Foraging California
Finding, Identifying, And Preparing Edible Wild Foods In California
2nd Edition
Published on 22. August 2019
272 pages
978-1-4930-4090-2 (ISBN)
Description
From acacia to wild grape, Foraging California guides the reader to the edible wild foods and healthful herbs of the Golden State. Helpfully organized by plant families, with detailed information on locations, the book is an authoritative guide for nature lovers, outdoorsmen, and gastronomes.
Reviews / Votes
"This amazing book catalogues in clear, direct language the full range of wild edible plants found in California. Organized by ecological region and latest scientific family, it teaches not only a plant's place on the land but its essential botanical attributes. More than that, Christopher's lifetime of dirt time experience makes him expert on the edible and nutritional properties of this wonderful flora, so easily overlooked but at our disposal everywhere. I have followed Christopher on endless plant walks and never failed to learn something new and important. Now at last it's all in one brilliant guide! "-Paul Campbell, author of "Survival Skills of Native California"
More details
Series
Edition
2nd Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Globe Pequot Press
Illustrations
200 Color Photos, 1 Maps
File size
38,99 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-4930-4090-2 (9781493040902)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Christopher Nyerges
Foraging California
Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods in California
E-Book
02/2026
3rd Edition
Falcon Guides
€17.79
Available for download
Additional editions
Christopher Nyerges
Foraging California
Book
10/2019
2nd Edition
Falcon Guides
€42.27
Shipment within 10-20 days
Previous edition
Christopher Nyerges
Foraging California
Finding, Identifying, And Preparing Edible Wild Foods In California
Book
08/2014
Falcon Guides
€42.23
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Christopher Nyerges has been actively involved with self-reliance and survival for over 40 years. He works with the non-profit, WTI, in survival research and education. He co-founded the School of Self-reliance, and since 1974 has taught thousands of students about wild food, survival, and self-reliance. He is the author of ten books, including "How to Survive Anywhere," and "Extreme Simplicity." He was the editor of Wilderness Way magazine for seven years. Thousands of his articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines. Besides continuing to actively teach, he does a weekly self-reliance radio show. He lives with his wife in Southern California.
Content
- Foraging California
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Plants Listed by Environment Type
- Collecting and Harvesting Wild Foods
- How Much Wild Food Is Out There, Anyway?
- Are Wild Foods Nutritious?
- MUSHROOMS
- Basidiomycetes
- Chicken-of-the-Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)
- Shaggy Mane / Inky Cap (Coprinus comatus)
- Lepiota (Lepiota rhacodes)
- Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
- Ascomycetes
- Morels (Morchella esculenta)
- SEAWEEDS
- Marine Green Algae (Chlorophyta)
- Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)
- Red Algae (Rhodophyta)
- FERNS
- Bracken Family (Dennstaedtiacea)
- Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum)
- GYMNOSPERMS
- Ephedra Family (Ephedraceae)
- Mormon Tea (Ephedra spp.)
- Pine Family (Pinaceae)
- Pine (Pinus spp.)
- MAGNOLIIDS
- Laurel Family (Lauraceae)
- California Bay (Umbellularia californica)
- EUDICOTS
- Muskroot Family (Adoxaceae)
- Elderberry (Sambucus spp.)
- Fig Marigold Family (Aizoaceae)
- New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides)
- Amaranth Family (Amaranthaceae)
- Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.)
- Carrot Family (Apiaceae)
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)
- Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
- Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola and others)
- Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus and others)
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
- Mustard Family (Brassicaceae)
- Mustard (Brassica spp. and Hirschfeldia incana)
- Sea Rocket (Cakile edentula and C. maritima)
- Indian Cabbage (Calanthus inflatus)
- Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
- Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
- Wild Radish (Raphanus sativus and R. raphanistrum)
- Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium irio and S. officinale)
- Cactus Family (Cactaceae)
- Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.)
- Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae)
- Chickweed (Stellaria media)
- Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae)
- Orach (Atriplex californica)
- Lamb's Quarter, White and Green (Chenopodium album and C. murale)
- Glasswort or Pickleweed (Salicornia spp.)
- Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus)
- Stonecrop Family (Crassulaceae)
- Live-Forever (Dudleya spp.)
- Heath Family (Ericaceae)
- Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.)
- Legume Family (Fabaceae)
- Acacia (Acacia spp.)
- Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)
- Palo Verde (Parkinsonia microphylla and P. florida)
- Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and Screwbean (P. pubescens)
- Oak Family (Fagaceae)
- Oak Tree (Quercus spp.)
- Geranium Family (Geraniaceae)
- Filaree (Erodium spp.)
- Gooseberry Family (Grossulariaceae)
- Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes spp.)
- Walnut Family (Juglandaceae)
- Black Walnut (Juglans californica and J. hindsii)
- Mint Family (Lamiaceae)
- Mint (Mentha spp.)
- Chia (Salvia columbariae)
- Mallow Family (Malvaceae)
- Mallow (Malva neglecta)
- Miner's Lettuce Family (Montiaceae)
- Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)
- Oxalis Family (Oxalidaceae)
- Sour Grass / Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.)
- Passionflower Family (Passifloraceae)
- Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea and P. tarminiana)
- Lopseed Family (Phrymaceae)
- Common Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus)
- Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae)
- Veronica (aka Speedwell) (Veronica americana)
- Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae)
- California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)
- Curly Dock (Rumex crispus)
- Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
- Wild Rhubarb (Rumex hymenosepalus)
- Purslane Family (Portulacaceae)
- Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and Desert Portulaca (P. halimoides)
- Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae)
- California Coffee Berry (Frangula californica and F. purshiana)
- Rose Family (Rosaceae)
- Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
- Wild Cherries (Prunus spp.)
- Wild Rose (Rosa spp.)
- Blackberry (Rubus spp.)
- Jojoba Family (Simmondsiaceae)
- Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)
- Nightshade Family (Solanaceae)
- Western Nightshade, Black Nightshade (Solanum americanum [aka S. nodiflorum], S. douglasii, S. nigrum, and S. xanti)
- Nasturtium Family (Tropaeolaceae)
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
- Nettle Family (Urticaceae)
- Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
- Grape Family (Vitaceae)
- Wild Grape (Vitis spp.)
- MONOCOTS
- Century Plant Family (Agavaceae)
- Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei)
- Onion or Garlic Family (Alliaceae)
- Wild Onions et al. (Allium spp.)
- Palm Family (Arecaceae)
- California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera)
- Spiderwort Family (Commelinaceae)
- Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis)
- Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis)
- Rush Family (Juncaceae)
- Rush (Juncus textilis et al.)
- Grass Family (Poaceae)
- Cattail Family (Typhaceae)
- Cattail (Typha spp.)
- Other Edibles
- Getting Started
- Test Your Knowledge of Plants
- The Dozen Easiest-to-Recognize, Most Widespread, Most Versatile Wild Foods of California
- Staff of Life: Best Wild-Food Bread Sources
- Sweet Tooth: Best Wild-Food Sugars and Desserts
- Useful References
- Index
- Recipe Index
- About the Author
