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… [read more]

Easily found in many areas, Japanese knotwood has a slightly tangy flavor that makes it useful in any recipe calling for rhubarb. In the Spring, Japanese Knotwood comes into season. Also known as Fallopia japonica, it can be identified by simple leaves that alternate and appear to be a broad oval. This native species comes from… [read more]

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… [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 grow in… [read more]

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 light… [read more]

In the Spring, you can find lots of yummy plants to enjoy. From green plants to yummy, ripe fruits, there’s a plethora of food to be found, if you just look. Growing along the sunny banks and around a forest edge, or even in your own back yard, wild strawberries are delicious. You can also… [read more]

One of my new favorite items to forage for  is chantrelles. This convex shaped, yellow to orange yellow mushroom can grow to be  1-10 inches across at the cap. When they are fresh picked, they have a delicious sweet scent, almost like apricots. The stalk is smooth, has no bulb around the base or ring and… [read more]

We love using, growing and foraging for yarrow. Yarrow, Achillea milefolium L., is a green fern-like foliage with tiny flowers ranging in different colors.  It can grow between ankle and knee height, and may allude you if you blink. Named for the reference to Achilles, the hero of the Trojan wars for its widespread use in… [read more]

Plantain weed, Plantago lanceolata, is a common in many backyards. This low-growing plant is bright green, has 5 to 9 deep veins on the leaves, and has a long shoot running up the middle. It’s commonly found in fields, roadsides and in backyard lawns. Plantain leaves and seeds are all edible. It’s new leaves are wonderful… [read more]

Impatiens capensis, also known as Jewelweed, is a prize for foragers. When you are foraging, especially in wooded areas, you are sure to come across poison ivy. Poison ivy is best identified by the “leaves of 3” in one cluster and by it’s bright green to reddish green leaves. The urushiol in poison ivy can cause… [read more]