Nature Walking & Edible Wild Plants

If they know what to look for, nature walkers can often find a bounty of edible wild plants during a stroll through their favorite woods. While no special equipment or skills are needed to harvest nutritious and tasty wild edible plants while nature walking, the task of foraging safely does require detailed knowledge. Many wild edible plants like berries, for instance, are only available at specific times. Some edible wild plants also have poisonous lookalikes.

Features

Many parts of a wild plant are potentially edible, including its flowers, fruit, leaves, bark and roots. Caution is always required, however, because wild plants can have parts that are edible and other parts that are poisonous. Many edible wild plants feature high concentrations of oxalic acid that produce a sharp burning taste. Baking, drying or roasting usually destroys the oxalate compounds. Some wild edibles like acorns have tannin compounds that give them a bitter taste. A thorough boiling will help remove these bitter characteristics.

Benefits

Developing a passion in foraging for wild edible plants can enhance the overall experience of nature walking. In addition, many wild edible plants are exceedingly flavorful and healthy with high levels of vitamins and minerals.

Considerations

People prone to gastric distress ought to be wary about eating wild edible plants. Those who have a pronounced sensitivity to poison ivy also should shy away from plants in the same family, which include cashews and mangoes. Be aware that wild edible plants near homes, buildings or roads may be sprayed with pesticides. Always wash these plants before eating them. Wild edible plants growing in contaminated water also may not be safe to eat unless boiled. Avoid wild plants that have a noticeable almond-like scent as this is a sign of cyanide compounds.

Warnings

To avoid accidental poisoning, nature walkers should never eat any wild plant that they cannot positively identify. People have died by mistaking poison hemlock for wild carrots or parsnips. Great care also is needed in identifying mushrooms because they may contain toxins that can damage the central nervous system. Some wild fruits also develop dangerous fungal toxins. Do not consume any wild fruit that is starting to spoil.

Advice

Nature walking enthusiasts with an interest in foraging should start by carefully studying a field guide to wild edible plants for their region. Attend workshops or do online research to learn the best ways to prepare wild edible plants. Then go out for a nature walk and see what you can find!

Resources

• Wild Edible Plants