How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Identifying 40 Edible Wild Plants

by Ellen Zachos

How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying is a book for anyone who likes to go on nature walks and would like to learn about the edible plants they’re most likely to come across—no matter what region they’re in. Author Ellen Zachos shares her considerable expertise, acquired over decades of foraging in every part of North America. She offers clear, concise descriptions of edible wild plants, in addition to any potential lookalikes, as well as critical information about proper harvesting, processing, and cooking. Zachos has curated the plant selection to include only the 40 most common, most delicious edible plants, ranging from black walnuts and juniper berries to elderflowers, burdock, fiddlehead ferns, lambsquarter, wild garlic, sunchokes, and many more. With Zachos’s expert advice and easy-to-follow guidelines, readers will be confident in identifying which plants they can safely eat and which ones they should definitely avoid. Easy instructions for preparation and eating for maximum enjoyment are included.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Food, Outdoors, Nature, Plants, How To

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2023

About the author

A graduate of Harvard/Radcliffe College, Ms. Zachos resides in New York.

Reviews

[Lastblossom · Rating 5 out of 5]

tl;dr
A fairly straightforward and practical guide for beginners. The final chapter is a standout addition for anyone looking for how to preserve their foraged goods.

Thoughts
As always, the best way to learn how to forage is with a local guide, and the worst way is with an app (seriously, apps are SO bad at identifying plants - please do not use them). But I'm very pleased to see so many books available for beginners that make foraging accessible for people who might not have a local guide immediately available. This book covers a lot of easy entry points for beginners, including dandelions, stinging nettle, and ramps. It also covers some of the biggest beginner mistakes, including the very poisonous water hemlock. While the focus is on North American plants, a lot of these plants are available all over the globe, so there's a decent appeal here no matter where you live. My favorite part is the final chapter, which includes recipe/process guides on what to do with your foraged goodies. Notes on how to preserve items, infuse flavors, make wine, and other great food options are a huge bonus for books that typically don't explain how a lot of these things work. As is my usual hang-up with guide books, I could always use more photos - especially for plants with distinctly different stages - but this is a great starting point for anyone looking to get into foraging.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Rachel Ramey · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of foraging books on the market, so what makes this one stand out? One of the biggest distinctions is that it focuses on forty plants that are good for food. Not medicinal plants (although some of these might be both) but FOOD plants. When your goal is to find things to eat, it's helpful not having to weed through dozens of plants that are safe to consume and medicinal but not particularly great for food. Not only are these forty plants TECHNICALLY edible; the author has emphasized plants (and part of those plants) that are actually desirable for eating. She's honest about it when certain plant parts are rather gross even if they're technically consumable.

The book is also a beautiful one, with many full-page photographs and plenty of additional full-color photographs to make identification of the named plants easy. (You might be surprised by how many foraging books have lousy pictures.) There's clear, conversational discussion of the identifying characteristics of each plant and how to distinguish it from similar plants or "lookalikes."

The author has not shied away from wild edibles that have toxic -- in some cases HIGHLY toxic -- "lookalikes." That will be a plus for some people and a minus for others. If you're not comfortable foraging for foods that look similar to toxic plants, it's easy enough to pass over those; the text has made it clear when this is an issue and when it's not.

It's also helpful that the book is divided by environment. Sections include "Wild Edibles that Grow Just About Everywhere," "Green Weeds of Sunny, Disturbed Soil," "Sun-Loving Trees & Shrubs," "Edibles from Dappled Edges & Shady Places," and "Plants that Like Wet Feet," so you can quickly and easily identify WHICH plants to be looking for in the particular area you find yourself in. A final section discusses "preserving the harvest," and addresses options such as drying, freezing, and canning, since most of us don't want to have to consume the entire season's worth of a given plant within a single week's span.

Overall, I found this to be a very PRACTICAL book, as if a knowledgeable friend were helping me do the actual work of foraging, preparing, and/or preserving the harvest, not merely a reference book that gives me head knowledge I still lack the practical information to use.

[Shannon Telles lisowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference for those new to foraging. As an experience forager, I found some info and tips that I didn't know. The colored photographs were beautiful.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying by Ellen Zachos is truly a wondrous book for all foraging skill levels, though geared to the beginner. The author highlights 40 common wild foods and is written in a simple and smart layout. The accompanying photographs make identification easy, often including lookalikes and characteristics to seek. Though I am a master gardener and expert forager, there are common wild foods such as lamb's quarters, milkweed and dock which I take for granted and sadly overlook. This incredible book taught me not only to pay more attention to these plants but also to enjoy them more frequently. I live in two very different climates (zones 2a and 8b) on two different continents and some of these plants are remarkably readily available even where winters are severe.

Amongst the numerous topics are safety, seasonality, sustainability, mindful foraging, plants parts, foraging tools and preserving along with a few recipes. The forty plants include specific information such as where to find them, identification tips, which parts are edible, where they grow, harvesting, poisonous lookalikes and so on. I look forward to trying black locust syrup, feasting on acorns and enjoying magnolia blossoms. Useful charts such as differentiating between black raspberries, raspberries, blackberries and wineberries are displayed.

Let this beautiful book inspire and excite you. I love how the author takes the guesswork out of the equation in her clear and straightforward style and look forward to seeing plants with new eyes! This is a practical book designed for readers to happily actually refer to and use over and over.

My sincere thank you to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this phenomenal book.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y'all, this book is awesome for beginners!! It has so much information that is put together in layman's terms that will make learning all about foraging easier than you'd think.

The author, in her introduction, notes that she chose some of the most common foods to harvest that have very few poisonous copy-cats. Pictures are side by side and she details the differences.

There is a section that helps you learn leaf parts so when you want to describe what you found, you have the jargon to ask the professional and answer their questions knowing what they mean with their questions.

Zachos also breaks down each plant and what parts are edible and how to use them in recipes, which she shares a few examples at the back of the book.

Overall, this a fabulous must have book for anyone interested in harvesting out and about on your hikes, or your backyard!

Thank you #NetGalley for #HowtoForageforWildFoodswithoutDying by #EllenZachos

[Day Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I may not start eating random flowers or leaves off the side of the road (which to be clear, Zachos does not encourage here), I hoped to learn more about identifying plants and enjoying their value. This book is informative and unexpectedly quite humorous, meaning I was quick to pick it back up each day, and I've found I've been identifying a few plants each time I take a walk. 4.5 ⭐

"I grew up thinking crabapples were poisonous. (I also grew up thinking life was fair and goodness would be rewarded, so go figure.)"

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an avid forager, but I've recently begun "eating wild" with my granddaughters, all of whom are early-elementary aged and younger. So, I've been looking for a beginner's guide to carry with us on our jaunts.

Good news: I FOUND IT!

Here's what I love most about Zachos's How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying:

1. The Organization: I love that the chapters are organized by where we might find the plants—everywhere, sunny or shady spots, wet areas. This makes it easy to see what we might look for depending on where we're exploring that day. For example, when the girls visit my house, they already know that the property has large, untended shady spaces and a swampy area. This makes it easy for us to use the guide to plan our search. The fact sheets at the end of each entry are also incredibly helpful.

2. The Photos: There are plenty of photos to help new foragers identify both the featured foragables and their most common look-alikes. We've already tested the usefulness by taking the tablet outside to identify mallow and Queen Anne's Lace (the girls giggled in delight at the "the queen has hairy legs" mnemonic). Between the photos and the written descriptions, even the four-year-old was able to determine when we'd found what we were looking for.

3. The Sass & the Suggestions: Throughout the book, Zachos is delightfully opinionated, letting readers know which plant parts are edible but, in her estimation, not worth the time or trouble. As someone who's foraged for years, I have to admit that our opinions generally align. I also appreciate how she repeatedly insists that we eat nothing that we're not 100% certain about (and, no, 99% certainty is not good enough!) while at the same time encouraging experimentation when it comes to eating and enjoying our wild harvest. And her chapter on preserving, complete with several very adaptable basic recipes, is just enough to get a beginner started confidently.

Despite the number of foraging books I already own (yes, I have a dedicated shelf for them), I will be ordering one more (hint: this one). I have no doubt that How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying will more than earn its place—and not just on the shelf. It'll be the handbook that stays in the day pack for impromptu wild food adventures.

[I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.]

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying is a beginner-friendly, accessible, and well written guide to foraging food items from the wild for consumption written and curated by Ellen Zachos. Released 10th Oct 2023 by Hachette on their Storey imprint, it's 250 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

This book has an interesting format in that it presupposes zero previous knowledge on the reader's part, and also divides the plant entries by areas in which they're commonly found. The chapters are thematic: introductory basic info, plants which grow everywhere, green plants in sunny disturbed soil, sun loving trees & shrubs, dappled edges & shady plants, and wet areas. There is also a good chapter with techniques and advice for preserving and using the harvests.

The book uses simple, accessible language as well as lots (and lots!) of clear photos to aid in identification. The author expends considerable effort covering sustainability (don't ever overforage), safety & ID, and responsible use of shrinking communal resources. The book has a North American focus, but many (most) of the plants have a much wider range, so the book will be useful to readers from outside North America.

Five stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library use, gifting, home use, for community/allotment gardens, activity groups and smallholders/self-sufficiency folks.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an introduction, this is a fairly solid book. Trying to look at the U.S. as a whole when the flora varies so much regionally is a tall order; that said, there's a decent number of options among those 40 plants and readers should be able to forage something wherever in the country they live. The culinary recommendations are solid as well, and I appreciate some of the tips and tricks.

The star docked is on account of safety. I lost all faith in the author's food safety when she recommended cold leaching acorns in a scrubbed toilet tank because the water would change with every flush. I would advise against any degree of food prep in non-food-safe containers, especially an in-use toilet. Watercress as well, the advice is solid for avoiding liver parasites but for a book for beginners who may not be able to tell drought levels versus normal or flood levels, I would just recommend they always cook it. The cost of that mistake isn't worth fresh watercress.

She also says she is going to avoid poisonous plant look-alikes, and then includes Queen Anne's Lace with a page on telling it apart from Water Hemlock and Poison Hemlock, two of the deadliest plants. There are some things I would not trust beginners with and one of them is differentiating between Queen Anne's Lace and Hemlock; again, the risks of messing up are so much higher than the rewards of getting it right that I would leave plants like that for at least intermediate-level foraging, not a book for absolute beginners.

So, overall a good book if you don't mind reading about other regions and have some safety sense, but I might not recommend it to someone who is brand new to foraging.

[The Raven Scholar · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who enjoys tent camping, and gardening, I found the title especially eye-catching since lately, I've tried to incorporate more native species into both my flower bed and garden. While camping or simply trail walking, I've found it intriguing to discover at first glance, many items which appear to simply be weeds, are in fact edible plants.
Along with the colorful illustrations, easy-to-relate narrative, and especially the illustrative drawings such as helpful foraging tools, the book helped give me a new perspective on the many plants which surround us and yet were edible.
One such example is the milkweed. Currently growing in my flowerbed for the butterflies, I hadn't realized until reading the book, it can double as also an edible source, though growing them to provide the butterflies and the caterpillars, a native plant to attract them, makes wanting to eat the plants. However, the author's helpful reminder dogbane can be confused with milkweed, is a helpful reminder of how disconnected in many ways, humans have become from nature. Whether one is a gardener or a hiker, "How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying" is both an entertaining, but also a helpful resource.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for approving my request to read an arc of this book

[Fae k · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying" by Ellen Zachos is a great guide for beginning foragers to edible wild plants. Zachos uses her broad knowledge to provide a succinct and accessible handbook for nature lovers worldwide. The book well-describes and photographs 40 common and tasty wild plants for easy identification.

Zachos's guide emphasises safety, providing valuable insights regarding possible lookalikes and correct harvesting, processing, and cooking. Foods like black walnuts, juniper berries, elderflowers, and fiddlehead ferns are among the handpicked collection. Each plant's profile is educational and useful, helping readers distinguish edible from dangerous plants.

Her excellent advise gives readers confidence on their wild food experiences due to the author's enthusiasm for foraging. The inclusion of simple preparation and consumption guidelines makes the identification-to-enjoyment process smooth.

Ellen Zachos has created a global beginner's guide to edible plants, encouraging readers to explore the rich tapestry with joy and safety. "How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying" empowers readers to explore nature's gastronomic potential.

[shey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guide is truly fabulous! It's bright. It's beautiful. It's displayed in a fashion that not only makes sense, but also is easily readable. The information is thorough without being over saturated. Very to the point with helpful photos and tips that will make your future foraging trips bountiful. Not only does this guide show you how to correctly identify plants, it also teaches you how to break them down for every day use. You will learn the benefits of harvesting plants found in your backyard, while also receiving tips on how to best preserve your land and cultivate the area for future harvests. Forage in a way that benefits you and the land's other inhabitants. I would be lying if I said that I sat here and read EVERY page of this book, but I can tell you I will be waiting highlighter in hand for this to be released. A definite add for anyone looking into backyard foraging.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Forage for Wild Food Without Dying is an interesting book. It has plants of all kinds that you might find in the wild, or grow in your garden, that are good to eat, and even tells which ones are tasty. It takes you through a meadow, into the woods for regular plants but also for shrubs and trees, many of which can be eaten. There’s also a section on plants that grow in water, such as cranberries or cat’s tails.

There are pictures of all the different plants featured, but for many, there’s also a small bit about look-alikes that may not be safe. This is a very important part of the book as far as I’m concerned. Safety is of the utmost importance. It’s even in the title.

I believe that what we put in our bodies affects everything about us. Most especially our health. I don’t always eat the best, but I know if I did, I’d feel a lot better. Books like this make it so that I’d be more likely to find more foods that my body could digest easily. Because of this, I recommend that anyone that wants to improve their health naturally, start with this book and the food you can find in the world around you!!

[Brynna Hooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book on foraging! Great for beginners, too! There's a lot of insights and nuanced tips that you could only get from a "seasoned" forager. If you are worried about mistaking plants for poisonous ones, this guide mostly covers ones that don't have poisonous look alikes. For the few within that do, they are easily distinguishable and the author, Ellen Zachos, has included many photos to help with identification of both. They help you learn when to harvest, how to harvest, the best way to eat them, how to prepare them, and how to preserve them. This is a "one stop shop" if you will for the wild foods found within this book. The plants are also found all over the US so that's a plus! Happy foraging to us all!

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the idea of foraging but have always been afraid to try — worried that I’ll take something dangerous, or harm the plant by taking much. Not any more! “How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying” uses words and photos to guide foragers to where specific plants might be found, uses checklists to help identify common edible plants, and presents simple instructions for harvesting. It’s perfect for beginners, but I would imagine experts would also learn a great deal. The book also includes a chapter on preserving, which is something to aspire to! This is an excellent resource and one I will take with me on my next hike.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the introduction and the breakdown of the different parts of plants. The Know Before You Eat brief on each plant was a genius move by the author. This makes it great for reference after finishing the book without having to re-read individual sections again in depth. I loved that the author included full color pictures and descriptions of the plants and that for some (like Milkweed) they showed the differences between the plant and a poisonous look a-like. This book is definitely key for anyone who doesn’t want to die while foraging and I definitely plan to keep this book as a staple in my own foraging adventures.

[Jacquelyn Dohoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I have about twenty acres on a mountain. My husband and I are constantly trying to figure out what the plants are on our property. We have quite a few berries and other plants that we think are edible, but we aren’t sure. Of course, the apps all give different answers, so they’re no help. This book has beautiful pictures and breaks down how to identify each one in stupid proof terms. It’s been a great addition to my collection. I’ve already found some of these plants on my property! I’m definitely buying a hard copy of it to keep up there!

Huge thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, full of information and fabulous color photos that really help identify the wild food. My grandparents taught me to forage for some food, and I recall the nettle soup and dandelion tea and salad.. So much fun and really good for you as well.
I like the fact that this book actually covers a lot of information, has photos of plants that may be mistaken for eatable wild food. I also like the fact that there are some foods that had side issues and should not be eaten, which is explained in the book. A really handy book to have if one is interested in forage wild food Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DR

[Pip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone looking to confidently break into foraging. Zachos gives clear steps for identification and simple instructions for how to enjoy the bounty that surrounds us. The chapter at the end on preserving is a wonderful guide to sustaining the foraged harvest throughout the year. With a warm welcome to all foragers and a sharp wit, Zachos truly does want everyone to forage (and not die!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy, all opinions are my own!

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know the state of the world isn’t in the best place right now. Knowing how to SAFELY forage wild food is a skill we should all know at least the basics about.

This book not only covers the basics, it also gives you details on forty of the most easily identifiable and found plants across all regions. That is so impressive because we all know regional plants can be pretty distinct so having a significant list of so many plants for all of us is a great tool!

ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

[Kristina the Book Forager · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book "how to forage for wild foods without dying" has been a brilliant refresher for myself. I love foraging and even with lots of knowledge I am still in doubt and end up leaving lots of valuable plants behind, this refreshed my memory and gave new interesting insights on locations and how this might affect the foraging choice. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool book for any outdoorsman! I have always wondered what it edible around me and this is a great guide. I loved how detailed it was and emphasized what is poisonous. The images were very nice and the layout was perfect. I only reviewed an ebook, but would be interested if this is printed in a small guidebook for easy transportation while outdoors. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

I've always been interested in foraging (usually I stick with the easy stuff in my area like muscadines and blackberries), so this book really grabbed my attention.

Easy to read, great photos, and the author speaks simply without talking down to the reader.

Definitely a book I'll be adding to my collection.

[Rainbow_Reading_Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for approving my request to read an arc of this book

If you’re looking for a foraging book then this is the one to get. I’ve read lots and this one has taught me new things and better ways to safely identify. It’s so informative and easy to understand with helpful photos to go along with it.

[cherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying is a detailed and helpful guide for anyone interested in foraging for food.

The advice and information is all very clear and easy to use. The photography was both nice to look at and great for providing a visual reference. This book would be a very helpful tool to stay safe while foraging.

[Dee/ bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

#HowtoForageforWildFoodswithoutDying #NetGalley

I loved this book so much I am getting a paper copy! Full of useful information, wonderful pictures and advice, this book has it all and its easy to read and understand!

I recommend a paper copy so you can have color pictures to carry with you and compare.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

[Novels and Nummies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really cool, I loved learning more about plant identification. This book is perfect for beginners (like me) and the recipes are an awesome addition. I would highly recommend this book.

[Kacey/Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful with so many pretty pictures and plenty of additional full-color pictures to make identification of the named plants easy. There is a clear discussion of the identifying characteristics of each plant and how to distinguish it from similar plants or "lookalikes." This makes it so easy to identify what you need. I highly recommend this book.

[Frodo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beginner’s guide to learning how to, and what to, forage for wild foods was an enjoyable excursion into identifying edible wild plants. I’m too old to learn everything about wild, edible plants, but that isn’t an excuse for avoiding or ignoring the options for available food. Fun to see and learn of some alternative sources of foodstuffs.

[Katie Troh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely thorough. It includes information such as tools, best harvest time, how to eat & cook the plants, where to find them, preservation techniques, poisonous look-alikes, & identification checklists. I would much prefer this over an app subscription