I remember when I first started foraging twenty years ago, I initially focused on plentiful and weedy wild greens. I think this is the case for many new foragers—we look at what’s around us and what’s familiar as a starting point. For many people, this includes plants like dandelion, plantain, chicory, dock, and garlic mustard. These are some of the wild edibles that formed the foundation of my foraging practice, but to be honest, I was not impressed. As a city kid who grew up eating a diet largely devoid of fresh vegetables, the bitter flavor and tough or stringy texture did not sit well with me. Fortunately, I was not deterred; I learned that the palatability could be greatly improved by being choosey about the timing of the harvest, the parts picked, the habitat, and the preparation methods.
Read MoreHackberries (Celtis occidentalis) are native to eastern & central US and Canada, and they are commonly planted in parks, yards, boulevards, and other urban areas. They have a tasty fruit, which is easiest to harvest during the winter months. Learn how to enjoy them in this video!
Read MoreSay the word “hemlock” and people’s faces immediately pale as they think of deadly poisonous species like poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) and water hemlock (Cicuta maculata). But what about eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)? You might assume it’s poisonous because of the name, but it’s actually an edible evergreen tree that’s not even related to poisonous hemlocks! So read on to learn more about this beautiful tree, and then get ready to horrify friends and family when you tell them you eat hemlock!
Read MoreIn this video I talk about four different berries that can easily be found in urban and rural areas in the summer.
Read MoreA video all about the common blue violet (Viola sororia). Here are the sections:
Read MoreBasic identification and uses of catnip (Nepeta cataria). Great for kitties and humans too!
Read MoreThis video covers the identification, harvesting, and preparation of common daylily (Hemerocallis fulva.) It discusses use of the shoots, tubers, flowers, and flower buds; and covers some poisonous look alikes.
Read MoreYarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a common herb that grows across North America, both in the wild and in cultivated landscapes. Chances are it grows near you! Watch this video to learn about its incredible medicinal qualities, and how to distinguish it from similar-looking wildflowers.
Read MoreBoth stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) are tasty and nutritious spring-time wild edibles, but how do you tell them apart? More importantly, how do you distinguish them from non-edible look alikes? Watch this video to find out!
Read MoreThis short video quickly goes over some edible and medicinal parts of dandelion: the leaf and flower. The root is edible and medicinal too, but I don't get into that here. Learn a bit about this plentiful plant and try it out yourself!
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