What a lovely and useful book this is, Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods From Dirt to Plate by John Kallas, Ph.D. Better than an app or trying to look things up on your phone, this comprehensive book has both fantastic and useful photos, great descriptions, warnings, and scientific data, it also teaches you where to look for these plants, how to clean and prepare them and then offers simple recipes so that you can make the most of your wild harvest.

I do think that having a garden is wonderful, but there is something uniquely special about eating and working with plants who are native to the area, or at least grow plentifully and easily. And there is also something uniquely natural and (I think) potentially more nutrient-filled for us to eat things that have chosen where they will grow and that are harvested with minimal transport.

This guide helped me to begin foraging on my own property and finding reliable “weeds” like chickwood, lambsquarters and wild mustards to supplement our intentionally grown greens. I swear you can taste the goodness in them! Highly recommend this resource for anyone interested in healthy food, local food, and/or preparedness.

Shanti (peace),

Jill