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Family Foraging: A Fun Guide to Gathering and Eating Wild Plants
The ultimate family-friendly guide to foraging with kids.
Children are natural foragers — they love to get outside and search for hidden treasures. And once they get the foraging bug, there’s no turning back. Before you know it, they’ll be asking where they can find the sweetest summer berries or the best wild apple trees.
This fun handbook includes information on finding 30 of the most commonly found wild plants in North America. You can find most of the plants in your nearest forest, park, and sometimes, even in your own backyard. In addition to identification information, the book includes clear instructions on how to best prepare these delicious wild foods with kid-friendly recipes like Puffball Kebabs, Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, and Wild Raspberry Muffins.
Children are natural foragers — they love to get outside and search for hidden treasures. And once they get the foraging bug, there’s no turning back. Before you know it, they’ll be asking where they can find the sweetest summer berries or the best wild apple trees.
This fun handbook includes information on finding 30 of the most commonly found wild plants in North America. You can find most of the plants in your nearest forest, park, and sometimes, even in your own backyard. In addition to identification information, the book includes clear instructions on how to best prepare these delicious wild foods with kid-friendly recipes like Puffball Kebabs, Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, and Wild Raspberry Muffins.
144 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2019
2 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Dave Hamilton
10 books6 followersDave Hamilton is a versatile writer; his books reflect his wide range of interests and expertise.
We writes about food and foraging, history and ancient history, gardening and travel. He holds a degree in Nutrition and Food Science, a diploma in sustainable horticulture and is a trained adult educator.
We writes about food and foraging, history and ancient history, gardening and travel. He holds a degree in Nutrition and Food Science, a diploma in sustainable horticulture and is a trained adult educator.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 23, 2022
A fantastic overview of common plants in North America and Europe that children can be taught to identify and pick. Colorful, clear, and well laid out. Glad we bought this one so that we can return to it again and again.
June 3, 2019
There’s a fantastic new book that focuses on foraging with kids. Family Foraging: A Fun Guide to Gathering and Eating Wild Plants was released last month and it’s my new favorite book on foraging with kids.
The book, by David Hamilton, features 30 commonly found wild edible plants of North America. The plants covered in the book are:
Nettles, dandelions, wild garlic, goosefoot (lambsquarters), chickweed, spearmint, garlic mustard, plantain, wild cherry, elder, bilberry, marsh samphire, common sorrel, giant puffball, wild radish, woodland strawberry, wild plum, blackberry, apple, rose, hawthorn, raspberry, beech, sep, hazelnut, sweet chestnut, staghorn sumac, wood sorrel, sea beet, birch.
Photo courtesy Roost Books
The plants are divided by season — spring, summer, fall and winter (3 plants).
Each plant is pictured with a close up photograph (sometimes), a well drawn illustration, description of all the parts of the plant, a picture of what parts of the world it grows wild in, text about what to avoid (plants that might seem similar and how to know it’s not your plant), notes about where to find it, info on how to eat it, and a recipe.
Photo courtesy Roost books
The publisher says:
The ultimate family-friendly guide to foraging with kids.
Children are natural foragers — they love to get outside and search for hidden treasures. And once they get the foraging bug, there’s no turning back. Before you know it, they’ll be asking where they can find the sweetest summer berries or the best wild apple trees.
This fun handbook includes information on finding 30 of the most commonly found wild plants in North America. You can find most of the plants in your nearest forest, park, and sometimes, even in your own backyard. In addition to identification information, the book includes clear instructions on how to best prepare these delicious wild foods with kid-friendly recipes like Puffball Kebabs, Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, and Wild Raspberry Muffins.
I noticed that the maps were not always accurate. For instance, several plants that we regularly forage here in Minnesota were not shown as growing in our area. The maps are just small images of the world with the countries and parts of countries where they supposedly grow wild shown in one color. Still, they are helpful and I’ve never seen world maps for foraging info before (though the USDA North America maps are widely used.)
The author is British, but the book is focused on North America. It appears that there is a similar book with a different cover that is sold in the UK. I don’t know if the plants covered are the same or not. The book struck me as British as I was reading it (for instance, we tend to say ramps instead of wild garlic and lambs quarters instead of goosefoot, and we don’t tend to use terms like hedgerows). I’m not sure how much experience the author has actually foraging here in the states, though he seems quite experienced foraging in the UK. That said, as someone who does forage here in the U.S., the book seemed quite accurate to me.
The book is very reasonably priced and I plan to buy a copy for our home foraging library. It’s well suited for beginning foragers and also for families who already do a lot of foraging but are looking for some new plants to discover together.
Highly recommended.
(See my review with photos here: http://magicalchildhood.com/life/2019...
The book, by David Hamilton, features 30 commonly found wild edible plants of North America. The plants covered in the book are:
Nettles, dandelions, wild garlic, goosefoot (lambsquarters), chickweed, spearmint, garlic mustard, plantain, wild cherry, elder, bilberry, marsh samphire, common sorrel, giant puffball, wild radish, woodland strawberry, wild plum, blackberry, apple, rose, hawthorn, raspberry, beech, sep, hazelnut, sweet chestnut, staghorn sumac, wood sorrel, sea beet, birch.
Photo courtesy Roost Books
The plants are divided by season — spring, summer, fall and winter (3 plants).
Each plant is pictured with a close up photograph (sometimes), a well drawn illustration, description of all the parts of the plant, a picture of what parts of the world it grows wild in, text about what to avoid (plants that might seem similar and how to know it’s not your plant), notes about where to find it, info on how to eat it, and a recipe.
Photo courtesy Roost books
The publisher says:
The ultimate family-friendly guide to foraging with kids.
Children are natural foragers — they love to get outside and search for hidden treasures. And once they get the foraging bug, there’s no turning back. Before you know it, they’ll be asking where they can find the sweetest summer berries or the best wild apple trees.
This fun handbook includes information on finding 30 of the most commonly found wild plants in North America. You can find most of the plants in your nearest forest, park, and sometimes, even in your own backyard. In addition to identification information, the book includes clear instructions on how to best prepare these delicious wild foods with kid-friendly recipes like Puffball Kebabs, Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, and Wild Raspberry Muffins.
I noticed that the maps were not always accurate. For instance, several plants that we regularly forage here in Minnesota were not shown as growing in our area. The maps are just small images of the world with the countries and parts of countries where they supposedly grow wild shown in one color. Still, they are helpful and I’ve never seen world maps for foraging info before (though the USDA North America maps are widely used.)
The author is British, but the book is focused on North America. It appears that there is a similar book with a different cover that is sold in the UK. I don’t know if the plants covered are the same or not. The book struck me as British as I was reading it (for instance, we tend to say ramps instead of wild garlic and lambs quarters instead of goosefoot, and we don’t tend to use terms like hedgerows). I’m not sure how much experience the author has actually foraging here in the states, though he seems quite experienced foraging in the UK. That said, as someone who does forage here in the U.S., the book seemed quite accurate to me.
The book is very reasonably priced and I plan to buy a copy for our home foraging library. It’s well suited for beginning foragers and also for families who already do a lot of foraging but are looking for some new plants to discover together.
Highly recommended.
(See my review with photos here: http://magicalchildhood.com/life/2019...
January 3, 2019
This would be a fun library addition to any outdoorsy or hiking family, interested in learning something new about their surroundings. I love picking berries that I can easily identify but beyond the basics I am completely clueless to correctly identify anything growing alongside our hiking trail or near or campsite.
This book gives some illustrations, photos and even recipes for plants and berries discussed in the book.
Thank you to Roost Books and NetGalley for this family ARC, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
This book gives some illustrations, photos and even recipes for plants and berries discussed in the book.
Thank you to Roost Books and NetGalley for this family ARC, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
January 6, 2023
Hard to star and decide if it’s need to buy. Great layout, pictures and attitude. LOVE that most of the recipes are closer to plant based or whole 30 unlike all of my other foraging books which are butter and wheat heavy.
A bit basic is the only downside, not sure if there’s something I need to have on hand. But it’s exactly as advertised hence 4 star.
I did learn a handful of things I haven’t heard elsewhere and like the layout better than my others
A bit basic is the only downside, not sure if there’s something I need to have on hand. But it’s exactly as advertised hence 4 star.
I did learn a handful of things I haven’t heard elsewhere and like the layout better than my others
April 14, 2023
Good basic foraging book.
October 7, 2021
This is a beautifully presented, simple and straight forward, appealing overview for family foraging. I found it pleasant to peruse but it lacks much depth in terms of practical advice *for families*. It really is more like “foraging for all ages”, and encourages going with kids in tow. Such a pretty book you could use it as a coffee table or restroom entertainment book. I love how many photographs are included, as well as the fact that they do a great job describing the items from their other names, what leaves look like, if they have flowers, where they can be found on a world map, where to find it locally, how to eat it and includes a recipe for each item featured. Each season has 3-10 different items proposed for foraging. If it were a bit longer with more in those lists and had included more advice specific to foraging with kids, it would’ve been five stars from me. Great book, though, and a helpful resource!
January 3, 2019
This title is extremely helpful for anyone interested in using the resources around them that grow naturally. It includes a list of what should be worn and what utensils you may need in foraging and preparing items that have been foraged. The author thoroughly describes what to avoid when harvesting, where to find each plant both locally and globally and a plant identification with pictures and drawings. The recipes for how to prepare each plant are delicious, easy to follow, and a wonderful addition to any recipe box or book.
I received a free ARC copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received a free ARC copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 6, 2023
Colorful book that goes into a bit more educational information on foraging, where to forage, when to forage what, why to forage, and how to so safely with a family, in a way that everyone in the family can relate or understand. Each plant has a suggested recipe at the end of its section with a photo of the dish, and the highlighted plants are separated by time of year the author recommends foraging them in, making it easy for families to understand when to look for them.
Over all another book I recommend to families wanting to forage together with, especially if they have younger kids or children just getting interested in foraging.
Over all another book I recommend to families wanting to forage together with, especially if they have younger kids or children just getting interested in foraging.
November 11, 2019
Good but learned I need book written for the are I live in
April 19, 2023
Was not really relevant to my area of the country
January 20, 2019
Family Foraging is an interesting book designed to encourage families to get outdoors together and forage for edible plants. It is clearly written and has good advice on how to make sure of your identification. It would make an excellent addition to any family bookshelf.
I love books about edible and useful plants and this one is no exception. It covers plants found both in the UK and the USA, so it can be used on either continent. I did wish that it had more photos included and covered more species. But it’s a great book to get you started on your foraging journey. You can learn more after you master the skills in this book.
I always advise that you make thoroughly certain of your identification before trying any wild plants. Some out there do have poisonous look-alikes, as indicated in this book. The author does a good job of pointing this out. If there is one change I’d wish for in this book it would be a section showing the poisonous plants you are likely to find, so that you can avoid them.
If you stick with the safer plants, which are easier to identify and are less likely to have poisonous look-alikes, you should have tons of fun out there foraging as a family. That’s what I like about this book – that it emphasizes those types of plants. It’s a good way to get outdoors together and learn more about nature. If you want to get your kids away from screens and indoor games, take them outside and try foraging. Take this book with you. You will be glad you did. It’s even got recipes that look absolutely delicious!
I love books about edible and useful plants and this one is no exception. It covers plants found both in the UK and the USA, so it can be used on either continent. I did wish that it had more photos included and covered more species. But it’s a great book to get you started on your foraging journey. You can learn more after you master the skills in this book.
I always advise that you make thoroughly certain of your identification before trying any wild plants. Some out there do have poisonous look-alikes, as indicated in this book. The author does a good job of pointing this out. If there is one change I’d wish for in this book it would be a section showing the poisonous plants you are likely to find, so that you can avoid them.
If you stick with the safer plants, which are easier to identify and are less likely to have poisonous look-alikes, you should have tons of fun out there foraging as a family. That’s what I like about this book – that it emphasizes those types of plants. It’s a good way to get outdoors together and learn more about nature. If you want to get your kids away from screens and indoor games, take them outside and try foraging. Take this book with you. You will be glad you did. It’s even got recipes that look absolutely delicious!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews