How to tell the difference between Henbit and Dead Nettle
Both members of the mint family and Lamium genus, henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) and dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) are common finds on winter walks and spring hikes. They have a similar appearance, but as you look closer, there are certain features that will help you tell them apart. Both have long been valued as wild edibles, […]
What Are Wild Edibles?
Wild edibles can be found in almost every habitat and environment. From mountain slopes and forest clearings to marshlands and even your own back yard. If you’ve ever picked blackberries from hedgerows, or perhaps collected hazelnuts from your local woodland, you’ll have already enjoyed some of the wild edibles that nature can provide. More people […]
How to Forage: All You Need to Know
Learning how to forage is a rewarding skill that connects us with the surrounding natural world. Whether you’re a novice forager who once collected blackberries at the age of 10 or an amateur in need of a refresh, this article will hopefully inspire a deeper appreciation of the human history of foraging, and the amazing […]
A Guide to Identifying Plants
Knowing how to identify plants is one of the most critical steps involved in learning how to forage. It’s an important skill that will keep you safe, but it can also help you to connect more with nature. Being able to wander through a forest or woodland and identify wild edibles is an incredibly enriching […]
Eating Weeds – Everything You Need to Know!
At eattheplanet.org we have been eating weeds for a long time. Foraging for wild edibles can be a safe and fun way to strengthen our relationship with the natural world and each other. Eating weeds, in particular, is a great place for a novice forager to begin since weeds are abundant and somewhat familiar. Weeds […]
The History of Wild Strawberries
A real treat to discover whilst out exploring the wilderness or hiking woodland trails, wild strawberries (Fragaria) can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. With around 20 different species naturalized to different countries and continents. The two most common strawberry species within the US are the Virginia Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) and the Woodland (European) Strawberry […]
Wild Strawberries and Mock Strawberries (How to Tell the Difference)
Wild strawberries (Fragaria) glow like ruby red jewels at the edges of woodlands, hay fields and meadows in North America. Ripening in the first few weeks of full summer sunshine, they’re a true treat to find whilst out hiking local trails and wandering across mountain slopes. As with any type of foraging, it’s important to be cautious […]
The Native Grape Vines of North America
Long before the masses of European grape varieties like Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet (Vitis vinifera) set root in American vineyards, North America was coated with its own unique collection of grapevine species. Once named ‘Vinland’ by very early Norse European explorers, who discovered masses of vines creeping along the edges of forest clearings. American […]
The Wild History of Grapes in North America
The link between humans and wild grapes in North America is richly interesting. As a plant, their characteristics differ to the popular wine grape varieties grown within Europe. But they have a lot to offer, they’re edible, and are already widely used within a few popular products. For example Concord jelly, often used in the […]
Are Wild Grapes Edible? Exploring The Fruit of Wild Grape Vines
Grapes are incredibly well known as a widely cultivated fruit. Grown in vineyards and harvested to make delicious wines and juices; and also eaten by the bunch as ‘table grapes’, in seedless or even unique cotton candy-flavored varieties! But what about their wild counterparts? How are they different from supermarket and vineyard grapes? And importantly, […]
Native Apple Trees of North America
Standing proud at the edge of woodlands, disguised in the hedgerows of old farmed fields or perched along a hiking trail. Native North American apple trees are a fantastic fruit to stumble across whilst out exploring. These native wild apples are edible and full of flavor, although some can be particularly bitter! You can collect […]
The Wild Origin of the Humble Apple
The history of our humble orchard apple (Malus domestica) is a wild and wonderful one. Like the majority of our farmed fruits and vegetables, the simple supermarket apple began life in the wild, as a fruit known as the crabapple (Malus). Grown over millennia, across the temperate Northern hemisphere, we now have over 7000 known […]
Are Crabapples Edible? Exploring The Fruit of the Crabapple Tree
Crabapples or crab apples (Malus), are often considered a foragers favorite. A common misconception, and old wives tale, is that crab apples are toxic or unsafe to eat. But this is generally an assumption based on a few species and varieties which have bitter flavoring, and the popularity of the already well known orchard apples. […]
The Story of Wild lettuce (Lactuca.)
Wild Lettuce (Lactuca.) refers to a large genus of plants that belong to the daisy family. They include the incredibly well known garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa), of which we have cultivated a large number of commercial varieties. We’re likely all greatly familiar with these leafy vegetables, with varieties such as iceberg lettuce and romaine lettuce […]
Large and Edible Wine Cap Mushrooms (Stropharia rugosoannulata)
The wine cap mushroom (Stropharia rugosoannulata), can be a fairly common find on forest and woodland walks. You’ll find them growing throughout Europe and North America, but they have now also become established as an invasive species within Australasia. Interestingly, they grow particularly well in one specific habitat. Most mushrooms favor the growing conditions of […]
Common Cattail | Highly Familiar and Amazingly Versatile
Common cattail (Typha latifolia) is a species of plant you will likely be very familiar with. As its name suggests, it’s a very common find, especially along the margins of ponds, wetlands and lakes where it resides. It’s a species that has dominated habitats around the World for centuries, and has developed a unique collection […]
Foraging The shaggy Mane Mushroom (Coprinus comatus)
The shaggy mane mushroom (Coprinus comatus) is a brilliant wild edible. Often known as the shaggy ink cap or lawyers wig, it’s a fairly common mushroom that appears in a variety of habitats. From front lawns and urban parks, to the depths of forests and woodland. Any areas of disturbed soil have the possibility of […]
The Wonder of Slugs: Nuisance or Delicacy?
Do you have any childhood stories of a sibling, or perhaps even yourself, eating garden worms? How about slugs? It’s not only curious children who have had a gourmet encounter with these garden creatures. Wild food foragers have collected and prepared a certain slug species for centuries. Whilst many of us find the idea of […]
Native Fly Agaric Mushrooms vs Non-Native
Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is the epitome of a forest mushroom. Ask any individual to draw or describe a mushroom, and the fly agaric, with its bright red cap flecked with white, is what will often spring to mind. It has a striking look that has been etched into popular culture through fairytales of enchanted […]
The Story of the American Chestnut
The American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) was once a common find within it’s range of habitat across the Northeastern states. Whilst exploring its native range, one in four trees that you would have found would have been an American chestnut. It has an extensive history, once being a tree of huge importance, it was frequently […]