As long as you take this as a simple introduction to foraging it's ok and at least the author encourages everyone to get a decent book (preferably a flora) in order to identify things correctly. As a retired career botanist I think the illustrations are perhaps cute, as some folk would say, but may not be enough for a safe identification for any real beginners. Particularly true for any umbels - the carrot family - where there is some good eating and some very nasty poisonous ones. However, most of the offerings are easy to identify and it's useful to have habitat details, recipes and little snippets about history and so on. A pleasant enough book which might encourage people to use the wild offerings more and at least get out into the fresh air. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Good clear photos and descriptions of what can be foraged. Liked the inclusion of recipes. Difficult to do a complete review without a hard copy but looks good electronically.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is great! Since it's winter time there isn't as much to forage like the other times of the year but I was able to recognize some stuff and that alone felt great! I think the book comes in super handy and I love that I can walk around with it on my phone and look things up quite easy.

This book is just about right for a first time forager. There are some more popular plants and berries like raspberry and mint that it is likely most people can spot and do something with, there are also things that made me a bit more nervous like the big puffball mushroom. The images are good and give the plants description at the various stages of the year and importantly what it shouldn’t look like to stop errors with similar plants. There is a ‘at a glance’ section which is pretty vital for the first time forager and the nervous forager! This is helpful to show where the plant grows, a brief description, any dangers and also what can be done with the plant. There are some lovely recipes. This is definitely the book you would take with you to forage.

Myself and my family have always been a bit nervous about foraging, instead sticking to things that we grow ourselves and can be 100% sure on. Its something we have always wanted to venture more into and this book is a good introduction. I must say that I still feel a bit cautious having read it but I am more willing to give it a try, especially with some of the more easily identifiable plants that do not have dangerous lookalikes. We recently saw a giant puffball mushroom for the first time and I wish I had read this book then! I think lots of families will enjoy trying foraging (kids under strict supervision) and its a great book to give you useful information and images.

Who doesn't love a bit of foraging?
I love walking through the woods or countryside whilst on my dog walks and picking a sweet treat as I go, something I have done ever since I was little and my family used to go blackberry and chestnut picking, though my knowledge of what can and cannot be eaten is limited to the very basics; chestnuts, blackberries, apples, plums, in fact, I grow more edible plants in my garden then I do foraging them.
I really enjoyed this little book, it's light and easy to read. The author has obviously done his research into the topic and has written a knowledgeable and interesting book each edible plant has its own page full of insightful facts, detailed descriptions of identifying each plant, lovely illustrations and a passage on what to do with your produce.
It is definitely worth a look at for those interested in this subject!

This will be an invaluable guide to anyone starting out foraging. From easy finds such as blackberries and apples, this takes you through chickweed and Japanese knotwood and beyond. Very well illustrated, to avoid any mix ups, with a full intro for each item plus a recipe, this is the full package from finding, picking to preparing and eating - as well as pointing out common problems and things to look out for. Excellent!

The first time forager is more a book for reading and getting an idea of what's available to forage than a reference book. The pictures are no where near detailed enough to make proper identifications. I would not be rushing out to buy this book for my collection as there are many more much more detailed books or there.

I like the fact that it encourages foraging but no one should use this book alone to forage.

There are a lot of great foraging areas near where I live but I have never been confident to try it safely so these tips and tricks will definitely help me to start foraging for the first time.

The,First Time Forager by Andy Hamilton


The book is a must to take about with you when out walking / hiking.
Such a wealth of knowledge and wrote about in an easy to understand way .
Previous to this book I've only been confident to bring wild garlic home to make pesto ( delish by the,way ) but it's given me a new found confidence to forage and try things I would have feared before.

I love foraging, so waking up to an email inviting me to read "The First-Time Forager" has certainly put a smile on my face. Andy Hamilton has created a brilliant guide for anyone keen to get into foraging and doesn't have a clue where to start. It took me a good 2 years to learn on my own all the plants that Andy has described in the book, so this is certainly a very handy guide. I even learned a plant or two from this book. I also loved the recipes added under each plant, the author's personal notes on how to forage it, and, of course, the common sense tips throughout. Brilliant! I definitely recommend it for new would-be foragers. There is a lot of tasty wild food out there, and this is your guide. Thank you, NetGalley and Andy, for the opportunity to dig my claws into this book. I enjoyed it.