The New Foraging Bible for Beginners

The New Foraging Bible for Beginners, Andrew Kennest, 2024

There are several rules to follow when foraging for herbs and berries. Always go with an experienced person, someone who knows the difference, by sight, between a healthy plant, and one which can kill you. If you find a plant near a main road, or a plowed field, don't touch it. The plant is probably full of pesticides, or pollution from car exhaust. If you find a lavender plant, for instance, take just part of it, don't take all of it. Leave some of the plant, so it can keep growing, and leave some of it for the next person.

This book describes how to dry or freeze your plant, to have it during the winter, or to preserve your berries. It is also very acceptable to cut up the leaves of certain plants, and boil them for tea, or sprinkle them on top of a salad. This book contains pictures and descriptions of many different plants, including the poisonous ones.

Here is a book that feels very complete, and is very easy to understand. It belongs in the backpack, or on the Kindle, of everyone who forages in the woods for herbs and berries.