Take The Uncertainty Out Of Foraging
You have probably often wondered Can I Eat This Wild Plant? And when can I harvest so-and-so? Where does it grow? Which parts are edible? Does it need any special treatment? Is there something I ought to watch out for? What plant will help with this insect bite? How often have you asked those question? And maybe even what can I eat to survive if the chips are really down?
Take the photo on the left. Can you eat that plant? No, unfortunately not. Well, at least not the plant you probably focused on. But you can eat at least two of the other plants, and you don't have to wait for one of them to fruit. Ferns are generally not edible. Most contain carcinogens and an enzyme which destroys Vitamin B1.
The edible plants in the photograph are Bramble (Blackberry) and grass. Yes, that's right, grass! But there are a few things to watch out for, so don't go running off to munch on your lawn. Actually, neither plant should or could be consumed as you see them.
The bramble leaves need to be de-throned or used to make tea (the young buds can be eaten before the thorns develop). Oh, and did you know that bramble leaves taste like coconut?
Just think how mighty strong cows and horses are, living much of the time on grass. However, grass, or rather the cellulose cell structure, cannot be digested by us humans, and thus we cannot get to the fabulous nutrients of the cell content. There is a way you can actually make use of all that goodness in grass - by juicing it. You can also make a high protein curd from the juice. Make sure, though, that the grass does not have a very sweet smell, the one you get from fresh-cut hay (as distinct from the smell of a fresh cut lawn), as this could mean the presence of a blood-thinning chemical. But don't worry too much about small quantities, which are not dangerous, as long as you are not on blood-thinning medication. The sweet-smelling grasses are usually meadow grasses.
So, how can I find out which plants are edible?
With a good foraging guide, and ideally, a field guide or botanical book to identify plants, unless you are thoroughly familiar with the plants you wish to know more about. You probably already know a number of wild plants, but have often wondered whether they could be eaten. Maybe you have a garden, and want to know if that "weed" has some use. Or you like the idea of foraging for wild food, but you want to do it safely. Maybe you are even worried about future food supplies for whatever reason, and want to feel secure in the knowledge that you could survive on wild stuff, if you really had to.
I wanted a good foraging guide for all those reasons, and more, but could not find one which gave me the essential information, without having to dig around in loads of text. Actually, there was no one book with all the information I wanted between its covers. And what if I wanted to go on a walk in the country?
This is what I'd have to take.
And some.
And the computer.
Not good.
No, I couldn't go out foraging with a shelf load of books. There had to be another way. I already had a lot of experience in foraging for wild food, but there is a limit to how much data you can keep in your head, and I wanted the essential data at my finger tips. Ah, if you can't find what you want in the shops, you have to make it yourself.
So I spent the next few years researching and gathering information, condensing it, taking pictures of plants, and putting it all together into one handy fact file. You see, I wrote that guide for myself. I wanted to be safe, I wanted to make use of that weed, and I also wanted to add some highly beneficial foods to my diet, and, and, and. Now it only takes a second or two to look up the information, and the guide is small enough to pop into my pocket or basket. And now you too can benefit without having to do the work. I know that frustration of not being able to find the answers in a reasonable time and space, so I know where you are coming from.
The Handy Foraging Companion And Hedgerow Herbal comes in a portable post card size. The downloadable and easy to print feature-laden guide contains a list of over 300 edible plants in a handy format, as well as detailed profiles on about 50 common edible plants (most are illustrated) of temperate North America, and Britain and Northern Europe (there is a guide for each area, to suit your needs). It can also be expanded with pages you create with the included templates, or any future additions from this website, which are free upgrades for existing customers.
Whether you forage on a leisurely weekend walk, want to know about that weed in the garden, or want to prepare for a potential survival situation, this guide is one of the handiest reference books on foraging. It is designed for quick access to all the essential information you want at your fingertips, no more wading through long text to find the facts you are looking for.
This unique, compact guide packs a lot of information into a small space:
- list of over 300 plants with basic information on edible parts (colour coded for quick reference), how to consume, and caution notes
- a directory of about 50 plants with guide to identification, culinary, medicinal and other uses - most are illustrated
- month by month chart to availability of those plants featured in the directory
- stay safe with caution notes including warning features to look out for
- glossary of medicinal terms
- a small herbal section with examples of wild plants, which may be used for home treatment or first aid in the wild
- general information on plant parts, collecting and preparation, including a way to extract protein from grass and other leaves (indispensable for extreme survival situations)
- key to colour coding and other information for quick reference
- find plants by English or botanical name
"The key to my very own 24-7-52 food and drug store.
Thank You"
David Wynn-Jones
For whom is this guide?
- gardeners who want to know if that weed has some other use or prefer to let nature do the gardening
- hikers and travellers who want to ensure a food supply if they get lost in remote country, or simply to cut down on the weight of carried food
- campers who wish to 'live off the land'
- those who like food for free
- health conscious people who wish to add variety to their diet and get that extra goodness from some wild plants
- survivalists and other concerned individuals who wish to be prepared for any potential food scarcity - peak oil, economic crash, rationing, famine, global warming, natural disasters and many other potential threats
- walkers who would like to have that extra 'purpose' when out on a Sunday stroll
- anyone with an interest in wild plants or ethno botany
- teachers, to use as educational aid
- environmentalists who wish to reduce food miles, energy and chemical input that goes with agriculture and packaging
- anyone who wants relevant information about foraging at their fingertips and in a compact and convenient format
"I purchased your 'Wild Cards' a few months ago and I wanted to
congratulate you on a fantastic creation - after a bit of fiddling with the printer *, I got them printed and they are brilliant! "
Martin D.
Use like index cards for home reference or bind them in your preferred way to use as a pocket guide (e.g. cut-down ring binder; comb, spiral or wire binding - a cheap service at any print shop). Or hover the mouse over this link 
from top right clock wise:
karabiner, elastic strap with velcro, elastic hair tie, inside - binder ring, cable tie, Bulldog clip, binder clip with one clip arm removed
for some other ideas on how to bind your guide.
The guide is designed for easy printing, and can be printed either single or double-sided on paper or card. You can also use the guide on your computer.
Guarantee
If you decide that the guide is not for you after downloading it, just email me within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. No questions asked.
But before you purchase, please read the information on the guide page and test print a sheet first to see if this is for you. There you can also view a few pages from the foraging guide, and find details on downloading. Full instructions are given on the support page (link supplied with download).
Click here for a sample, test sheets and guide to printing and downloading
What is the difference between the N. American and the UK version?
There isn't a lot of difference in the content between the two versions, as most of the plants included grow throughout most of the temperate northern hemisphere, though I left out a few plants in the N. American version, as I could not find any details about their occurrence in N. America. The directory contains 48 plants - 46 are illustrated
Additionally, the pages are produced in letter format for N. America, and A4 format for the UK. Common names of plants vary, so each guide is written with the appropriate names for those countries. The American guide has distribution maps, as distribution of plants can differ widely on such a large continent.
Yes, I want instant access to this unique, indispensable foraging guide
for only US$ 7.40 (or £4.90 for the UK version)
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Download the N. American Guide: 
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Download the UK Guide:
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Click one of the BUY NOW buttons above to go to the secure PayPal check out (no need to join PayPal). After making your payment you will be redirected to E-junkie for your download in pdf format.
Apart from the feature-laden guide you will also receive a template to create your own directory and calendar pages, and a link to a page for free updates and new additions.
Please note, the photographs are intended as a guide only, and should not be relied upon for identification, which should always be done with a good field guide.
PS - There is no better time than now to download this guide. Will you remember where to find it when you want to come back another day? Once on your computer, you know where it is, and you can leave the printing for another day when you have a bit of extra time.