The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles: Learn How to Forage, Prepare & Eat 40 Wild Foods

by Mike Krebill

Overview

The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles is a National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA) winner in the Nature Guidebook category.

Ever seen a tasty-looking plant or mushroom in a yard or forest but weren’t sure if it would taste good…or even be edible? In The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles, renowned forager Mike Krebill profiles 40 widely-found edible wild plants and mushrooms of North America, in a guide small enough to fit right in a pocket. The author offers clear color photos and positive-ID tips for each plant, along with lip-smacking recipes and engaging projects and activities for all skill levels. The Scout’s Guide will help foragers locate, identify and safely enjoy wild edibles – with the added satisfaction of knowing exactly where their food came from. This is one of those "especially for now" kinds of books for the challenging times we are in.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781943366262
Publisher:	St. Lynn's Press
Publication date:	11/15/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	1,003,051
File size:	26 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Mike Krebill is an award-winning life science teacher (retired after 35 years). He has been active in Scouting at every level, from Eagle Scout to Scoutmaster to leadership at the District and Council levels, and is the recipient of multiple awards for outstanding service – 50 years as an edible wild plants educator. Considered by many to be one of the best foragers living today, he is a sought-after speaker at foraging events across the U.S. and is very active on social media foraging sites. He has been a featured presenter at the Wild Food Summit for eight years in a row and was botanical technical editor for nine recent books on foraging (including Sam Thayer’s Nature’s Garden and Leda Meredith’s The Forager’s Feast).

Table of Contents

Introduction xiii

Wild Plants 17

Amaranth 18

Asparagus 20

Autumn Olive 22

Black Raspberry 24

Black Walnut 26

Blueberry & Huckleberry 28

Burdock 30

Cattail 32

Chokecherry 34

Dandelion 36

Japanese Knotweed 38

Lambsquarters 40

Mayapple 42

Milkweed 44

Mulberry 46

Oak 48

Oxeye Daisy 50

Pawpaw 52

Persimmon 54

Plantain 56

Pokeweed 58

Purslane 60

Serviceberry 62

Shagbark Hickory 64

Sheep Sorrel 66

Siberian Elm 68

Silver Maple 70

Stinging Nettle 72

Sumac 74

Sunroot 76

Wild Grape 78

Wild Plum 80

Yellow Wood Sorrel 82

Wild Mushrooms 85

Chanterelle 86

Giant Puffball 88

Hen of the Woods 90

Morel 92

Oyster Mushroom 94

Scotch Bonnet 96

Sulfur Shelf 98

Projects & Activities 101

A Backpacking Make-Lunch Challenge 102

Cracking & Shelling Hickory Nuts 105

Fabulous Fruit Leather 108

How to Process Acorns 111

How to Process Black Walnuts 114

Mushroom Foray & Tasting 116

Persimmon Taste Test 119

Preparing Dandelions for Cooking & Baking 121

The Sumac Lemonade Challenge 123

Toasted Silver Maple Keys 127

Recipes 129

BABWA Quick Bread 130

Burdock Kinpira 132

Cattail Mock Pulled-Pork BBQ 134

Cinnamon Black Walnut Ice Cream 137

Dandelion Donuts 138

Dandy Burgers 141

Double-Good Blueberry Pie 144

Garden Weed Quiche 146

Microwave Purslane Pickles 148

Mike's Mayapple Marmalade 150

Mulberry Taffy 153

Puffball Pieces 155

Shagbark Snickerdoodles 156

ShagBARK Syrup 158

Sumac Lemonade - Two Ways 160

Wild Food Trail Bites 162

Wild Grape Popsicles at Home 164

Glossary 167

Processing Tips 175

Recommendations for Learning More 177

Photo Credits 182

Index 183

Acknowledgments 188

About the Author 191

What People are Saying About This

author of Backyard Foraging Ellen Zachos

"With precision, humor and enthusiasm, Mike Krebill walks us though his favorite edible plants and mushroom. Mike is a lifelong teacher; his years of experience, both in the classroom and in the field, make this book a joy to read."

Lynn Pace

"As a previous Girl Scout professional staff person and Trainer, I know The Scout's Guide will be a fantastic resource for leaders, camp staff and girls. Mike's style, developed as a Middle School science teacher, nature center director and Boy Scout leader is well suited to making the material clear, succinct and interesting for all ages." Lynn Pace, former Girl Scout District Executive

author of Nature's Garden and The Forager's Harv Sam Thayer

"With more than five decades of experience teaching wild edibles to youth, there is no person better qualified than Mike Krebill to write this book. The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles is a thoughtful selection of some of the best and most common wild plants and mushrooms – with fantastic photography, accurate and concise instructions, and simple, well-tested recipes. Perfect for beginning foragers of all ages."

"Wildman" Steve Brill

"This is a great book to introduce Scouts or anyone else to foraging. It covers some of the most common, widespread edible plants and mushrooms in a clear, concise manner, with photos that are as instructive as the text. I wish I had this one back when I began to learn foraging myself!" "Wildman" Steve Brill, author of The Wild Vegan Cookbook

Sam Thayer

"With more than five decades of experience teaching wild edibles to youth, there is no person better qualified than Mike Krebill to write this book. The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles is a thoughtful selection of some of the best and most common wild plants and mushrooms – with fantastic photography, accurate and concise instructions, and simple, well-tested recipes. Perfect for beginning foragers of all ages." Sam Thayer, author of Nature's Garden and The Forager's Harvest.

former Girl Scout District Executive Lynn Pace

"As a previous Girl Scout professional staff person and Trainer, I know The Scout's Guide will be a fantastic resource for leaders, camp staff and girls. Mike's style, developed as a Middle School science teacher, nature center director and Boy Scout leader is well suited to making the material clear, succinct and interesting for all ages."

J.T. Dabbs

"Scouts and outdoor enthusiasts will find this well thought out guide indispensable as they search for the tastiest of wild edibles in their local fields and woods. The Scout's Guide is a must-read for the new and experienced forager alike."

From the Publisher

"With more than five decades of experience teaching wild edibles to youth, there is no person better qualified than Mike Krebill to write this book. The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles is a thoughtful selection of some of the best and most common wild plants and mushrooms – with fantastic photography, accurate and concise instructions, and simple, well-tested recipes. Perfect for beginning foragers of all ages." ~ Sam Thayer, author of Nature's Garden and The Forager's Harvest.

author of The Wild Vegan Cookbook "Wildman" Steve Brill

"This is a great book to introduce Scouts or anyone else to foraging. It covers some of the most common, widespread edible plants and mushrooms in a clear, concise manner, with photos that are as instructive as the text. I wish I had this one back when I began to learn foraging myself!"

Ellen Zachos

"With precision, humor and enthusiasm, Mike Krebill walks us though his favorite edible plants and mushroom. Mike is a lifelong teacher; his years of experience, both in the classroom and in the field, make this book a joy to read." Ellen Zachos, author of Backyard Foraging

John Kallas

"Mike Krebill has had 50 years of experience researching, working with, and teaching about edible wild plants. He has guided thousands of students over the years. His enthusiasm and dedication have given him both the expertise and wisdom to provide valuable content and insight to everyone with whom he shares his knowledge."

Interviews

"Mike Krebill has had 50 years of experience researching, working with, and teaching about edible wild plants. He has guided thousands of students over the years. His enthusiasm and dedication have given him both the expertise and wisdom to provide valuable content and insight to everyone with whom he shares his knowledge." John Kallas, Ph.D., Director, Wild Food Adventures

Editorial Reviews

"Mike Krebill has had 50 years of experience researching, working with, and teaching about edible wild plants. He has guided thousands of students over the years. His enthusiasm and dedication have given him both the expertise and wisdom to provide valuable content and insight to everyone with whom he shares his knowledge."

John Kallas

"With precision, humor and enthusiasm, Mike Krebill walks us though his favorite edible plants and mushroom. Mike is a lifelong teacher; his years of experience, both in the classroom and in the field, make this book a joy to read."

author of Backyard Foraging Ellen Zachos

"As a previous Girl Scout professional staff person and Trainer, I know The Scout's Guide will be a fantastic resource for leaders, camp staff and girls. Mike's style, developed as a Middle School science teacher, nature center director and Boy Scout leader is well suited to making the material clear, succinct and interesting for all ages."

former Girl Scout District Executive Lynn Pace

"With more than five decades of experience teaching wild edibles to youth, there is no person better qualified than Mike Krebill to write this book. The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles is a thoughtful selection of some of the best and most common wild plants and mushrooms – with fantastic photography, accurate and concise instructions, and simple, well-tested recipes. Perfect for beginning foragers of all ages."

author of Nature's Garden and The Forager's Harv Sam Thayer

"While its title brings to mind young foragers, this book, designed to fit easily among camping gear, is for nature lovers of all experience levels. It also functions as more than simply a guide—the narrative is peppered with the author’s often entertaining anecdotes from his many years as a Boy Scouts participant and leader, a wild foods educator, and a National Wild Foods Association Hall of Fame forager. Veteran foragers will no doubt find some pro tips in these pages, and inexperienced foragers are likely to grow awfully curious about the free food lurking in their yards and along their favorite hiking trails."

the national magazine of the Sierra Club Sierra

"This delightful, pocket-sized guide helps beginners of all ages to identify 40 wild edibles."

Learning and Yearning blog

"This is a great book to introduce Scouts or anyone else to foraging. It covers some of the most common, widespread edible plants and mushrooms in a clear, concise manner, with photos that are as instructive as the text. I wish I had this one back when I began to learn foraging myself!"

author of The Wild Vegan Cookbook "Wildman" Steve Brill

"Sometimes good guidebooks come in small packages. The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles almost fits in a back pocket, and yet, for its relatively small size, it packs in a lot of information. Author Mike Krebill knows his wild edibles, and he knows how to make a guidebook fun for young people. A wild food expert and a Scout leader, he divides the book into two parts: the first is the identification guide profiling 40 widely found edible wild plants and mushrooms. The second half consists of recipes and ways of cooking wild foods. In this last half boys and girls are pictured preparing and cooking plants that they have gathered on their outdoor forays. It’s oriented to the younger set, of course, but adults just might want to sneak one along on the next outing. They’ll find it pretty handy too."

National Outdoor Book Award Foundation

"Scouts and outdoor enthusiasts will find this well thought out guide indispensable as they search for the tastiest of wild edibles in their local fields and woods. The Scout's Guide is a must-read for the new and experienced forager alike."

J.T. Dabbs

"The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles is certainly pitched to Scouts and has many great ideas for projects, fund raisers, and activities, but any of this information would be fun and engaging for any beginner or group wanting to organize a foray or outing. And there are many great ideas to introduce kids of all ages to foraging for the first time! The size and scope is just right for beginning foragers."

Fungi Magazine

Great Gift or Reference- Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles by Mike Krebill


Great Gift or Reference: Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles, by Mike Krebill. This paperback is a guide for learning how to forage, prepare and eat 40 wild edibles. Features Wild Plants, Wild Mushrooms, Projects and Activities, and Recipes.

From the Publisher

"This delightful, pocket-sized guide helps beginners of all ages to identify 40 wild edibles."

Learning and Yearning Blog

"While its title brings to mind young foragers, this book, designed to fit easily among camping gear, is for nature lovers of all experience levels. It also functions as more than simply a guide—the narrative is peppered with the author’s often entertaining anecdotes from his many years as a Boy Scouts participant and leader, a wild foods educator, and a National Wild Foods Association Hall of Fame forager. Veteran foragers will no doubt find some pro tips in these pages, and inexperienced foragers are likely to grow awfully curious about the free food lurking in their yards and along their favorite hiking trails."

Sierra Magazine (Sierra Club)

The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles is certainly pitched to Scouts and has many great ideas for projects, fund raisers, and activities, but any of this information would be fun and engaging for any beginner or group wanting to organize a foray or outing. And there are many great ideas to introduce kids of all ages to foraging for the first time! The size and scope is just right for beginning foragers.

Fungi Magazine - Britt A. Bunyard

This delightful, pocket-sized guide helps beginners of all ages to identify 40 wild edibles.

Learning and Yearning Blog - Susan Vinskofski

While its title brings to mind young foragers, this book, designed to fit easily among camping gear, is for nature lovers of all experience levels. It also functions as more than simply a guide—the narrative is peppered with the author’s often entertaining anecdotes from his many years as a Boy Scouts participant and leader, a wild foods educator, and a National Wild Foods Association Hall of Fame forager. Veteran foragers will no doubt find some pro tips in these pages, and inexperienced foragers are likely to grow awfully curious about the free food lurking in their yards and along their favorite hiking trails.

Sierra Magazine (Sierra Club) - Katie O'Reilly