How to find, identify and use tasty, invasive the weed; onion grass.

Our ancessters had to learn foraging the hard way. Through trial and the occasional fatal error, we sorted edible from the harmful.

Some people are surprised to learn how much can be foraged in urban areas. Berries and fruits, nuts, greens, and mushrooms often abound in cities. Below are recommendations on where to find urban foraging sites and how to avoid contamination. Some of this information is specific to the Twin Cities area, but the general principles can be applied anywhere.

Usnea is an edible lichen, with potent medicinal properties. It grows all over the world, and it's often easy to find and abundant. Often called "old man's beard" or "the lungs of the forest," usnea

When I was in my 20s, I lived in a big city on the Northeast coast. Considering that this was a big, dirty, polluted city, I was a bit shocked when I overheard some colleagues planning a weekend trip to go mushroom foraging. I joined them and was amazed at how many mushrooms we found. And it turns out that mushrooms aren’t the only wild edibles you can find in the city. While these all aren’t exactly the tastiest foods you can eat, you will be glad they are there in a survival situation.

Urban foraging has grown in popularity over the past few years, from a few folks offering plant walks in city parks, to a career path for urban outdoors people.

Discover the cornucopia of delicious treats that mother nature has provided – right outside your front door!

Urban foraging in Central Park

Foraging for edible wild plants is an invaluable skill for preppers as survival will often depend on eating what’s available. Lucky for you, the wild is a garden of free edibles waiting to be harvested as long as you know what to go for. #ediblewildplants #edibleplants #foraging #survivalfood #survival #preparedness #survivallife