This is a topic I could write about at some length. There are a tremendous number of edible wild plants. Fifteen years ago when I was out of work and going through a divorce, I had about $10 left every month for groceries, so I supplanted my menu with pond fish and wild plants.
There is a big difference between ‘edible’ and ‘nutritious’. Things like dandelions and purslane are fine salad greens, vitamin rich, but have few calories. Some of my favorites are:
One of the best greens is lambsquarters, which is tasty, and does not get tough in hot summer weather like most other greens do. The seeds are nutrient rich as well.
Dandelion flowers should be considered a food source, as well. The pollen-rich flowers have more nutrients and calories than the leaves. You can use them in stir-fries, or as a generic vegetable filler in breads, meat-loafs, etc.
Sassafras leaves can be dried and powdered, and used as a thickening agent in stews.
Acorns are very nutritious, full of fat, carbs and protein. They also have a lot of tannic acid, so they must be crushed and soaked for some days before consumption. Ground, they can be mixed with flour in breads and biscuits.
Walnuts and hickory nuts. A bit labor intensive to open, but very calorie-rich.
Cat-tails are tremendously useful. The tuberous roots are starchy, and the catkin pollen is a good flour substitute.
Blackberries, blueberries, mulberries, raspberries, serviceberries, strawberries, sumac berries, elderberries, rose hips, ground cherries. ‘Nuff said. Not every wild berry is edible, some are poisonous, make a positive ID before you eat.
The inner bark on some trees is edible. Hickory, poplar, birch, and white pine are a couple. In winter, this may be the only food source you can find.
Any grass seed is edible. Foxtail grows anywhere. It’s very high fiber, but can provide starches.
Day Lily roots - related to the onion. Not every lily root is edible, wait until the bloom to make a positive ID.
Wild asparagus - a good springtime veg.
THe problem with wild plants as a food source is that they are pretty calorie-poor They are a good vitamin source, but hard to get enough calories from them. They can supplement salads, stir-fries and stews, but you really need a primary calorie source.
In an survival situation, look for unconventional sources. Pumpkins are something often overlooked. On November 1st, you can get all you want for free. The pumpkin meat is very nutritious, and the seeds rich in fat and protein. You can thin-slice the flesh and dry it to preserve it.
Plain old corn is great. If you live near a corn field you can forage a quick meal in an emergency (I do not advocate theft!) THe young ears can be eaten whole when the kernals are just forming. The stalks are full of sugar-rich sap. Dried field corn can be roasted in oil, where it pops somewhat like popcorn. Salted, it is a great snack. You can make hominy from corn by boiiling it with wood-ashes. THis loosens the hull, and converts the amino acids to make it more nutritious.
There is also a lot of wild game, although hunting in an urban or suburban environment is not always appreciated!
Read up on the American Indians. They were better nourished than the Europeans of the day, and they really knew what they were doing.
I didn’t know that is how hominy is made - neat!
Meanwhile, this kudzu site is so funny, I was in tears -
http://www.kudzufest.net/kudzugrow.html
Something also to consider is to keep in mind location of old abandoned farmhouses. Many of these will have perennials like roses, asparagus, rhubarb, blackberries, chives, still growing in long-forgotten garden beds.
Great post. I knew much of the info, but it was good to be reminded of that and good to learn the other.
I might also suggest some ‘guerrilla gardening’ If you have access to some vacant or unused property, plant it with some of the more vigorous wild food plants, such as sunflowers, jerusalem artichokes, echinacia, day lilies, horseradish, etc. Once established, they will continue on their own, and provide an emergency food source should you need it.
“There is also a lot of wild game, although hunting in an urban or suburban environment is not always appreciated!”
No, but trapping often is. If you use live traps you can even get paid for it, just “forget” to mention that the raccoon in your live trap is destined for dinner :p
If skinned right, the pelts are worth a lot as well.
Its been a couple years since I renewed my trapping license, but if I remember right it was only about $2 here in WI.
I mainly focused on squirrels, as the ones around my house were causing quite a bit of property damage. They even ate the distributor cap out from my dad’s truck!
I’ve studied wilderness survival since I was about 12, there’s a good online survival forum at http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/ if anybody’s interested.
Some more on elderberries:
Elderberries are small, dark berries that grow in clusters on elder trees (also called elderberry bushes). The European Elder is found in temperate climates across Europe and North America. It is a hardy plant often growing in the moist soil along roadsides and streams.
For centuries, elderberries have been used in folk medicine for a variety of ills, including arthritis, asthma, constipation, and as a cure for the common cold. In 400 B.C., Hippocrates referred to the elderberry as his "medicine chest."
Elderberries contain potassium and large amounts of vitamin C, and have been proven in quite a few recent studies to strengthen the immune system.
Elderberries actually enhance night vision because they make rhodopsin or visual purple in the eyes. This helps in seeing in reduced lighting. It also helps in dealing with stress according to recent studies.
The white flowers of the elderberry bush may be pressed into tonics, lightly battered and fried into fritters, or stirred into muffin or sponge cake mix for a light, sweet flavor. Elderberry may be purchased either as a juice or juice ingredient, and as a dietary supplement. Suggested dosage is 400 mg of a 6 percent anthocyanin extract daily.
The ripe berries, cleaned and cooked, can be made into many things: extracts, syrups, pies, jams, or used as garnish, dye, or flavoring. Some eat them uncooked but they do contain toxins and it is better to be safe by washing and cooking them before eating. Also, elderberries are bitter and need sweetener to be palatable. Many like to cook them with other fruit like apples or pears to sweeten them. The tiny seeds in the berry leave a gritty taste, even after cooking, but the seeds are safe.
The red-berried elder contains toxins and is best avoided. Stick with blue, black, or dark purple elderberries, and leave the reds alone. And remember, the leaves, twigs, stems, roots, and unripe berries of all elderberry plants are not edible, and contain toxins that can make a person quite sick.
Exerpts from here