Our native passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a plant with many uses: it produces edible fruit called maypops, the leaves and buds have gentle calming properties, and the beautiful flowers are adored by pollinators! In fact, one specific butterfly, the Gulf Fritillary, relies on species of passionflower for its continued survival- it’s the only host plant…
Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), sometimes called Autumnberry, is an invasive shrub that produces loads of tangy but tasty berries each fall. When perfectly ripe, we like to eat them right off of the bush (you can chew the seeds or spit them out) and turn them into a delicious seasonal jelly. In this article, we’ll…
Fans of garlic will love this easy and yummy dish made with freshly foraged chicken of the woods mushrooms! Chicken of the woods is a choice edible mushroom, that actually does taste a lot like chicken! This makes it a great stand-in for some of the recipes you’d normally use chicken in. For more about…
For the new mushroom hunter, Chicken of the Woods is one the easiest and most beginner friendly mushrooms to find. This choice edible mushroom will quickly become a favorite that you’ll look for every time you head into the woods! What is Chicken of the Woods? Chicken of the Woods is a polypore mushroom –…
Learn how to identify and forage for jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), then how to use it to make a soothing poison ivy salve, and a jewelweed itch remedy with apple cider vinegar. Jewelweed’s always a fun plant to go hunting for! Loved by children for the explosion of seeds that burst forth at the gentlest contact…
Learn how to forage for Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris), plus how to use it, including tincture, tea, and salve recipes! Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris), also called “heal all”, is a common weed found growing on lawns, field edges, and creek banks all throughout North America and other parts of the world. Besides being a great…
Learn how to harvest, store, freeze, and dry elderberries, then how to turn them into healthy syrup, tea, vinegar, oxymel, and more! July 2023 update: I’ve also made a free printable “cheat sheet” of Elderberry Remedies & Recipes that you can grab below. (No signup required!) Have a bounty of elderberries and not quite sure…
Wineberry, also called Japanese raspberry, or wine raspberry, is an invasive (but very delicious!) species that can be found growing wild in the Eastern parts of North America. Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) has no poisonous look-a-likes in the U.S., making it a good option for beginner foragers to explore. Around here (growing zone 7 USA), the…
Yarrow and Queen Anne’s Lace have overlapping bloom times so it can be easy to mix them up, but these tips about their differences will help you tell them apart! What’s Yarrow? Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial flowering plant with feathery leaves. You’ll often find it growing in sunny meadows, at the edges of…
In this article, you’ll learn how to forage for mullein flowers, leaves, and roots, then how to harvest and preserve them! Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a favorite summer plant to forage! It has a unique look and lots of healthy benefits. Once you learn about mullein and the things you can make from it,…
These two plants have the same common name, but are very different! One plantain (Plantago spp.) is a leafy weed used to make things like a lovely first aid salve, while the other (Musa × paradisiaca) is a starchy fruit that looks like a banana. At a Glance Don’t want to read through the whole…