The Pocket Guide to Edible Wild Plants: How to Forage Safely and Responsibly

by U.S. Department of the Army

Now outdoorsman and survivalists can own this comprehensive and handy guide to edible plants authored by the US Army. Whether you are a stranded soldier, a wilderness hiker, or you just want to know which plants growing in your backyard are edible, this is an invaluable resource.

Nothing is more important for the outdoorsman than being prepared to survive in the wild, and the ability to recognize edible plants is an indispensable way to do so. When survival is the chief objective, often plants are one’s best (and only) source of nutrition and medicine. The key is being familiar with their botanical structure, where to find them, and which will provide the most sustenance. Equally as important is knowing which are potentially poisonous or fatal if consumed.

This is a full-color reference to plants both common and rare, from purslane to the prickly pear. Inside are details on how to locate, identify, and prepare edible wild plants, as well as information on their specific nutritional benefits and other handy uses. This guide also includes a section on which plants to avoid and how to test for edibility.

A no-nonsense survival aid, this book is an essential guide for serious adventurers and the armchair botanist alike. Anyone who has spent serious time outdoors knows that in survival situations, wild plants are often the only sustenance available. The proper identification of these plants can mean the difference between survival and death.

 

160 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

The Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency within which the United States Army is organized, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has statutory authority 10 U.S.C. § 3013 to conduct its affairs and to prescribe regulations for its government, subject to the limits of the law, and the directions of the Secretary of Defense and the President.

The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Army, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other senior officials of the Department are the Under Secretary of the Army (principal deputy to the Secretary) and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (principal deputy to the Chief of Staff.)

The Department of War was originally formed in 1789 as an Executive Department of the United States, and was renamed by the National Security Act of 1947 to the Department of the Army on September 18, 1947. By amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 in 1949, the Department of the Army was transformed to its present-day status.