Plants came first: They are the magic wand of God—with them, with the firmament that supports them, we are possible. We eat plants, or eat animals that eat plants; therefore from plant chemistry came our skin and bones, blood and muscle. They are our food and medicine. In addition, they provide all the natural beauty, ambience, and culinary delights of a good life. They are the stuff of gardens and arboretums, forests and prairies, and mountain trails, and personally they have given this average, ordinary man a lifetime of entertainment—such simple pleasures, all free and described in the pages that follow.
Read thoroughly the “Foraging Rules” listed below. Follow these instructions and memorize the poisonous plants listed in the appendix. Although this information does not guarantee immunity from allergic reactions, it does provide basic protection against potentially toxic mistakes. The “Forager's Dozen” chapter presents twelve of my favorite wild plant foods, most of which can be found from coast to coast. “Forager's Dozen Mushrooms” is a novel chapter, an introduction to twelve easy-to-identify mushrooms that will add hours of pleasure while hiking and numerous culinary delights for your table. “Yards, Gardens, Prairies, and Meadows” is a collection of edible weeds and edible wildflowers found coast to coast in these environments—many of the best edibles come from this collection. “Fruit and Berries,” the next chapter, is a one-stop collection of fruiting vines, shrubs, and trees. If it's a fruit or berry you are looking at, go here. The “Wetlands” chapter covers edible plants found along streams and rivers, lakes, and ponds. “Edible Plants of Eastern Forested Areas” provides a clutch of flowering plants found typically in hardwood forests. “Trees and Nuts” is a coast-to-coast look at shrubs and trees that produce nuts. “Edible Wild Plants of the Mountain West” specifies plants found in the national parks and wilderness sanctuaries of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Oregon, and Washington. “Edible Plants of the Desert” describes food from extremely dry environments. And “Marine Vegetables” provides pictures and insights specific to edible marine and tidal area wild plant foods. Information on poisonous plants can be found in the appendix.
Read this book from cover to cover. Use it in the field and at home. Cross-check different chapters, as there are close relatives of several plants found in different environments. Start with the “Forager's Dozen,” identify these plants, and then progress to the “Yards, Gardens, Prairies, and Meadows” chapter, which covers numerous familiar plants. As you forage through different environments, match the environment to its corresponding chapter and build your repertoire of wild foods.
Carry this book next to your heart or on your hip when venturing forth seeking delectable wild treasures to grace your table and serve to your friends. Many recipes are described here to excite you, but your unique personal discoveries will soon humble what I know. So think freely, my friend, invent and conceive—pass through this door of infinite possibilities and let your creative energy run wild.