Eat the Weeds: A Forager’s Guide to Identifying and Harvesting 274 Wild Foods

by Deane Jordan

Forage all across the country with this informative guide to 274 edible plants, presented by expert Green Deane.


Eating wild edibles is in our genes, and it can be healthy fun! It’s seasonal, sufficient, varied, and provides plenty of nutrients. It yields the satisfaction born of food independence and competence. There’s no packaging, no labeling, no advertising, and no genetic tinkering involved. But which plants should you eat—and when should you eat them?


Let “Green Deane” Jordan guide you with Eat the Weeds. Green Deane teaches foraging classes and runs a popular foraging website (also called Eat the Weeds). Now he’s sharing his expertise with you. Eat the Weeds presents 274 wild foods and helps you to find, identify, and harvest them. The book begins with an introduction that includes tips for using this comprehensive book. The weeds are organized alphabetically, and an extensive index further helps you find what you’re looking for. Plus, a fascinating and informative table aids in choosing plants based on their notable nutrients!


Perhaps you recognize a shortage in your diet of a specific vitamin and/or mineral. This guide points you to the plants that could remedy it. The information appeals to everyone from foragers, gardeners, and nature-lovers to raw food enthusiasts, vegans, and survivalists. Each entry includes an introduction to the plant and recommended methods for preparing it, as well as its nutritional information. Yes, nearly every featured wild edible includes a full nutrition table! Color photographs and visual descriptions assist you in field identification, and Green Deane’s insights are invaluable, whether you’re a beginning forager or someone with plenty of experience.


Foraging is a treasure hunt, so eat healthier, save money, and have fun while enjoying Earth’s delicious and nutritious bounty.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

1043 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2023

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the author's blog, but this felt a little different. it feels like the majority of the plants in this book would not be easy enough for me to spot with just one picture and that a large portion of them don't grow near me. I did pick out a dozen or so plants to forage for and the information on these does seem to be great

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend that you use this book in conjunction with a book that lists edible wild plants in your state. Going back and forth between the two has been much more informative, allowing me to skip what doesn’t grow in my climate. 🌱🪴🌱

[Donna J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being very familiar with "Green Deane"Jordan's work in teaching people world wide how to eat the weeds, and having been on many of his fantastic foraging walks I am anxiously awaiting the release of Green Deane's book so we can take it with us in the field to positively identify wild edibles. Before this book, Deane's wisdom was only available via computer, but now, we can check and "itemize" (as Deane describes his specific plant identification process) while out on the trail where and when electricity or internet may be unavailable. Obviously much deep research has gone into Deane'work, as evidenced by historical facts, name histories and origins, and historical uses of common wild edibles. I highly recommend that any serious forager obtain a copy of the "Deane of foraging"s first physical book containing a vast array of common weeds and their edibility. Hurry and purchase this valuable compilation of plant wisdom, wit, and beautiful full color photos of wild edibles!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid gardener, I'm not quite the woodlands foraging type. What I am, though, is interested in knowing how and where we can find sustenance around us, an interest that kicked in right around the pandemic. Is any of my yard edible? What about the woods behind my house? Anything there?

There was, as it happened. Chickweed and acorns and a variety of berries. Not enough to live on, but still.

For that reason, this utterly approachable guide popped out at me on my library's new nonfiction shelf, and while it's more a handbook/guide than something one reads through in a linear fashion, I found it quite entertaining. Jordan's style is conversational and engaging, and his knowledge is grounded in both his own research and experience. I spent a few pleasant hours flipping through it, and wouldn't half mind having a copy on my own bookshelves at home. It scratches a primal itch.

[Corrie's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent reference guide for foraging edible weeds! Everything is well set out and organized. Easy to read and understand. Deane Jordan did an amazing job. I plan on buying a few copies. One for myself and a few to give away to people I know will appreciate it.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review Eat the Weeds by Deane Jordan.