A video all about the common blue violet (Viola sororia). Here are the sections:
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Basic identification and uses of catnip (Nepeta cataria). Great for kitties and humans too!
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This video covers the identification, harvesting, and preparation of common daylily (Hemerocallis fulva.) It discusses use of the shoots, tubers, flowers, and flower buds; and covers some poisonous look alikes.
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Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a common herb that grows across North America, both in the wild and in cultivated landscapes. Chances are it grows near you! Watch this video to learn about its incredible medicinal qualities, and how to distinguish it from similar-looking wildflowers.
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Both stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) are tasty and nutritious spring-time wild edibles, but how do you tell them apart? More importantly, how do you distinguish them from non-edible look alikes? Watch this video to find out!
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This short video quickly goes over some edible and medicinal parts of dandelion: the leaf and flower. The root is edible and medicinal too, but I don't get into that here. Learn a bit about this plentiful plant and try it out yourself!
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Northern Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a native deciduous tree common across much of the US and Canada. Though often referred to as a “junk tree” because of its lack of value as a timber product, hackberry is a beautiful, fast-growing tree that produces delicious fruit in late summer and fall. This underutilized wild edible is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. And since it’s commonly planted in urban landscapes, it’s very easy to find!
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Curly dock (Rumex crispus, also called yellow dock) is one of those plants that is easily overlooked. It doesn’t have a showy flower and the leaves can look kind of generic. Furthermore, it’s not typically as prolific of a weed as dandelion— at least not in urban areas. It’s unfortunate that people aren’t more familiar with it, as the leaves, stem, seed, and root are all edible or medicinal. And with its wide distribution, it’s easy to start eating!
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Where I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, winter is generally a cold and quiet time of year. Birds fly south, animals hibernate, and plants go dormant during this challenging season. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking that winter is lifeless! There is still vitality to this season, for those who care to look! And there is still an array of wild foods to harvest.
Below is a list of five types of foods that can be foraged in the winter. I’ve opted to describe broad groupings rather than focus on individual species, just to show the diversity of winter foods. As such, this list is meant more for inspiration than to provide technical details. However, the links in each category offer more information for those wishing to dive deeper!
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Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) is a common small tree of hedgerows, fields, parks, and other open areas. This video discusses how identify this wild edible, its edible and medicinal qualities, and common preparation methods.
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