I have found all of the following books very useful while gathering information about wild edibles. Some of the books are out of print, but I have been able to locate them in the library or used bookstores. Many online booksellers have out-of-print search services to help you find older books. Or try used-book Web sites, where they might also be available.
Angier, Bradford. Free for the Eating, Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1971.
No recipes but good descriptions of wild plants with black-and-white line drawings. Out of print. Look for other books by Bradford Angier, like his Field Guide to Wild Edible Plants, 1974, which is full of color illustrations and available at most bookstores.
Berglund, Berndt. Wilderness Survival, Toronto: Pagurian Press Limited, 1975.
Berglund, Berndt, and Clare E. Bolsby. The Edible Wild, Toronto: Pagurian Press Limited, 1974.
Both of these books by Berndt Berglund are out of print but well worth searching out. They are full of survival information and have very interesting recipes (especially for those who get lost in the woods for a week or so).
Boorman, Sylvia. Wild Plums in Brandy, Toronto: McGraw Hill Company, 1962.
A charming book illustrated with lovely woodcuts. Unfortunately it is out of print.
Buszek, Beatrice Ross. The Blueberry Connection, Granville Centre, Nova Scotia: Cranberrie Cottage, 1990.
One hundred things to do with a blueberry. Handwritten and very homey. Useful, out of print.
Corson, Dale. New Native American Cooking, New York: Random House, Inc., 1996.
From frogs legs to succotash. Native American recipes for the modern kitchen with historical descriptions and folklore.
Duff, Gail. The Country-Side Cook Book, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1982.
Beautifully illustrated in color, this book includes recipes for the table as well as the medicine chest. Out of print.
Duff, Gail. The Fruit & Nut Book, London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1990.
A terrific book, chock-a-block full of recipes for every fruit and nut you can think of, and many you never heard of, too. Out of print.
Elias, Thomas S., and Peter A. Dykeman. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide, New York: Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., 1990.
A must for identification, this book has detailed color photos of wild edibles.
Gardon, Anne. The Wild Food Gourmet, Willowdale, Ontario: Firefly Books Ltd., 1998.
A lovely cookbook with beautiful photographs, it is more of a gourmet cookbook and not a survival one. A feast for the eyes, as well as the stomach.
Garrett, Blanche Pownall. Canadian Country Preserves & Wines, Toronto: James Lewis & Samuel, 1974.
Garrett, Blanche Pownall. A Taste of the Wild, Toronto: James Lorimer & Company, 1975.
Both of these books by Blanche Pownall Garrett are out of print, but I highly recommend them. There are some lovely stories describing foraging outings. The recipes are fairly simple and interesting.
George, Jean Craighead. Acorn Pancakes, Dandelion Salad and 38 Other Wild Recipes, New York: HarperCollins, 1995.
Good book for introducing children to the edible wild. All the wild plants are very simple to find and identify. Nice color drawings and recipes that are aimed at kids.
Gibbons, Euell. Stalking the Wild Asparagus, reprint ed., New York: Alan C. Hood & Co., 1987.
The book that basically started it all A really good, interesting read, and some good recipes, too.
Grieve, Mrs. M. A Modern Herbal, New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1978.
Everything you wanted to know about herbs ... and I mean it! Heavy duty, encyclopedic-type book. A reprint that was originally published in 1931.
Harris, Ben Charles. Eat the Weeds, Barre, MA: Barre Publishers, 1971.
Out of print but worth looking for. Good basic wild edible book with recipes and historical backgrounds.
Henderson, Robert K. The Neighborhood Forager, White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 2000.
Interesting book with lots of historical and medicinal uses for things found in your backyard.
Jordan, Peter. The New Guide to Mushrooms, London: Anness Publishing Limited, 1998.
Coffee-table book with lots of color photographs. Limited number of species cited. This is a good companion book but not recommended as your only sourcebook for mushroom hunting.
Kavasch, E. Barrie. Guide to Northeastern Wild Edibles, Surrey, British Columbia: Hancock House, 1981.
Simple identification book with some good photos. Specific species growing in the northeast only. Out of print.
Laessoe, Thomas, Anna Del Conte, and Gary Lincoff. The Knopf Mushroom Book, Toronto: Knopf, 1996.
One of the best mushroom identification books. Very large size—it is not a pocket guide—but well worth owning. Full of very descriptive color photos and drawings, a must for mushroom fanatics and beginners, too.
Meuninck, Jim, and Dr. Jim Duke. Edible Wild Plants (video). Edwardsburg, MI: Media Methods, 1988.
A good video and fun to watch. Sort of a travelogue with foraging and cooking demonstrations.
Peterson, Lee Allen. A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and Central North America, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1999.
The best wild edible identification pocket guide with wonderful black-and-white illustrations and some color plates. Take this one with you everywhere you go!
Runyon, Linda. Lawn Food Cook Book, Glens Falls, NY: Williams Graphic Arts, 1985.
A small booklet full of informative wild recipes that use no milk, eggs, or cheese. Out of print but look for it at tag sales or flea markets.
Schneider, Elizabeth. Uncommon Fruits & Vegetables, New York: Harper & Row, Inc., 1989.
A wonderful book full of fruits and vegetables, wild and otherwise. Very interesting background information and terrific recipes. Nice drawings, too. Out of print.
Szczawinski, Adam F., and Nancy J. Turner. Edible Garden Weeds of Canada, Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1988.
Good book with photos and drawings, identification facts, and recipes. Very useful but out of print.
Tatum, Billy Joe. Wild Foods Field Guide & Cookbook, New York: Workman Publishing Company, 1985.
Lots and lots of recipes and descriptions of many wild edibles. A fun book to read.
Turner, Nancy J., and Adam F. Szczawinski. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada, Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1988.
Useful, informative, and, sadly, out of print.
Weiner, Michael A. Earth Medicine—Earth Food: Plant Remedies, Drugs, and Natural Foods of the North American Indians, New York: Fawcett Books, 1991.
A guide to wild plants used by Native Americans, mostly as cures rather than edibles. Interesting facts and background information, with some illustrations.