• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GardenFork - Eclectic DIY
  • May I Email You?
  • Podcast
  • Articles
  • Video
menu icon
go to homepage
  • May I Email You?
  • Podcast
  • Articles
  • Video
  • Follow Me Here:

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • May I Email You?
    • Podcast
    • Articles
    • Video
  • Follow Me Here:

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Video » Cooking TV

    Foraging For Edible Wild Plants In The Backyard - GF Video

    by Eric · This post may contain affiliate links, its one way we pay the bills. · 1 Comment

    There are edible wild plants in your backyard that you can forage for and make a great salad from. No need to go to the farmers market, you've probably got edible greens in your yard you can eat. Identifying and harvesting edible plants is called foraging, but I call it free food in your yard.

    Below are some photos for plant identification, but be sure you know what these plants are. These are fairly unique plants, but be sure, OK? And make sure the area you are foraging has not been sprayed with fertilizers, herbicides, etc. You don't want that stuff getting into your food. You can buy Leda's Foraging Book here.

    Some Wild Edible Plants:

    Dandelion

    foraging for wild edible plants foraging for wild edible plants

    When harvesting dandelion, you can choose to leave the plant in the ground and growing if you want. Just harvest the outer leaves and the plant will continue to grow. The leaves get stronger tasting when the dandelion flowers, but I think you'll find the taste pleasing.

    Plantain

    foraging for wild edible plants

    Plantain grows close to the ground usually. Once it sprouts its flower stem, you probably don't want to forage for it, as the older leaves are not as great to eat. They can be stringy.

    Chickweed

    foraging for wild edible plants foraging for wild edible plants

    Chickweed grows in nice big bunches, and if you cut off just the top 3-4" of the plant, it will keep growing. It self seeds if you let some of the plants flower and go to seed. Then you'll have more free food!

    Garlic Mustard

    foraging for wild edible plants foraging for wild edible plants

    Garlic Mustard is a non-native invasive plant. I see it along roads a lot. Harvest it by pulling up the whole plant with the roots. This plant will crowd out native plants, and most states want to get rid of it. The leaves taste like mustard greens, though not as strong. It has some good vitamins, so eat up.

    Violets

    foraging for wild edible plants

    Violets grow like weeds. There are some cultivated varieties, but the ones in our yard are wild edible plants, and easy to identify. They are low growing and have white - purple flowers. Harvest the flower and stem for your salads. They look great on a dinner table.

    « Toaster Repair with Erik of Root Simple - GF Radio 377
    More Brick Pizza Oven Plans & Photos »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ted

      August 06, 2015 at 10:15 am

      I found this passage useful

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Become a Monthly Supporter of GardenFork. Click Here To Learn More

    Pages

    • About
    • Let's Stay Connected With Each Other
    • Maple Syrup Evaporator Information
    • May I Email You?
    • Pizza Oven Plans & Make Pizza Videos
    • Privacy Policy
    • Radio
    • Terms of Use & Affliate Information
    • The GF Amazon Shop
    • Want More GardenFork? Here You Go:

    My lawyer makes me do this part: Visitors agree to our Terms Of Service and Affliate Information - Use This Information At Your Own Risk

    Produced by GardenFork Media LLC, Brooklyn, NY ©2021 All Rights Reserved