- It felt like a scavenger hunt, albeit one dependent on technology. I was constantly consulting the app – which inconveniently crashed every time I tried to search for a plant name – and Googling for images and plant descriptions.
I constantly look for mulberry trees when I'm out and about. They're one of my favorite berries. I'd like to try making dandelion jelly too, but I don't live in an area conducive to that. Too many people using herbicides out here in the burbs; wouldn't feel safe.
I enjoyed the video: My father forages for wild mushrooms all the time, mostly morels. Last year he took a trip from Michigan down to North Carolina, where I live. On the way, he hunted for morels. He found none, until he got to my house and we found bout a pound of them on the trails behind my house. I guarantee we have enough leafy greens growing in our back yard to make a nice salad each night, but with my luck I would end up giving my whole family poisoned ivy.
Nice post! Its good to be cautious before you eat something, but you can also use it as a good opportunity to learn more about your ecosystem. Find a copy of a good book like Steve Brill or Samuel Thayer. Read through it, remember what the plants look like (both written description and picture) and what habitats they are found. When you are walking through the woods, just observe. You would be amazed at how much you will start to learn and remember just by observing. You learn a lot more about your local park when you start deliberately seeing more. I would recommend consulting with your local foraging expert before eating anything. There are many reasons why you may not want to eat a particular plant- it could be "edible" but in a highly sprayed area. There are many local botany clubs and mycology clubs that are probably in your area. Lot of great knowledge from those types of folks.