Most folks who have a little bit of wilderness lore and experience under their belts know that nature provides us with countless edible plants, berries, mushrooms, nuts, and other foods if only we know where to look and what to pick. Foraging for wild edibles is a great way to get outdoors, enjoy some fresh …
Growing up on hiking trails, in campsites, and going to Scout meets every two or three weeks gave me a healthy respect for some of the dangers posed by Mother Nature. Wild lettuce (Lactuca Virosa) is a plant that’s technically a weed. It’s a member of the dandelion family and has been used in traditional …
Lady’s thumb (Persicaria maculosa) is a summer annual belonging to the buckwheat (polygonaceae) family. This adaptable smartweed grows abundantly throughout North America and Eurasia. In North America, the plant is considered an invasive species and farmers and gardeners work hard to prevent it and rid it from their fields. However, like many other weeds, it …
When you’re living off the land, there’s a wide variety of edible plants from which you can choose to eat. On the other hand, there’s also a wide variety of inedible plants which will make you very sick (or worse) if ingested. With that in mind, it’s important to know what you’re eating. When it …
Strawberries are a popular fruit commonly used in desserts. The mixed sweet and sour flavor is perfect for a variety of sweet treats including jams, preserves, cakes, pies, strawberries and cream and chocolate fondue. What about wild strawberries though? Even though they grow all across North America, we’re commonly taught that if you don’t know …
Most of us can’t grow our own coffee, but we can easily find this wild coffee substitute! Cleavers, Galium aparine, is a fast growing weed that can be found in damp areas and along fence lines. The plant has narrow lance shaped leaves that are very sticky. Cleavers is also sometimes referred to as “nature’s velcro” …
Easily found in many areas, Japanese knotweed has a slightly tangy flavor that makes it useful in any recipe calling for rhubarb. In the Spring, Japanese Knotweed comes into season. Also known as Fallopia japonica, it can be identified by simple leaves that alternate and appear to be a broad oval. Other names for the …
Learning to forage for your food is perfect for keeping your reliance off of others and on yourself. In the Spring and Summer, you will find a lot of edible plants, flowers, and roots to stock your own pantry with. The best part is that you can even plant some of these yourself, and have …
Grape Hyacinth: How To Forage For, Grow Yourself, and Use Read More »
Crabapples or Malus sylesris, can often be found along fields in wooded areas. When cultivated in the home orchard or garden, crabapples grow up on trees that can reach up to 25 feet in height. The flowers of the crabapples begin as white, light pink to dark pink and purple blossoms. The crabapple fruit will …
As the weather turns from bitter cold to warm, wet Spring, there will be lots of growth in fields, forests and your backyard. Many will be delicious edibles, mushrooms to go foraging for and just waiting to be enjoyed. I love foraging for morels and pheasant back mushrooms especially. They are a family favorite with …
