Edible Plants & Wild Crafting Handbook - Nature School · 2020. 7. 17. · Edible Plants & Wild...

EdiblePlants&WildCraftingHandbookOlympicNatureExperience(ONE)isaSequim-basednon-profitorganizationthatnurturesourcommunity’sconnectionwithnaturethroughimmersive,outdoorexperiences.

Olympic Nature Experience •POBOX688Carlsborg,WA98324p.360-461-7169•[email protected]•www.OlympicNatureExperience.org

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IntroductionAtOlympicNatureExperience,weteachstudentsthateachplantisitsownuniquelivingorganism,notbelongingtoanyoneoranythingelse.Withthismindset,wecanapproachwildharvestingwithrespectandappreciationoftheplantanditsimpactonitsneighborsanditsenvironment.Ifwetakealltheberriesofonebush,thebushwillhavenoseedslefttocreatemorebushesandtheanimalswillhavelessfoodtoshare.

Whenwetakepartsofaplantwepracticegratitudeforthefoodormedicinetheplanthasgivenus.Thisgratitudecanvaryaccordingtotheperson’sbeliefsystem;however,practicinggratitudekeepsoureyesfreshtoourimpactontheenvironment.

Justasweteachchildrentosaypleaseandthankyouatthedinnertable,andtobemindfulofhowmuchfoodisleftforeveryone,recognizingeachplanthasafunctionandpurposebeyondourneeds,andbeinggratefulforitsusetous,helpsusdevelopanattitudeofconservationandappreciation.

Edible&WildCraftingSafetyTostaysafewhileharvestingediblesandwildcrafting,knowledgeofthelocalareaanditsdangersiscritical.

1.Knowthepropertyyouareharvestingfromanditshistory.Havetheysprayedchemicalsordumpedtrashinthislocation?Who’spropertyisthisandisitlegaltoharvestfromit?

2.Lookforthesecommondangersandavoidplantswithin30-50feetofthem:

• Roads:exhaustandrunofffromroadscanmakeediblesunsafe• Powerlines:radiationfrompowerlinesandleachingfrompowerpolescanmakeediblesless

safe• Pesticide/HerbicideSpray:lookforpostedsigns,agreenishbluesprayonplants,ortelltale

orange,yelloworbrownwiltingofaverylocalizedpatchofplants.

3.Avoidareaswherepoisonousplantsarepresent.Especiallywhenharvestingwithchildren,avoidingareaswithpoisonousplantswillensureNOSMALLpiecemakesitintoyourharvestbasket.

4.ProperlyidentifyyourplantandONLYharvestitinthecorrectseason.ManyanoviceharvesterhasgatheredthewrongplantbecausetheychosetopickitoutofseasonwhenitsIDmarkswerenotasclearoritwasmoreeasilyconfusedwithanotherplant.

5.Proceedwithcaution.Goslowlywhentryinganewedibleorwildcraftedmedicinetomakesureyouhavenoadversereactions.Alloftheplantsmentionedinthisguideare“gentlemedicine”meaningthey

PhotoCredit:JessicaHaugen


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aregenerallyusedtopromotewellnessorforuseasfood.Theyaremoregentleonthebodyandappropriateforusewithchildren.

6.Takenomorethan1/3oftheplantorpatchduringanygivenseason.Thisleavesenoughforwildlifeandfortheplanttocontinuethriving.

7.Practicegratitude.Nomatterhowyoupractice,beinggratefulfortheknowledge,skillsandfood/medicinegatheredfromwildplantswillensureyourpracticeofwildcraftingissustainableandmoreenjoyable.

PhotoCredit:JessicaHaugen,Owl’sHollowParent

TeachingChildrenWildEdiblesLearningandharvestingwildedibles,asafamily,isextremelyenjoyable.Thefollowingaresomesuggestedrulestohelpyourchildrenandyourfamilystaysafe.

1.AchildmustcheckwiththeiradultEVERYTIMEtheyeatawildedible.Althoughthechildmayhavecorrectlyidentifiedtheplant,theremaybeotherreasonsthatplantshouldnotbeeaten,itistooclosetotheroadoritlooksunhealthy,etc.

2.Childrenmaynoteattheedibleifthegrownuptheyarewithdoesnotknowit.Thiskeepsthechildfrombeingtheexpertandisimportantwhentheyarewithadultsotherthantheirparentsorthoseknowledgeableaboutwildedibles.

3.Startbyteachingthemonlysafeplants.Theseareplantsthatareeasytoidentify,abundant,sotheylearnfromrepetition,andhaveNODANGEROUSLOOKALIKES.


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4.TeachthemEdibleSafety.Seenotesabove.

5.TeachthemtheDangerstoavoid.AFTER,andONLYAFTER,achildhasshownanabilitytoproperlyidentifycommon,safeplantsandhasshowntheycanfollowtherulesofsafewildcrafting,shouldtheybetaughtanydangerousplantsinyourarea.Theeyebecomespracticedatrecognizingthedifferentpatternsofwildplantsandpickingthemoutamongothers.Itisalsoimportantthatchildrencanrememberwhichplantsareusedforwhichpurposes.Onlywhentheseskillsareshown,shouldtheybeintroducedtolocaldangerouswildplants.

EdiblesandWildCraftingToenjoyediblesandensureeveryoneissafe,ONEfollowsthesesimpleguidelineswheneverteachingchildrenediblesorwildcrafting.

1.Weonlyteachplantsthatareeasytoidentify,sostudent’seyesgettrainedtorecognizepatternsandthekeypointsofplantID.

2.Weonlyteachplantsthatareabundant,sostudentshavelotsofpracticeandwillfindtheseplantseverywheretheygo.

3.WeonlyteachplantsthathaveNODANGEROUSLOOKALIKES.Alloftheplantsinthishandbookaresafetoeat,touchanduseformedicine.Ifyouareunsure,alwayserronthesideofcautionandavoidaplant.

PhotoCredit:JessicaHaugen,Owl’sHollowParent


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PlantGuide

Salal–GaultheriaShallon

General:CreepingtoerectSHRUB,height.2m-5mtall

Leaves:Alternate,evergreen,leathery,thickandshiny,eggshapedorslightlypointedatends.Stemsslightlysticky,especiallywhenbearingflowersandfruit.

Flowers:Whiteorpinkishbellshaped,oftendroopingfromstemlikeabell,7-10mmlong,5-15inarowatbranchends.

Berries:Reddishbluetodarkpurpleorblack,6-10mm.

Ecology:Forests,rockyhillstoseashore,mediumtolowelevation

Uses:Berriesareedible,bothfreshanddried.InfusionorDecoctionofleavesusedastonicorforcoughsorstomachproblems.

TrailingBlackberry-Rubusursinus

General:prostrate,trailing,heightto5m,withslender,curved,prickles

Leaves:alternate,deciduous,3leaflets3-7cmlong,leafletsdarkgreenandtoothed

Flowers:whiteorlightpink,4cmacross,clustersor3-5

Berries:darkpurpletoblackberriesto1cmlong,edibleandchoice,verydelicate

Ecology:commonindisturbedsitesorforests,lowtomiddleelevation

Uses:berriesedible,infusionorteaofleavesusedforstomachproblems.Decoctionofvinesandrootsusedfordigestive/stomachproblems.


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HimalayanBlackberry-Rubusdiscolor

General:Erecttosprawling,stoutstemswithsharp,stoutprickles,oftenformingdensethicketsthatspreadthroughrunners

Leaves:alternate,moreorlessevergreen,leafletstoothed,oval,ingroupsof3to5,smoothontopwithfinewhitehairsbelow.

Flowers:whitetopinkish,2-3cmacross,5petals,clustersof5-20

Berries:blackberries,1-1.5cmthick,edible,choice

Ecology:introducedspecies,widelynaturalizeindisturbedareasatlowelevation

Uses:blackberriesusedforfood,jam

Thimbleberry-Rubusparviflorus

General:Erect,thornless,0.5-3mtall,densethickets

Leaves:alternate,deciduous,large25cm,soft,maple-leafshaped,3-7lobed,toothed,finelyfuzzyonbothsides

Flowers:white,large4cmacross,petalscrinkleliketissuepaper

Berries:shallowlydomed,raspberry-likeclustersofred,hairy,juicy,caps

Ecology:opensites,clearings,lowelevationforestoflowtosubalpine

Uses:thimbleberriesusedforfood,jam,dried


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BaldHipRose–Rosagymnocarpa

General:Spindly,stemscoveredinsoft,straitpricklesthatlookpainfulbutarequitegentle,to1.5mtall

Leaves:alternate,deciduous,compoundwithanoddnumber(5-9)oftoothedleaflets.Leaflets1-4cmlong.

Flowers:palepinkrose,small1-2cm,5petals,andsingleattheendofbranch

Berries:orangetoscarletpink,pearshaped“hip”,6-10cm,withNOsepallobes(thesearethelittleleaflikepartsstickingoutoftheendofmostrosehips)

Ecology:varietyofhabitats,opentowooded,drytomoist,lowtomiddleelevations.

Uses:Petalsofflowercanbeeatenorusedinteaorfoodsforflavoring.Outerrindofhipcanbeeatenasfood,usuallysparingly.Hipcanbeusedwholeintea,ifseedsareeaten,itmaycausethebottomtoitch.

NootkaRose-Rosanutkana

General:Spindlyto3mtall,pairofpricklesatthebaseofeachleaf

Leaves:alternate,deciduous,compoundwithanoddnumber(5-7)oftoothedleaflets.Leaflets1-7cmlong,moreorlessroundedtips.

Flowers:palepinkrose,large4-8cmacross,atthebranchtip,veryfragrant.

Berries:redtopurplish,roundshaped“hip”,1-2cmacross,withhairysepals

Ecology:varietyofhabitats,opentowooded,drytomoist,lowtomiddleelevations.

Uses:Petalsofflowercanbeeaten.Outerrindofhipcanbeeatenasfood,usuallysparingly.Ifseedsareeaten,itmayproduceanitchybottom.


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ThinleaforEnglishPlantain-Plantagolanceolata

General:Perennialfromfibrousroot,15-60cmtall,manytallfloweringstems

Leaves:allbasal,stronglyveinedorribbedlengthwise,lanceshapedtonarrowlyellipticoroblong,hairlessorhairy

Flowers:Greenish,small,withyellowstamensstickingout

Ecology:roadsides,fields,disturbedandhighlytraffickedareas

Uses:poulticeofleafusedforskinirritation,nettlestings,andinsectbites.Infusionofleafusedfordiarrheaandasanantibioticwashineyesandears.

Yarrow-Achilleamillefolium

General:Perennialaromaticherb,10-100cmtall

Leaves:Fern-like/feather-like,stalkedbelowandstalklessabove,alternate,pinnatelydissected

Flowers:Rayflowersusuallyabout5,whitetopink/red,diskflowers10-30creamcolourded;headsnumerous,inshort,umbrellacluster

Ecology:ondrytomoist,welldrained,opensites,meadows,rockyslopes,gravelbars,roadsides,lowtohighelevations

Uses:Appliedasapoultice(boiledorchewedleaves)andplacedoversores,burns,bruises,sprains,swellings,andevenbrokenbones.Canmakeateaforcold,arthritis,headaches,menstrualpain,toothaches,anddigestiveproblems.


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CommonDandelion-Taraxacumofficinale

General:Perennialherbwithmilkyjuice,thick,oftenblackishtaproot,5-60cm

Leaves:Allbasal,oblongtospoonshaped,toothed

Flowers:headsyellow,singlefloweronhollowstem,NOBranching

Ecology:introducedweedofdisturbedsites,veryabundantinlowtomiddleelevations

Uses:flowers,stemsandleavesareedibleraworcooked,rootsareediblewhencooked.Rootcanbedried,roastedandmadeintotea.

WesternHemlock-Tsugaheterophylla

General:Treeto60mtallwithnarrowcrown,droopinglead(uppermostbranch),downsweepingbranchesanddelicatefoliage

Leaves:needles,short,flat,bluntandsomewhatsoft,widelyandirregularlyspaced,unequallengths(5-20mmlong),yellowishgreen,layingflatonbranch.

Ecology:Fairlydrytowetsites,lowtomiddleelevation,veryadaptedtogrowinginhumusanddecayingwood

Uses:Barkusedfordyes,stemsusedforfirestarter(finetwigswilllightevenwhenwet),needleteausedfortonic,poulticeofleavesusedforburnsandskincare.


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DouglasFir-Pseudotsugamenziesii

General:Largetreeto70mtall,stifflyerectlead(topbranch),branchesspreadingtodrooping

Leaves:Flatneedles,yellowish-green,2-3cmlongwithpointedtips,1grooveonuppersurface,2whitebandsonundersideofeachneedle,needlesarespirallyarrangedaroundstem.

Ecology:Fromextremelydrytoverymoist,lowtoupperelevation

Uses:Barkandwoodusedforfires,thepitchisusedforcoughsoreatenlikecandy/gum

GlossaryAlternate:arrangedsingly,likeabeanstalkthatcanbeclimbed

Basal:comingoutofthebaseoftheplant

Compound:dividedintosmallerparts;leafsdividedintoleaflets,inflorescencesdividedintosmallerflowerclusters

Deciduous:fallingaftercompletionofitsnormalfunction,usuallyattheapproachofadormantseason

Opposite:arrangedinpairsoppositeeachother,likearmsonadoll.

Perennial:growingfor3ormoreyears,usuallyfloweringandproducingfruit(seed)eachyear

Pinnate:feather-formed;ofacompoundleadinwhichleafletsareplacedoneachsideofthecommonaxis

ReferencesMoerman,D.E.1998.NativeAmericanEthnobotany,TimberpressIncorporated,Portland,Oregon.

Pojar,J.andA.MacKinnon.1994.PlantsofthePacificNorthwestCoast;Washington,Oregon,BritishColumbiaandAlaska.MinistryofForestsandLonePinePublishing,Vancouver,BritishColumbia,Canada.

Edible Plants & Wild Crafting Handbook - Nature School · 2020. 7. 17. · Edible Plants & Wild...

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