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Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants
Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places shows readers how to find and prepare more than five hundred different plants for nutrition and better health. It includes information on common plants such as mullein (a tea made from the leaves and flowers suppresses a cough), stinging nettle (steam the leaves and you have a tasty dish rich in iron), cattail (cooked stalks taste similar to corn and are rich in protein), and wild apricots (an infusion made with the leaves is good for stomach aches and digestive disorders).
More than 260 detailed line drawings help readers identify a wide range of plants -- many of which are suited for cooking by following the more than thirty recipes included in this book. There are literally hundreds of plants readily available underfoot waiting to be harvested and used either as food or as a potential therapeutic. This book is both a field guide to nature's bounty and a source of intriguing information about the plants that surround us.
More than 260 detailed line drawings help readers identify a wide range of plants -- many of which are suited for cooking by following the more than thirty recipes included in this book. There are literally hundreds of plants readily available underfoot waiting to be harvested and used either as food or as a potential therapeutic. This book is both a field guide to nature's bounty and a source of intriguing information about the plants that surround us.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 1994
206 people are currently reading
1549 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 14, 2014
I can see this could be a very useful book with good illustrations for identification, however is very North-American-centric and as such less useful to me. The large size also prohibits it from being taken on walks for identifying plants.
July 19, 2010
Amazing how many poisonous plants are the source for the "Big Pharma" industry's poisonous "cures" for cancer. Maybe not so amazing....
August 23, 2007
This is one of only a couple books on foraging I have read, but it's my favorite for what that's worth. For each plant he gives detailed description of its appearance in shoot, mature and skeleton form and also provides traditional uses as well as nutritional value. There are quite a few cooking suggestions throughout, and some concentrated in the back. I have made some wonderful salads from my yard, and I look forward to seeing what I can find in my forest this fall!
February 13, 2008
Really good information in this book. There are books that are more completest but very few have the fine tuned detail this one does. It's very readable and Mr. Brill is real Character.
January 31, 2021
Adding color to plant illustrations would bring this to 5 stars
August 7, 2018
Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 34+ years, I'm not about to paint Pharma as the "bad guy" as several other reviewers here have done. (I'm now retired, so I can truly speak as I see things.)
What I like seeing is all components - pharmaceuticals and herbals and diet and physical activity - working together, to create the best health, both pro-active before meds are needed and therapeutic, when either meds and/or herbals can help. From what I've observed, nearly all actual researchers in the field (that I knew around me) feel likewise.
Are there difficulties with pharma? Yes. But I find it foolish to spill the baby out with the bathwater.
But, on to the book:
This is an awesome compendium of native (to North America) plants and herbs that one can easily forage, whether as a medicinal plant, or as just a tasty repast. The book contains line-drawings of most of these plants, to aid in identification, and they are excellently-drawn. And, this book gives warnings and contra-indications for plants as needed. In cases where medical benefits of a foraged plant is noted, some of the science behind these notes are included, a positive from my perspective.
Recommended.
What I like seeing is all components - pharmaceuticals and herbals and diet and physical activity - working together, to create the best health, both pro-active before meds are needed and therapeutic, when either meds and/or herbals can help. From what I've observed, nearly all actual researchers in the field (that I knew around me) feel likewise.
Are there difficulties with pharma? Yes. But I find it foolish to spill the baby out with the bathwater.
But, on to the book:
This is an awesome compendium of native (to North America) plants and herbs that one can easily forage, whether as a medicinal plant, or as just a tasty repast. The book contains line-drawings of most of these plants, to aid in identification, and they are excellently-drawn. And, this book gives warnings and contra-indications for plants as needed. In cases where medical benefits of a foraged plant is noted, some of the science behind these notes are included, a positive from my perspective.
Recommended.
November 14, 2021
This is one of the most approachable books on the subject of edible and medicinal plants I have found and it was actually the first one I purchased when a lack of health insurance drove me to pursue traditional medicines. The meat of the book is divided by seasons (either growing season or harvesting season), then subdivided by what area the plant is most commonly found. The plants are then listed by common names, which, again, great for beginners. The included illustrations are beautiful, but there are no color photos - which can be a bit of a frustration when first delving into foraging. Having said that, I think that at this day in age most people supplement their book learning with online research, so some may find the lack of photos a non-issue. To aid in identification there is some basic botany on the first few pages, plus recipes in the back, and a short bibliography for further study. I 'outgrew' this book pretty quickly, as it focuses more on food than medicine, but I still keep a copy and recommend it to anyone looking to identify and eat their weeds.
June 30, 2009
Ethicurean review of this title and several others on preserving: "I can, you can, we all can!: Essential books for preserving seasonal bounty"
Want to read
March 22, 2014This book is well illustrated and full of information. It is more of a "pick up sometimes and learn something" book for me.
December 27, 2013
Really thorough, good book that seemed pretty comprehensive on the subject. Wish I had more time with it!
November 11, 2019
If you are interested in wild edibles, especially around the eastern part of the US, this is the book you need! Each plant has a full, easy to understand write up, and clear descriptive illustrations. Includes plants to watch out for, and always points out similar looking plants and how to tell them apart. Steve Brill writes with a vast amount of knowledge and a kind side of humor in places. Includes some recipes for using your newfound harvest! Perfect for the beginner or the old salt looking to expand what they know or just brush up.
October 1, 2020
This book has some very questionable recommendations for herbal medicinal "cures" for cancers and AIDS, while also disparaging other medical treatments. Also, the identification information is lacking compared to an average wildflower identification book. Not worth your time or money.
February 17, 2024
Comprehensive and well illustrated. A very helpful addition to my library. I am more confident in gathering plants with this guide.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews