Samuel Thayer

I borrowed this book from my library. I think they bought it to fulfill my request -- a Good Thing, to have a significant book like this in the public system. I've admired Samuel Thayer's writing, his insistence on authenticity, and his intelligence for years, and expected great things from his field guide. My expectations were surpassed. This is the definitive field guide to edible wild plants, a life's work, a magnum opus. I think (after my copy which I'm going to order arrives) I can stop buying books about edible wild plants. Update: I went to order at the bookstore *and they had it in stock* so that is the shortest time a book has been on my wishlist ever.… (more)

The Forager's Harvest is an informational book about wild plants that you can eat when you are out in the forest. This book is good for pretty much any place with plants in the world. The author, Samuel Thayer, also warns that some edible wild plants may look similar to some inedible wild plants and tells you how to spot the differences. The author also talks about some false myths for example, chokecherries aren't actually poisonous. Some other things Thayer covers in the book are harvesting and preparing the wild plants. If you are planning on to surviving in the forest for a few days or longer, I would suggest this book for you.… (more)

Similar to Forager's Harvest, this book has in-depth sections on a limited number of important foods with which the author is deeply familiar. In this case the foods include Trout Lilies, Solomon's Seal, False Solomon's Seal, American Lotus, Mayapple, Hackberry, Black Walnut, Acorn, Hazelnut, Wild Carrot, Ox-Eye Daisy, Sow-thistle, Amaranth, Garlic Mustard, Dock, Salsify, and quite a few more -- 42 in all. (Not that limited really, compared to the paltry number of different fruits and vegetables on the average grocery store shopping list!) The book is not intended as comprehensive, nor is it a field guide; the introductory material explains at length exactly why Thayer wrote what he did and how he did and I won't attempt to reiterate. It is worth mentioning, however, that he makes a very good argument for foraging as an activity that contributes to the health of the natural environment. Definitely, read the first few chapters before you jump into the middle of the book. And then, enjoy the journey.… (more)