Wild edibles : a practical guide to foraging, with easy identification of 60 edible plants and 67 recipes

367 Pages·2013·17.62 MB·English

by  Sergei Boutenko

Wild Edibles
Also by Sergei Boutenko
Fresh: The Ultimate Live-Food Cookbook
(with Valya Boutenko)
The Miracle of Greens: How Greens and Wild Edibles
Can Save Your Life (DVD)
Wild Edibles, an iPhone application, is available
through the iTunes store.

eISBN: 978-1-58394627-5
Copyright © 2013 by Sergei Boutenko. All rights reserved. No portion of this book, except for
brief reviews, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by
any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the written
permission of the publisher. For information contact North Atlantic Books.
Published by Cover photo and photo on this page by Nicole Slater
North Atlantic Books (www.NicoleSlaterPhotography.com).

P.O. Box 12327 Photo on this page © iStockphoto.com/gastonlacombe.
Berkeley, California 94712 Except where noted, all interior photos are by the author.
Cover design by Brad Greene.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: The following information is intended for general information purposes
only. Individuals should always see their health care provider before administering any
suggestions made in this book. Any application of the material set forth in the following pages is
at the reader’s discretion and is his or her sole responsibility.
Wild Edibles: A Practical Guide to Foraging, with Easy Identification of 60 Edible Plants and 67 Recipes
is sponsored by the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences, a nonprofit educational
corporation whose goals are to develop an educational and cross-cultural perspective linking
various scientific, social, and artistic fields; to nurture a holistic view of arts, sciences,
humanities, and healing; and to publish and distribute literature on the relationship of mind,
body, and nature.
North Atlantic Books’ publications are available through most bookstores. For
further information, visit our website at www.northatlanticbooks.com or call
800-733-3000.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:
Boutenko, Sergei.
Wild edibles : a practical guide to foraging, with easy identification of 60 edible plants and
67 recipes / Sergei Boutenko.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
Summary: “This practical guide to plant foraging provides readers with the tools to safely
identify, harvest, and prepare wild edible plants and enjoy the health and economic benefits
of eating wild”—Provided by publisher.
1. Wild plants, Edible—Identification. 2. Cooking (Wild foods) I. Title.
QK98.5.A1B68 2013
641.3′03—dc23
2012043040
v3.1
For the wildly adventurous and the playfully rebellious.
Disclaimer
I dentification and use of wild plants requires particular care and
attention. Never eat any plant unless you are absolutely sure that it is
edible. Carefully read the introduction to wild edibles in this book prior
to harvesting the plants discussed. The information in this book is for
educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical
advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The author and publisher and any of
their counterparts assume no responsibility whatsoever for any adverse
effects encountered by the individual. Because of food allergies, any
person may experience a reaction to a plant that is known to be safe. By
choosing to consume unfamiliar, new foods, the reader agrees to assume
all risks and responsibilities. Please harvest wild edibles with care!
We live in a society that loves guarantees. In the field of foraging,
however, nothing is 100 percent certain. The topic of wild edibles is one
of controversy. There are many expert opinions about how foragers
should conduct themselves, and often these experts contradict one
another. In writing this book, I will likely share viewpoints that will
disagree with others. The information in this book comes from countless
hours of my own research and years of experimentation in the field. I
believe in it wholeheartedly, but it is still largely my opinion. I urge you
to question my words and develop your own protocol for how you
forage. There are definite risks you will encounter when harvesting and
eating wild food, but life is full of risks, and the benefits of edible flora
greatly outweigh the dangers. I approve the message in this book and
support readers who want to incorporate nature’s gifts into their
lifestyle.
Acknowledgments
F irst and foremost, I would like to thank my parents for going
against the grain and providing me with a first-class alternative
education. Though my upbringing was intense at times, it has shaped me
as the man I am today. Mom, you were right when you said, “You’ll
thank me later.” Thank you! I am grateful to my sister, who, though
younger than I am in years, provides me with a constant stream of
much-appreciated wisdom. I would also like to thank Nicole Slater for
supplying me with professional photographs and Jessica Musicar,
Jennifer Eastman, and Jessica Moll for helping edit my book. Last but
not least, I am grateful to all my friends who devoted their time and
expertise to further improve this book, especially Stella Copeland, who
gave me professional botanist feedback.