April in northern Arizona… the plant world is slowly waking up, green eager to show its face above the ground after many months of absence. Quick
Chicory provides a palatable leafy green that can be used in salads, similar to dandelion.
moving snow storms sweep across the landscape for a few more weeks, the greens teasing us with possibilities, the snow forcing us to be patient.
Many people are interested in wild foods; wanting to either connect with nature, increase their nutrient intake or even ‘live off the land’. While enthusiasm is wonderful, some guidelines are essential. I want to share two of these today.
The first rule is to be 100% absolutely sure of the identity of the plant before you put it in your mouth. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors knew their territory well and knew their plant world intimately.
Some sources, especially wilderness or military survival guides, give a long list about how to tell if a plant is safe or poisonous. The rules include references to the color of the berry, using plants upon which animals graze, deciding if the taste is pleasant, etc.
Each of these sources, except one, have serious safety problems and I would never use them as a guide for putting a new food source into my mouth. The one source that looked accurate had so many rules it would be close to impossible to remember or follow each one and be quite tedious to put in practice.
The rule for safety is simple: Don’t put anything in your mouth unless you are absolutely sure what it is. Learn the local plants. Most areas have a handful of edible staples. Being familiar with 5 – 10 plants gives you a great foundation. Learn from plant walks led by local guides.
Another essential guideline is to be aware of how your body reacts to the particular wild food. Digestive problems are common when first trying these foods. They tend to be much higher in fiber than what we are used to and are generally ‘stronger’ than cultivated produce.
Cramps, gas, bloating and diarrhea are not uncommon when a beginner eats too much. It is best to nibble at first, then gradually increase the amount while noticing how your body reacts.
An easy way to ease into wild greens is to add them to your store-bought salad. We often combine dandelion greens or goosefoot in equal amounts to the greens we buy at the store. We benefit from the added nutrition without any stomach discomfort.