How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying by Ellen Zachos is truly a wondrous book for all foraging skill levels, though aimed at the beginner. The author highlights 40 common wild foods and is written in a simple and smart layout. The accompanying photographs make identification easy, often including lookalikes and characteristics to seek. Though I am a master gardener and expert forager, there are common wild foods such as lamb's quarters, milkweed and dock which I take for granted and sadly overlook. This incredible book taught me not only to pay more attention to these plants but also to enjoy them more frequently. I live in two very different climates (zones 2a and 8b) on two different continents and some of these plants are remarkably readily available even where winters are severe.

Amongst the numerous topics are safety, seasonality, sustainability, mindful foraging, plants parts, foraging tools and preserving along with a few recipes. The forty plants include specific information such as where to find them, identification tips, which parts are edible, where they grow, harvesting, poisonous lookalikes and so on. I look forward to trying black locust syrup, feasting on acorns and enjoying magnolia blossoms. Useful charts such as differentiating between black raspberries, raspberries, blackberries and wineberries are displayed.

Let this beautiful book inspire and excite you. I love how the author takes the guesswork out of the equation in her clear and straightforward style and look forward to seeing plants with new eyes! This is a practical book designed for readers to happily actually refer to and use over and over.

My sincere thank you to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this phenomenal book.

There are a lot of foraging books on the market, so what makes this one stand out? One of the biggest distinctions is that it focuses on forty plants that are good for food. Not medicinal plants (although some of these might be both) but FOOD plants. When your goal is to find things to eat, it's helpful not having to weed through dozens of plants that are safe to consume and medicinal but not particularly great for food. Not only are these forty plants TECHNICALLY edible; the author has emphasized plants (and part of those plants) that are actually desirable for eating. She's honest about it when certain plant parts are rather gross even if they're technically consumable.

The book is also a beautiful one, with many full-page photographs and plenty of additional full-color photographs to make identification of the named plants easy. (You might be surprised by how many foraging books have lousy pictures.) There's clear, conversational discussion of the identifying characteristics of each plant and how to distinguish it from similar plants or "lookalikes."

The author has not shied away from wild edibles that have toxic -- in some cases HIGHLY toxic -- "lookalikes." That will be a plus for some people and a minus for others. If you're not comfortable foraging for foods that look similar to toxic plants, it's easy enough to pass over those; the text has made it clear when this is an issue and when it's not.

It's also helpful that the book is divided by environment. Sections include "Wild Edibles that Grow Just About Everywhere," "Green Weeds of Sunny, Disturbed Soil," "Sun-Loving Trees & Shrubs," "Edibles from Dappled Edges & Shady Places," and "Plants that Like Wet Feet," so you can quickly and easily identify WHICH plants to be looking for in the particular area you find yourself in. A final section discusses "preserving the harvest," and addresses options such as drying, freezing, and canning, since most of us don't want to have to consume the entire season's worth of a given plant within a single week's span.

Overall, I found this to be a very PRACTICAL book, as if a knowledgeable friend were helping me do the actual work of foraging, preparing, and/or preserving the harvest, not merely a reference book that gives me head knowledge I still lack the practical information to use.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really cool, I loved learning more about plant identification. This book is perfect for beginners (like me) and the recipes are an awesome addition. I would highly recommend this book.

Break companion for people that like walking around trails. My husband loves looking for wild snacks while we walk. This books shows some wild plants that we can eat, how to identify them and some plants look alike. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

This is a handy guide if you are interested in foraging. It gives information on all the parts of a plant that might or might not be edible. There's a lot of helpful information on safety and how to properly identify the plant.

This is a great book, full of information and fabulous color photos that really help identify the wild food. My grandparents taught me to forage for some food, and I recall the nettle soup and dandelion tea and salad.. So much fun and really good for you as well.
I like the fact that this book actually covers a lot of information, has photos of plants that may be mistaken for eatable wild food. I also like the fact that there are some foods that had side issues and should not be eaten, which is explained in the book. A really handy book to have if one is interested in forage wild food Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DR

We all know the state of the world isn’t in the best place right now. Knowing how to SAFELY forage wild food is a skill we should all know at least the basics about.

This book not only covers the basics, it also gives you details on forty of the most easily identifiable and found plants across all regions. That is so impressive because we all know regional plants can be pretty distinct so having a significant list of so many plants for all of us is a great tool!

ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

I found this book really informative. The layout and pictures are amazing. And I was able to take information that I needed for foraging. I'm in the UK and this book is targeted at a US audience, so could only use some of the advice as a lot of the plants do not grow in the UK.

This is a lovely book with clear photos. I learned some new things and have a good idea about things to avoid and look for while our hiking.

Very cool book for any outdoorsman! I have always wondered what it edible around me and this is a great guide. I loved how detailed it was and emphasized what is poisonous. The images were very nice and the layout was perfect. I only reviewed an ebook, but would be interested if this is printed in a small guidebook for easy transportation while outdoors. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good book, with really clear information on what the plants looked like and what they can be used for. I also appreciated that they included photos of plants that look similar, so you know, don't die when foraging.
This book taught me that the weed that's growing all over my flowerbed is edible so I'm planning cooking with it soon.

This guide is truly fabulous! It's bright. It's beautiful. It's displayed in a fashion that not only makes sense, but also is easily readable. The information is thorough without being over saturated. Very to the point with helpful photos and tips that will make your future foraging trips bountiful. Not only does this guide show you how to correctly identify plants, it also teaches you how to break them down for every day use. You will learn the benefits of harvesting plants found in your backyard, while also receiving tips on how to best preserve your land and cultivate the area for future harvests. Forage in a way that benefits you and the land's other inhabitants. I would be lying if I said that I sat here and read EVERY page of this book, but I can tell you I will be waiting highlighter in hand for this to be released. A definite add for anyone looking into backyard foraging.

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I love the title which made me giggle slightly. The table of contents perfectly organizes everything so that the section one is looking for is easily found. I also appreciate that this book is for beginners, such as myself. The book's aesthetic is beautiful which makes learning about foraging much more appealing. The photos that accompany the passages are great visual aids! Highly recommend for all!

My family likes to hike and we always say we are going to forage for plants, but we never do. I’m afraid we will get something poisonous. With this handy guide you can identify the 40 most common plants and what part of the plant you can eat. The author also includes if there is a poisonous lookalike. I like how the author shows what they include in their foraging bag.

This book is extremely thorough. It includes information such as tools, best harvest time, how to eat & cook the plants, where to find them, preservation techniques, poisonous look-alikes, & identification checklists. I would much prefer this over an app subscription

I absolutely loved this book! I have about twenty acres on a mountain. My husband and I are constantly trying to figure out what the plants are on our property. We have quite a few berries and other plants that we think are edible, but we aren’t sure. Of course, the apps all give different answers, so they’re no help. This book has beautiful pictures and breaks down how to identify each one in stupid proof terms. It’s been a great addition to my collection. I’ve already found some of these plants on my property! I’m definitely buying a hard copy of it to keep up there!

Huge thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

Loved the introduction and the breakdown of the different parts of plants. The Know Before You Eat brief on each plant was a genius move by the author. This makes it great for reference after finishing the book without having to re-read individual sections again in depth. I loved that the author included full color pictures and descriptions of the plants and that for some (like Milkweed) they showed the differences between the plant and a poisonous look a-like. This book is definitely key for anyone who doesn’t want to die while foraging and I definitely plan to keep this book as a staple in my own foraging adventures.

I love the idea of foraging but have always been afraid to try — worried that I’ll take something dangerous, or harm the plant by taking much. Not any more! “How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying” uses words and photos to guide foragers to where specific plants might be found, uses checklists to help identify common edible plants, and presents simple instructions for harvesting. It’s perfect for beginners, but I would imagine experts would also learn a great deal. The book also includes a chapter on preserving, which is something to aspire to! This is an excellent resource and one I will take with me on my next hike.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is a must read for anyone looking to confidently break into foraging. Zachos gives clear steps for identification and simple instructions for how to enjoy the bounty that surrounds us. The chapter at the end on preserving is a wonderful guide to sustaining the foraged harvest throughout the year. With a warm welcome to all foragers and a sharp wit, Zachos truly does want everyone to forage (and not die!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy, all opinions are my own!

This book provides so much information first on foraging methods and tools before breaking down edible plants. Providing an insights into where to find the plant, how to properly identify, how to harvest it, and how to eat and store what's been harvested. There are dozens of illustrations paired with in depth explanations.