Best serving as an introduction to the wild/non domesticated (or domesticated yet feral) edible plant life of SoCal, readers will find Southern California Food Plants to be a much needed addition to a subject that continues to grow in interest and pertinence. Inhabitants of the greater Los Angeles to San Diego metro areas, then east to Palm Springs/the California state line, whom take outer urban excursions will surely benefit most from this guide. Essentially: throw this booklet into a backpack or glove box, head for the hills, and discover what wild plants can be consumed during times of leisure or necessity.Covering 50 wild southern California food plants.Edible uses are fully explored: preparation & utilization.Range & habitat are discussed assisting in identification.County by county maps & nearly 100 color photographs.Both common & scientific names.Concise synopsis of medicinal uses.Cautions list look-alike plants & toxicity concerns.Special notes include useful extras & important tidbits.

How to find, prepare, and cook delicious dishes from more than 200 types of wild plants - unique prize-winning recipes!

Forty-one (41) Full Color Images! (Black and White Version also available) "Native Edibles" takes a look at some of the most important food and drink plants known to have existed when the first Californians inhabited the land. A brief literature review is followed by plant profiles. Profiles include an image and description of a particular native plant species, as well as information about each plant's growth patterns, edibility rating, nutritional value, culinary uses, and environmental benefits. The study of native edible plants and their potential positive impact on the health of our environment (including wildlife), the economy, and us humans is not only timely, but critical. Native edibles are the plants of the future!

"Native Edibles - A Food Plant Guide for Southern California Lawns and Gardens" supports the notion that gardening is one of the best ways we can address some of today's most pressing problems. Our health, as well as the health of our environment and economy is dependent upon support for individuals and businesses that promote the use of native plants e.g. gardeners, nurseries, homeowners, landscapers, small scale farmers, restaurateurs, and individuals and families utilizing the California Homemade Food Act. "Native Edibles" takes a look at some of the most important food and drink plants known to have existed when the first Californians inhabited the land. A brief literature review is followed by plant profiles. Profiles include an image and description of a particular native plant species, as well as information about each plant's growth patterns, edibility rating, nutritional value, culinary uses, and environmental benefits.The study of native edible plants and their potential positive impact on the health of our environment (including wildlife), the economy, and us humans is not only timely, but critical.Native edibles are the plants of the future!

The most comprehensive field guide available to the flora and fauna of California--a portable, essential companion for visitors and residents alike--from the go-to reference source for over 18 million nature lovers. This compact volume contains: An easy-to-use field guide for identifying 1,000 of the state's wildflowers, trees, mushrooms, mosses, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, butterflies, mammals, and much more; A complete overview of California's natural history, covering geology, wildlife habitats, ecology, fossils, rocks and minerals, clouds and weather patterns and night sky; An extensive sampling of the area's best parks, preserves, beaches, forests, islands, and wildlife sanctuaries, with detailed descriptions and visitor information for 50 sites and notes on dozens of others. The guide is packed with visual information -- the 1,500 full-color images include more than 1,300 photographs, 14 maps, and 16 night-sky charts, as well as 150 drawings explaining everything from geological processes to the basic features of different plants and animals.

Your Field Guide to Foraging for Wild Edibles: What, Where, and When to Look Foraging for food is an engaging and beneficial pastime that anyone can enjoy. It inspires connections to the land and can help to improve your health. Plus, many target plants for foragers are non-native, so the activity can support—if not improve—biological diversity and ecological well-being. Foraging Southern California introduces you to plentiful and delicious foods, from berries and fruits to roots, seeds, and even tasty aquatic options, like kelp and crayfish. Expert forager Douglas Kent shares his decades of experience in this handy guide that’s perfect for beginners and intermediates. Learn what to look for, as well as when and where to look. Key identification features, written instructions, and full-color photographs help you to comfortably and confidently know that you’re harvesting the right species. A compare section provides information on dangerous look-alikes, helping to ensure your foraging success and personal health. The “Top 10 Edibles” section provides a starting point for beginners, and species throughout the book are organized by harvestable quality, which quickly leads to the relevant information for your own foraging needs. Foraging must be done with knowledge and consideration. Foraging Southern California provides information that can benefit you and the environment. Grab the book, get outside, and enjoy nature’s bounty.

Both American Indians and the pioneers knew and used many different plant species-for food, fibers, medicine, tools, and other purposes. This unique book is a guide to identifying more than 220 such plants. But it goes much further-it also tells the reader how to prepare, cook, and otherwise use them. Some of the dishes for which recipes are given have won culinary prizes. All have been tested not only by the author but also by her students and by journalists-who have been uniformity surprised and impressed. The plants are organized by habitat communities. Description, photos, drawings, and distribution information are given. Where poisonous look-alikes exist, they too are illustrated. Much fascinating information about Indian uses of native and introduced species is included. The author emphasizes conservation considerations; the aim of the book is to educate the reader about intriguing uses of the plants, and to tell how to gather and use the most palatable and abundant species without damaging the environment.