Edible Wild Plants Book Review

I want to tell you about this great book from Gibbs Smith called "Edible Wild Plants" by John Kallas, Ph.D. Wild foods from dirt to plate.

This book is from the "Wild Food Adventure Series." John Kallas spent his youth in a suburban midwestern neighborhood fascinated with nature. He taught a senior-level class in edible wild plants at Michigan State University. That continued from 1978 through 1985. He has a Ph.D in nutrition, a masters in education, and degrees in biology and zoology. He trained as a botanist, nature photography, writer, researcher, and teacher. He has a website http://wildfoodadventures.com.

In part one "Understanding Wild Foods"

• identifying and enjoying wild foods
• what is edible
• when plant parts morph into food
• foraging tools.

Part two titled "The Plants"

Foundation Greens

• Wild spinach
• Chickweed
• Mallow
• Purslane

Tart Greens

• Curly dock,
• Sheep sorrel
• Wood sorrel

Pungent Greens

• Field mustard
• Wintercress
• Garlic mustard
• Shepherds purse

Bitter Greens

• Dandelion
• Cat's ear
• Sow thistle
• Nipplewort.

Part three titled "The Potential of Wild Foods"

• Why eat wild foods
• The nutrition of wild foods
• Oxalates and nitrates
• Agriotrophytology
• Crafting a wild paradise
• Feeding yourself and society

This book goes all though all the tools needed. It has maps of region for wild edibles in United States. Color photos of the wild edibles and recipe ideas. This book has 416 pages and a wealth of information.

I can't wait until this spring to start finding and harvesting wild edibles here in the northwest.

You can find it here at Gibbs Smith http://www.gibbs-smith.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=2907