Over the next few weeks I will be writing articles about tasting wild food. I will introduce about four or five edible wild foods in each article. What better way to enhance a camping trip than to harvest some wild plants, nut, or fruits? Can you imagine the conversations generated by just mentioning it? What a wonderful way to introduce the ancient way of “living off the land”. Don’t stop reading, my intent is to only introduce the subject and not to get one to live on wild food.

The tasting of wild food could become the cornerstone of teaching your children or even yourself about conservation. What’s wrong with a few botany lessons while we enjoy the great natural world? What’s wrong with learning a few lessons which might be helpful in surviving in an emergency?

All regions have a good many wild edible plants, fruits, and nuts. I will cover plants that are at least in the south east. Many of the plants covered can be located in most other regions. Beginners should build their knowledge of wild foods slowly and carefully. Learn to identify a dozen or so species, and learn how to use them in their full potential. Check out plant books from your local library, search the Internet, or buy a plant key book for your region and start learning a few wild plants very thoroughly. Better yet, maybe a grand parent or elderly friend could assist you while taking a slow walk around a park or farm.

Below are some common wild edible plants:

Arrowhead (also called swamp potato, tule potato): It is a plant of marshy soils, found in shallow, mud-bottomed sections of ponds, lakes and rivers. The large arrow shaped leaves and three pedaled white flowers make identification easy. The plant may grow to three feet with it’s roots growing up to five feet. The entire root section is edible but the best food is contained in the tubers attached to the root.. Although the tubers can be peeled and eaten, they are much better boiled for 30 minutes before peeling and seasoning with sat, pepper, and butter. In an emergency you may wrap them in the leaves and roasting them in fire coals.

Blueberry: Most are very aware of commercially grown blue berries. Many may not know that wild blueberries and their wild relatives such as Huckleberries are common in the wild. Look for wild blueberries in burnt over woodlands, and along the edge of log roads and trails. They are delicious eaten raw but may be cooked and added to oatmeal. Maybe even better, gather them and cook a blueberry pie back home! Double this treat by making home made ice cream and your kids might nominate you for the hall of fame.

Bulrush: This tall, green-stemmed plant is another edible plant located around marshes and wetlands. The shoots and young root stalks can be eaten raw or cooked. The root stalks need to be peeled before boiling. Bulrush stall can be added to camp stews. Even the roots can be roasted after carefully wiping away their root hairs.

Burdock: This sunflower family member grows in disturbed soils all over the country. The young shoots and leaves make an excellent salad or they can be cooked like spinach. Young stalks may be also be eaten raw or added to stews after the outer rind is removed. Burdock roots may be roasted and ground into a coffee substitute.
Please let me of your favorite wild foods and adventures you had in gathering and preparing them.