Foraging

There is seemingly no end to the bounty that nature can furnish for us. There are all kinds of plants that can provide us with food, health benefits, and a lot more. The trick is knowing what you’re looking for, where it grows, and when it grows. One of my favorite times to forage for […]

Poison hemlock is one of the most toxic plants found in North America, and also one of the most dangerous that can be found the world over. It grows readily in many areas, naturalizes quickly and is completely uncontrolled because there really isn’t anything that will eat it. The plant is so toxic that ingesting

Goldenrod is an important plant with many different uses, from food to making dye, and perhaps best known for lending its name and tone to the famous Crayola crayons. But Goldenrod is also commonly mistaken for ragweed, among many other plants. Some of them can be quite dangerous! Whatever reason you are forging for Goldenrod,

If you’ve ever come across a truly towering plant crowned by multiple umbrella-like tops of delicate white flowers, you might have had an encounter with hogweed. Also known as giant hogweed, this obnoxious and invasive plant has quickly become infamous because of its sheer toxicity. Hogweed is truly awful, releasing a phototoxic sap that will

Mugwort has to be one of the most fascinating plants in the world. Beloved and used since antiquity for cooking, for flavoring drinks, and for various ceremonial purposes, it’s also known for its pretty stands of flowers and delicate, enticing aroma. It can even be used as an all-natural insecticide! Amazing stuff, and getting into

Mullein, also known as common mullein, is a plant that isn’t native to North America, but since its introduction it has spread explosively, and is commonly viewed as an invasive weed in agricultural fields. Despite this, mullein is a plant with many beneficial properties, and one that has long been used in various traditional medicines

Stinging nettle is a plant that is loved or hated depending on who you talk to. Some folks love the plant for its excellent nutritional value while others despise it as an annoying and intrusive weed. Whether you love it or hate it, no one likes its tendency to inflict a painful, lingering, burning sting,

You know what they say, one person’s weed is another person’s treasure. Okay, that isn’t how the saying goes but the sentiment is certainly true! What one person curses as an aggravating and invasive plant another person might give a prayer of thanks for finding. I don’t know of any such plant that fits that

Wild ginseng has to be one of the most coveted plants all around the world. Loved in Asia and throughout America as an energy booster, wild ginseng is ceaselessly tracked down by armies of enthusiastic amateurs and seasoned, expert foragers called ginsengers. And finding this precious root is anything but easy: ginseng grows and develops

Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, is known for growing very tall, upwards of 10 feet, and appearing where it is least expected or wanted. It’s also known for growing equally large, dense clusters of small, jet black berries. Although it was a historically important food source throughout much of Appalachia, today it’s predominantly infamous for its tendency