An important book for those in the Northern and Central Rocky mountain areas as well as other areas in the West. This is a photo-based guide focusing on the identification of wild edible plants. Kershaw’s book, like other Lone Pine publications, covers lots of material. Brief descriptions of foods and medicines, often referring to uses…
An essential book for those in the Southern and Central Rocky mountain areas and useful for the West, in general. This is a photo-based guide focusing on the identification of wild edible plants. Seebeck does more than any other guide by offering four thought-out photographs per plant. Yes, you heard me, four, not one, like…
This is a high quality photographic guide focusing on the ‘identification’ of wild plants that produce berries. Derig and Fuller are ‘mostly’ their own photographers who provide us with 103 berry photographs, 67 flower photographs, and a few vegetative photographs. There are 20 line drawings to supplement the photographs. Like most wildflower guides, they focus…
This is a high quality photographic guide focusing on the ‘identification’ of edible and medicinal wild plants of the west. Tilford, his own photographer, uses 86 photographs to help you recognize the plants he included. Unlike many ‘flower’ identification guides Tilford shows us leaves, stems, flowers and sometimes even fruits. And in a helpful way…
This is a high quality field guide focusing on the identification of wild edible plants of the eastern half of the country. Peterson uses a mixture of 78 photographs, but mostly, high quality black and white line drawings to help you recognize the plants they included. Unlike many ‘flower’ identification guides Peterson shows us leaves,…
An important book for any wild food library. This is a valuable resource that focuses on both the identification as well as the uses of edible wild plants. Elias and Dykeman cover 220 plants, of which 20 are poisonous. Each plant they cover is represented by a range map and one to four full color…
An important book for any wild food library. Essential if you are from the western coast. In fact, no matter where you are in North America, you could benefit from this book. There is even a really good 25 page section on pacific coast sea vegetables. The reason this book is so good is that…
An important book for a wild food library. Essential if you are from the Southwestern United States. After Gibbons seminal works from 1962 – 1966 many people were inspired to learn and then write about wild foods. Of the many books coming out in the 70’s, Clarke’s stood out. Covering 200 plants, having 46 color…
Essential if you are from the Rocky Mountains. In fact, no matter where you are in North America, you could benefit from this book. About 1/3 of the plants are unique to the US Rocky Mountains, about 1/3 apply to anywhere west of the Rockies and about 1/3 are found anywhere in North America. The…
An important book for a wild food library. “Wildman” Steve Brill was made famous when he was arrested in Central Park for pulling weeds to teach people about edible wild plants. He eventually went on to be a Park Naturalist for a while and published this book on wild foods. Like others in this section,…
There are books that cover the east, books that cover the west, and Young’s book here which covers everything in between. The range of this book spans the area bordered by the Rocky Mountains in the west to the deciduous forests of the east, the Texas panhandle in the south to the north in Canada….
There are books that cover the east, books that cover the west, and Young’s book here which covers everything in between. The range of this book spans the area bordered by the Rocky Mountains in the west to the deciduous forests of the east, the Texas panhandle in the south to the north in Canada….
Gibbons books are an important component of any great wild food library. In some ways Gibbons books have been usurped by the first three books in our “All-in-One” category. But in other ways and in some areas Gibbons research, experimentation, and play will always be worth reading. He reports knowledge based on experience. When I…
An important book for a wild food library. I wish I had Sam’s books when I was first getting started with wild foods—my life would have been easier. He has continued to produce some great work and good coverage of a wide variety of plants. At 512 pages Nature’s Garden is a great value. One…
An important book for a wild food library. Imagine a wild food book whose author actually has lots of experience with the plants he talks about! And on top of this he is creative and practical — solving problems one might encounter gathering and making these plants into food. Welcome to Sam’s world. Like Euell…