Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places Reviews

• Slightly Disappointed

  
  By A2CO62GSEWVVDU on 2003-10-16
  On the whole, this book is interesting and informative, but I was slightly disappointed with the logical layout. The information in the book is fairly detailed and interesting, but is presented in a narrative manner. The book takes a season/habitat based approach... I guess I was expecting a more trait-based heirarchical listing system. Something that would facilitate taking an unknown plant and quickly looking up the answers to "what is it? is it edible? is it medicinal? if so, what are the details"

  The approach also tends to give details on a few interesting / especially good flavored or nutricious plants and then gives a names-only grocery list of "Edible and medicinal plants" and then one of "For Observation only"

  So, in summary, if you know a bit about general plant identification and your focus is on what's available for the season and habitat, this book is a valuable resource, but if you're looking for a field identification and classification tool, this is probably not the best choice.
  
  

• Get this book now!

  
  By A346060GZ11Z6Q on 2000-06-02
  This is a fantastic book. Very thorough information about finding, identifying, harvesting, preparing, and uses of edible wild plants. The plant drawings are fantastic and much easier to use than color photos. I enjoy his emphasis on finding edibles in your lawn or other "not so wild" places. Also includes lots of invaluable information on poisonous plants to avoid and poisonous "look-alikes" to beware of. He has a great sense of humor and an entertaining style. I bought the book and then had to immediately by another as a gift. I just got lunch by weeding my driveway...
  
  

• Don't waste your money

  
  By AIEK3SFMSR3KL on 2007-01-12
  While the author seems like a nice guy, I found this book to be an expensive rip. Aside from the fact that it is printed cheaply on thick newsprint, the author should have named it, "Plants I like in Central Park". It is clear that he has spent little time west of the rockies, let alone west of Central Park where most of his endearing anecdotes originate.
  
  The author continually makes unsupported statements about "Indians or native americans'" use of plants "for female reproductive problems". Give me a break. What is a reader supposed to do with that so called knowlege?
  
  The book is too big to be a field guide, and so disorganized that it is very hard to extract useful information. The biggest fault, however, is that it really only pays lip service to the western half of the USA, and it should have stated so in the title.
  
  I'm going to try to sell mine asap.
  
  dan
  
  

• One of the top 10 herb books in print.

  
  By A36TMWPRKC001T on 1999-06-29
  As a professional herbalist and herbal teacher I have over two hundred herbals and field guides at my disposal. Steve "Wildman" Brill leads the field in combining an herbal and edible plant field guide, which is readable, comprehensive, and most important ACCURATE. His final chapter of recipes will make most readers want to head into the backcountry just to find the proper edibles. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for the beginner or the professional herbalist.
  
  

• Very nice

  
  By AVBY4ESG7WGJB on 2005-06-22
  Although a little on the introductory side, I really enjoyed this book. I am a researcher in botany areas and I can say that the author does a great job at describing and aiding to identify and separate useful plants from obnoxious look-alikes. Somebody here suggested that the book could be organized in some hierarchical form. That is equivalent of a botanical taxonomy key. It would be great but there are keys for the purpose of organizing the info and helping to pick plants apart. I don't think it is essential here.
  Somebody else said that the pretty drawings are only on the cover... is there a more literal analog of "judging the book by its cover"? While the drawings inside are black and white they serve the purpose. They are very well drawn and they are useful in identifying the plant in question. Tha author is also very conscientious and will not hesitate to say he doesn't know something and advices caution when pertinent. Excellent job.
  The bottom line: it is very interesting, well organized and it sparks your curiosity. And if you wish to have a deeper treaty on any particular topic or plant you can always refer to a more specialized publication. $15? You can't go wrong.
  
  
• No Need for Color Photos
  By on 2002-08-25
  I love this book. I bought it about four years ago and it inspired an interest in plants that has led me to pursue a bachelors in botany. It is an incredibly informative resource about plants but it also contains enough of the author's personal experiences and pearls of wisdom to make it a lovely book to curl up with. Maybe I have an odd sense of humor but this book elicits a chuckle every time I open it. The pictures are black and white line drawings but they are very detailed, much more helpful than the often out of focus color photos in a lot of other plant id books. Plant identification requires patience and attention to detail and this book provides the details needed for accuracy. It is important to keep in mind that if you are identifying plants in order to harvest them you should always always always check more than one reference before eating them. This book is not only worth the cost, it is the best edible wild plant resource available.
  
  
• Well selected information and the right mind-set.
  By AI7XHWIJ61ARX on 2005-01-11
  This is the best book on edible plants I have yet encountered, and I own 7. The information is really carefully researched, both by library work and extensive personal experience; lots of books propagate the errors of other references, or ignore documented risks. I'm personally a bit reserved about medicinal uses of plants (not because plant medicines are ineffective, but because they can be quite powerful) but Brill has me at least more intrigued than I have been for a while. The writing is engaging and often humorous, without obscuring a thorough coverage of each plant - where and when it is found, what parts to use and how to collect them, and finally how to prepare for eating. While I'm at it, I'll cast my vote in favor of the excellent drawings instead of photos; colors are a lot less helpful for plant identification than many people realize.
  
  In addition to all of these merits the book teaches what I think is the ideal attitude for foraging, both directly by exposition and indirectly through organization. The attitude may be summarized as thoughtful involvement, with both the plants and the places they grow. I've seen reviews of plant foraging books that are written as though the reviewer wishes to wander outside, grab a plant, look it up to see if it is edible, eat it or not, and then go on to something else. This is a recipe for a couple kinds of trouble. First, it is risky to collect plants without taking the time to learn about them; you can't just dive in and start eating stuff without learning both the plants you want to eat and something about the plants you don't want to eat. Spend some time with a plant guide or two just learning your way around plant in general. Second, careless harvesting can damage the plant populations and the plant habitats. Slow down a bit, let the caffeine wear off, and think about what you're doing. It makes a nice change. This book is a great guide.
  
  
• Not an easy read
  By A3RJY3OSUFXHO6 on 2006-11-07
  First, I don't know anything about plants, other than your common weeds that I try to kill every year that exist in my lawn. As it turns out, the dandelion is an amazing plant however, being a total novice and buying this book I am left with alot more questions than answers. I have read this book over and over and I still can't figure out most of the plants by looking at the drawings. I have a garden that I setup this year and I let every weed grow in it, some are now 3 feet tall, and more, and there are probably 50 varieties of plants in this patch, and I can maybe figure out what 5 of them are. If your looking for a reference based on your existing knowledge of plants, then this book might be good, as a "newbie" this book doesn't help you identify unknown plants but expects you to learn plants from the book and then know them when you see them.
  
  I purchased this book to learn about wilderness survival and edible plants, I did learn some things, and some very easy to identify plants I found out are very usefull, but I am guessing I could have found all that on the web instead of buying the book. The illustrations, at least to me, are terrible. I still think a picture is worth a thousand words, but not a drawing.
  
  The argument the book makes about photographs versus hand drawings is that it is easier to portray a plant in all of its stages in a drawing and easier to put in detail.
  
  
• Useless
  By AL31YXTSVW7P0 on 2005-06-13
  Amazon.com sells many fine books... this is not one of them! The only color images are on the cover, inside you'll find only tiny, useless black and white drawings. I would give this book 0 stars if possible.
  
  
• This is a MUST BUY, Best of its kind book!
  By A3J28HCF2RDVU7 on 1998-10-20
  If you are interested in the subject this is a MUST BUY. I recently purchased this book for the third time. I have made a present of it twice. Part of the reason for my enthusiasm for this book is that in my experience, this is the only book of it's kind that can easily be read from cover to cover with good comprehension and retention of the contents. I believe that the reason this is so is due to the book's superb integration and afore mentioned organization. The author, Steve Brill, throughout includes much folk wisdom and a great deal of scientific fact and many humorous anecdotes. This is all done with an extreme humanity, lack of pretentiousness or dogmatism. Mr. Brill frequently describes the process by which he learned things and many of the false paths he took prior to gaining enlightenment. The author is one of the very very few people secure enough not to succumb to the temptation to remove the scaffolding he used to aid himself in obtaining his knowledge.

  The author begins with a light survey of, but not limited to: - general advice on how (and why) to harvest wild plants - conservation - safety and equipment - nutritional information, as well as herbal actions, herbal preparation - plant structures - natural botanical habitats

  Mr. Brill proceeds to discuss various specific plants and their identification. This material organized by natural habitat within season which is probably the best organization from the point of view of the neophyte forager. The selection of plants covered with very few exceptions, are the two to three hundred most common wild edible plants in the Northeast United States. This is bears emphasis in that the author does not waste your time with "plants that you will never see except in a field guide" or with "edible" plants where "edible" merely means "can be eaten without dying". The book ends with some general pointers on how to cook wild vegetables and in excess of thirty specific recipes. The entire book is infused with superbly organized information, humor, and well thought out philosophy of nature. The bibliography is superb. END
  
  

• a must-have!
  By on 1999-09-03
  I wouldn't give very many books five stars, but this one thoroughly deserves it. The line drawings are better than pictures for identifying plants (I have had better luck with them anyway). The book has humor, great info on what to do with the plant once you've identified it, and more thorough treatment of history and other uses of each plant.
  
  
• great book!
  By on 2003-10-09
  OUT OF THE 4 BOOKS THAT I OWN ON THE SUBJECT. THIS IS THE BEST GUIDE ON EDIBLE WILD PLANTS THAT I HAVE READ.DON'T LET THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO PHOTOS IN THE BOOK BE A CONCERN. THE DRAWINGS ARE EXCELLENT! EVERYTHING IS IN DETAIL WITH SIDE NOTES POINTING TO SPECIFIC PARTS, POISONIOUS LOOK A LIKES ARE MENTIONED AS WELL AS DETAILED DRAWINGS OF THEM. AT THE END, THERE ARE MANY GREAT RECIPES! BY THE WAY, CHECK OUT ONE OF THE HIKES IF YOUR IN THE TRI-STATE AREA (CONN NY NJ) WILDMAN HIMSELF GIVES A WALK AND A LECTURE FROM MAR-DEC. CHECK OUT HIS WEBSITE http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/
  HAPPY FORAGING!
  
  
• This one's the best of the 20 I've read so far on this topic
  By A5FFYHE427CPW on 1998-07-01
  This book mentions about 100 of the most likely medicinal and/or edible plants that you will encounter, whether in the woods, at a park, or along the sidewalk. The drawings are superb, and the information on the chemical and nutritional components of why the plant works as food or medicine is clear and thorough. The recipes are easy to follow ( I hate to cook). Best of all, the author has a great sense of humor making this one of the most readable books of its kind. I can't reccommend this one highly enough: it's become something of a "bible" for me.
  
  
• A powerful resource for anyone interested in edible plants.
  By on 1999-05-11
  I found this book to be a treasure store of little known information concerning the identification-harvesting-cooking of a multitude of plants, trees, flowers. I especially enjoy the anecdotes the Author describes so well. When harvesting the burdock root, digging can be quite tiring, so he tells about the time he spotted a bulldozer at work, accidentally exposing many burdock. Collecting them in this manner sure beats the old-fashioned digging method. I have been inspired to try the recipies and have, I believe, benefited form them in respect to my health. In addition to identification, harvesting, and recipies, there is also information on the nutritional benefits of most entries.
  
  
• they need color photos
  By on 1999-08-19
  they need to have the plants in color to make them readily identifiable
  
  
• Excellent -- but could we have color illustrations?
  By A1EY2FIK4JWZC on 2003-04-02
  This book was recommended to me by a friend when I mentioned an interest in wildcrafting -- the only problem is, my friend is much more nature-literate than I -- and while the information in this book far surpasses any other I've seen, the illustrations are (beautiful) pencil drawings devoid of color.

  Otherwise an excellent resource.
  
  

• Indispensable
  By A2R7SBK1L0NW83 on 2005-02-07
  If you've never foraged before this is a great book to start with. I thought the layout of this book was wonderful. By putting the plants in order of season they are "ready" gets the forager more in tune to the rhtymns of the plants. Also,
  he includes details on which ecosystems contain which plants. And unlike other ID books, this one is readable. I enjoyed reading about the plants in a narrative form instead of lists of uses, places where found etc.. The drawings are wonderful, but anyone considering foraging should always have a cross reference. This will give you a good excuse to by an ID book with color pictures.
  
  
• great reference book!!!!
  By A3VCXLFAR5OI6N on 2005-07-11
  this is a great reference book for the beginner & the "expert".
  Recommeded to keep in your own personal library of books.
  
  
• Well drawn book
  By A2DHG1HP5MCGMI on 2005-08-14
  I was impressed by the wonderful drawings and informative structure of the book.
  
  
• Great Book!!
  By AY8A3QIPTQGFN on 2002-05-20
  WOW! This book has most any plant you can think of. I wish the pictures were in color but I'm sure that is a cost issue. Well worth the money! Very Interesting and Informative!
  
  
• Didn't Help
  By A28FDO05T15ZZQ on 2007-11-10
  I've got an abundant weed in my garden and I'm wondering if I can eat it. So I bought this book as a reference to see if I could find the plant. It didn't help. The drawings are black and white line drawings and its not laid out as a reference book. I didn't find my plant after leafing through the whole book. I live in the desert southwest and the author states almost noone comes here. This is not a book for westerners.
  
  
• Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wi
  By A1Q348OYZF5854 on 2002-12-27
  I had to star rate so as I'm aware by other reviews 5 stars seem appropriate.
  I have not bought the book yet. I would like to know if it has many british plants in it as I live in England. I have been looking for a good pictorial book as I do not know my 'weeds' very well, but have had no success in my search. As spring will soon come along I would love to know which little bits of magic to keep in my garden.
  
  
• Fantastic book
  By A1OBXQ7XYFAZUP on 2007-05-12
  This is one fantastic book. It is loaded with information that has helped me find plants on my land that I would have never noticed. A must book to have.
  
  
• Good detail - wish it was in color
  By A2P91ENZ4YRR2B on 2008-10-03
  The book is well written and organized. My only complaint is that I wish I'd noticed that the only color pictures are on the covers. Color is an important tool in identifying these plants.
  
  
• excellent book
  By on 1998-09-01
  Our Tulsa nature center's staff has included this as a recommended book. It has great illustrations, fine undrstanding of suburban and urban wild plants. And it has first-rate safety and conservation guidelines.
  
  
• Nice thorough book on the subject
  By on 1998-10-19
  Sorts edible plants by seasons- a great idea. Good line drawings, good info.
  
  
• I'm not buying it
  By A3D6N7TDV3BSVX on 2008-10-07
  Quick skim shows a lot of "the component that may make you sick" verbiage without actually naming offensive compounds.... Kind of useless information for those of us with sensitivities that we understand.
  
  Seems like an OK book but somewhat lacking in critical substance for a MEDICINAL HERBS guidebook.
  
  
  
  
• Publishing quality poor
  By A1A13PKYB2EHD9 on 2008-10-20
  The publishing quality of this book is very poor. It is cheaply assembled on poor quality, newsprint-type paper that will surely wear out, tear and discolor in little time. Regardless of the printed contents, this book is not advisable. Regrets.
  
  
• Where is Evelyn Dean's name?
  By A4K410TVMGUQI on 2004-08-10
  Since having attended a fascinating lecture by the talented co-author Evelyn Dean, I decided to buy this book. I was shocked to see that the co-author's name did not appear on your web site. Please include her name as it's absence may affect the sales of the book. She continues to lecture and promote her book, and many people know the book because of her work. It is a great book, and I highly recommend it.
  
  
• If you want to know more about plants and applications
  By ACXLGBYO1FFNG on 2007-05-31
  I bought this book for my mom and for all the unknown plants around my house. And I find it a pretty good book for research and fast lookups of odd plants and what they do.
  
  

• SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea
• US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76
• The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants
• A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and central North America (Peterson Field Guides (R))
• Primitive Wilderness Living & Survival Skills: Naked into the Wilderness