family’s Thanksgiving meal. That is amazing. Many of these ingredients are not native to North America and have been in cultivation for thousands of years. It is just amazing to think about how all of that time and diversity made our amazingly tasty meal possible!

Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family)

• Garlic
• Onions

Apiaceae (Carrot family)

• Celery

Brassicaceae (Mustard family)

• Collard Greens
• Turnip Greens (Turnip)

Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory family)

• Sweet potatoes

Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family)

• Pumpkin

Ericaceae (Heath family)

• Cranberry

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)

• Cassava

Fabaceae (Legume/Pea family)

• Green beans

Juglandaceae (Walnut family)

• Pecans
• Walnuts

Lamiaceae (Mint family)

• Basil
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Thyme

Piperaceae (Pepper family)

• Pepper (spice)

Poaceae (Grass family)

• Sugar (Sucrose)
• Wheat

Rosaceae (Rose family)

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Cherries

Rutaceae (Rue family)

• Mandarin Oranges
• Oranges (Sweet Orange)

Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

• Potatoes

How Can You Find Out Where Your Meal Came From?

There are some great resources to help you identify your plants online, but I highly recommend using the NC State Plant Toolbox. They have a great profile of who these plants are and how to grow them. The Internet can have some misleading information, so be sure to check with the Plant Toolbox or your local Cooperative Extension Office! So, what was your #plantsgiving like?

Giving Thanks to You, Dear Community

N.C. Cooperative Extension’s mission is to “help people put research-based knowledge to work for economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and an improved quality of life.” As an Extension agent, I am thankful to have the opportunity through my job to serve the Lee County and NC communities every day; but the winter holidays make us even more aware of how fortunate we are to serve our communities. Those of y’all who read my articles are such a gracious audience and I am glad the information I share can help you! Thank you!

Amanda Bratcher is the Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.