Good idea, Maggie, thanks, I'll look for those at the library.

I recently raided our library shelves for wild food books. Haven't really started reading them yet, but upon skimming, none can touch our old friend EG.

Alice

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lc since 12/18/01

No question! Gibbons is the man.

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Sounds D-Lish Alice!!!! Sounds like you had a GREAT time. What memories you are forging for your kids. Can't wait to meet them at the Indy gathering!!!!

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I've found a wonderful book for foraging, though by the title, one might not realize this is a forager's book: Healing Wise by Susun Weed.

I've been devouring Susun Weed's menopause book, and I decided to try this one. I love it just as much - I've been carrying these two books around the house with me all day. HW focuses on seven plants - three of which are abundant in my yard. The seven are: burdock, chickweed, dandelion, nettle, (wild) oats, seaweed, and violet.

I have tons of burdock and violets, some dandelion, but - puzzlingly - no chickweed. I saw a nice big one of those this morning in a neighbor's flower bed, but I didn't have the nerve to pull it out. All the books say chickweed is very common, and my yard is certainly plenty weedy, so I don't know why I don't have any. I'll have to look more carefully.

I can go into the nearby "forest preserve" for nettles, though I don't think it would be good to gather many from there - a natural preserve. "Don't take anything but pictures" and so on.

Susun Weed gives lots of recipes for eating, as well as ways to use the plants for healing. (She is a carb-eating vegetarian, so many of the recipes require adaptation - but they are very inspiring nonetheless.) If the idea of herbs and/or foraging appeals to you, track down this book. I'm lucky to have a local herb store that ordered it for me.

I hope to have more wild foods reports soon.

Alice

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lc since 12/18/01