Hi folks. Looking to really expand my plant knowledge of wild edibles, can any recommend any good books for this? Not really after a general foraging book, I've got a few of those but I really want something plant specialist if it exists, cheers.
edible plant books?
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I still use "food for free" by Richard Mabley and can recommend it if it isn't one you already have. Not the small Collins version but the original.
Sent from Somerset using magic
Sent from Somerset using magic
I have the same, but in the backpack-friendly size. Its not the alpha-omega of foraging books, but it is informative and easily carried
I keep meaning to get these books as i seem to default to their Website on a regular basis - maybe what you are seeking Punky?
I have 3 (different) copies
great book, a bit general and uncomprehensive for what I'm after though. hmmm these look good, I'd be worried that they are mainly about the growing side of things rather than identifying/finding/processing/eating etc.
I've just bought 'the illustrated guide to edible plants' so we'll see what that's like. Still searching though. Tempted by the river cottage books.
I have a fair library of foraging and edible plant books but, to be honest, I would recommend a good plant ID book (rather than edible plant ID) - the foraging books rarely have enough detail to be 100% sure of species - especially with things like the umbellifers. The two we use the most are 'Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland' by Marjorie Blamey et al, and 'The Wild Flower Key' by Francis Rose; the latter is not an easy book to use but it is the definitive ID guide. Both cover more than just 'flowers'.
Last year I bought the newest hardback version of food for free. Certainly not a book to cart around with you but plenty of very good photographs that make I D far easier than line drawings.
A lovely book to study on a cold winter evening in front of the fire or refer to once back home with a few samples and photos of whatever has taken your interest.
A lovely book to study on a cold winter evening in front of the fire or refer to once back home with a few samples and photos of whatever has taken your interest.
I'm afraid I stopped trusting 'Food for Free' when I found a photo of an umbellifer wrongly labelled as Conium maculatum (one of our most poisonous plants) in two separate editions. Hopefully that has been corrected in your edition (2012?).
Oo'er...will have to have a check but think my edition is quite a bit earlier than 2012. Thanks for the heads up.
Sent from Somerset using magic
I have 3 (different) copies
hmmm these look good, I'd be worried that they are mainly about the growing side of things rather than identifying/finding/processing/eating etc.
I've just bought 'the illustrated guide to edible plants' so we'll see what that's like. Still searching though. Tempted by the river cottage books.
If you ever look to move that on or if you find its not to your liking please consider giving me a Nod sir.
cheers for the recs Broch, really struggled to find the Marjory Blamey one, only found one copy for £40, out of my price range unfortunately. I did however take your advice on a straight up plant ID book, I have purchased ' Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland: A photographic identification guide to over ' (£6 posted) so we'll see what that is like
cheers for the recs Broch, really struggled to find the Marjory Blamey one, only found one copy for £40, out of my price range unfortunately. I did however take your advice on a straight up plant ID book, I have purchased ' Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland: A photographic identification guide to over ' (£6 posted) so we'll see what that is like
Sorry; I hadn't checked but it looks like it's out of print for some reason and second hand copies are a stupid price as well
The photographic ID guide looks good though
As much as i'm not a big fan of HFW on the telly, we do have all the river cottage books and have to say they are a very useful guides, especially when used in conjunction with dedicated plant and flower guides. Also, Roger Philips (of Mushrooms fame) has just released a new book (crowd funded) called Wild food. Again a useful book to add to the collection.
oo, forgot Simon Harrap's Wild Flowers, a good id book and easier to use than Rose's.
John Wright of river cottage fame has some good books out there
Cheers Ginge and right you are, since putting this thread up I own and have read the foragers calendar and the river cottage seashore books, they are great.
I recently purchased The Hedgrow Handbook, and The Garrden Forager by Adele Nozedar. Haven't had a lot of time to go into depth with either of them, but they seem to be quite informative, giving recipes remedies and folklore on the plants she covers, £12.99 each.
There are no photos, but the illustrations are very clear botanical drawings .
There are no photos, but the illustrations are very clear botanical drawings .
Spread peanut butter on the covers and lots of mayo and cheese slices between the pages ought to make an edible plant book. Just the rye talking.
OTOH, the greatest puzzles to me have been the 100% failures with both transplants and seeds. I'd grow and eat wild but the plants refuse to cooperate.
OTOH, the greatest puzzles to me have been the 100% failures with both transplants and seeds. I'd grow and eat wild but the plants refuse to cooperate.
Not sure this answers your question, but I've found it more useful to focus on plant ID as a whole than just edibles - the edibles knowledge kind of falls into place automatically and I started to learn a lot more that way, by shifting my focus. By far the best resource I've found is a website called wildflowerfinder.org.uk. I use this in combination with a field guide for rough ID, and then the website gives phenomenal detail on the plant itself, more than you'll ever find in a book. I also took the plunge on the Paul Kirtley course
this year and I have to say I've not regretted it.
this year and I have to say I've not regretted it.
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