Edible Plants & Wild Crafting Handbook Olympic Nature Experience (ONE) is a Sequim-based non- profit organization that nurtures our community’s connection with nature through immersive, outdoor experiences.
EdiblePlants&WildCraftingHandbookOlympicNatureExperience(ONE)isaSequim-basednon-profitorganizationthatnurturesourcommunity’sconnectionwithnaturethroughimmersive,outdoorexperiences.
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IntroductionAtOlympicNatureExperience,weteachstudentsthateachplantisitsownuniquelivingorganism,notbelongingtoanyoneoranythingelse.Withthismindset,wecanapproachwildharvestingwithrespectandappreciationoftheplantanditsimpactonitsneighborsanditsenvironment.Ifwetakealltheberriesofonebush,thebushwillhavenoseedslefttocreatemorebushesandtheanimalswillhavelessfoodtoshare.
Whenwetakepartsofaplantwepracticegratitudeforthefoodormedicinetheplanthasgivenus.Thisgratitudecanvaryaccordingtotheperson’sbeliefsystem;however,practicinggratitudekeepsoureyesfreshtoourimpactontheenvironment.
Justasweteachchildrentosaypleaseandthankyouatthedinnertable,andtobemindfulofhowmuchfoodisleftforeveryone,recognizingeachplanthasafunctionandpurposebeyondourneeds,andbeinggratefulforitsusetous,helpsusdevelopanattitudeofconservationandappreciation.
Edible&WildCraftingSafetyTostaysafewhileharvestingediblesandwildcrafting,knowledgeofthelocalareaanditsdangersiscritical.
1.Knowthepropertyyouareharvestingfromanditshistory.Havetheysprayedchemicalsordumpedtrashinthislocation?Who’spropertyisthisandisitlegaltoharvestfromit?
2.Lookforthesecommondangersandavoidplantswithin30-50feetofthem:
• Roads:exhaustandrunofffromroadscanmakeediblesunsafe• Powerlines:radiationfrompowerlinesandleachingfrompowerpolescanmakeediblesless
safe• Pesticide/HerbicideSpray:lookforpostedsigns,agreenishbluesprayonplants,ortelltale
orange,yelloworbrownwiltingofaverylocalizedpatchofplants.
3.Avoidareaswherepoisonousplantsarepresent.Especiallywhenharvestingwithchildren,avoidingareaswithpoisonousplantswillensureNOSMALLpiecemakesitintoyourharvestbasket.
4.ProperlyidentifyyourplantandONLYharvestitinthecorrectseason.ManyanoviceharvesterhasgatheredthewrongplantbecausetheychosetopickitoutofseasonwhenitsIDmarkswerenotasclearoritwasmoreeasilyconfusedwithanotherplant.
5.Proceedwithcaution.Goslowlywhentryinganewedibleorwildcraftedmedicinetomakesureyouhavenoadversereactions.Alloftheplantsmentionedinthisguideare“gentlemedicine”meaningthey
PhotoCredit:JessicaHaugen
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aregenerallyusedtopromotewellnessorforuseasfood.Theyaremoregentleonthebodyandappropriateforusewithchildren.
6.Takenomorethan1/3oftheplantorpatchduringanygivenseason.Thisleavesenoughforwildlifeandfortheplanttocontinuethriving.
7.Practicegratitude.Nomatterhowyoupractice,beinggratefulfortheknowledge,skillsandfood/medicinegatheredfromwildplantswillensureyourpracticeofwildcraftingissustainableandmoreenjoyable.
PhotoCredit:JessicaHaugen,Owl’sHollowParent
TeachingChildrenWildEdiblesLearningandharvestingwildedibles,asafamily,isextremelyenjoyable.Thefollowingaresomesuggestedrulestohelpyourchildrenandyourfamilystaysafe.
1.AchildmustcheckwiththeiradultEVERYTIMEtheyeatawildedible.Althoughthechildmayhavecorrectlyidentifiedtheplant,theremaybeotherreasonsthatplantshouldnotbeeaten,itistooclosetotheroadoritlooksunhealthy,etc.
2.Childrenmaynoteattheedibleifthegrownuptheyarewithdoesnotknowit.Thiskeepsthechildfrombeingtheexpertandisimportantwhentheyarewithadultsotherthantheirparentsorthoseknowledgeableaboutwildedibles.
3.Startbyteachingthemonlysafeplants.Theseareplantsthatareeasytoidentify,abundant,sotheylearnfromrepetition,andhaveNODANGEROUSLOOKALIKES.
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4.TeachthemEdibleSafety.Seenotesabove.
5.TeachthemtheDangerstoavoid.AFTER,andONLYAFTER,achildhasshownanabilitytoproperlyidentifycommon,safeplantsandhasshowntheycanfollowtherulesofsafewildcrafting,shouldtheybetaughtanydangerousplantsinyourarea.Theeyebecomespracticedatrecognizingthedifferentpatternsofwildplantsandpickingthemoutamongothers.Itisalsoimportantthatchildrencanrememberwhichplantsareusedforwhichpurposes.Onlywhentheseskillsareshown,shouldtheybeintroducedtolocaldangerouswildplants.
EdiblesandWildCraftingToenjoyediblesandensureeveryoneissafe,ONEfollowsthesesimpleguidelineswheneverteachingchildrenediblesorwildcrafting.
1.Weonlyteachplantsthatareeasytoidentify,sostudent’seyesgettrainedtorecognizepatternsandthekeypointsofplantID.
2.Weonlyteachplantsthatareabundant,sostudentshavelotsofpracticeandwillfindtheseplantseverywheretheygo.
3.WeonlyteachplantsthathaveNODANGEROUSLOOKALIKES.Alloftheplantsinthishandbookaresafetoeat,touchanduseformedicine.Ifyouareunsure,alwayserronthesideofcautionandavoidaplant.
PhotoCredit:JessicaHaugen,Owl’sHollowParent
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PlantGuide
Salal–GaultheriaShallon
General:CreepingtoerectSHRUB,height.2m-5mtall
Leaves:Alternate,evergreen,leathery,thickandshiny,eggshapedorslightlypointedatends.Stemsslightlysticky,especiallywhenbearingflowersandfruit.
Flowers:Whiteorpinkishbellshaped,oftendroopingfromstemlikeabell,7-10mmlong,5-15inarowatbranchends.
Berries:Reddishbluetodarkpurpleorblack,6-10mm.
Ecology:Forests,rockyhillstoseashore,mediumtolowelevation
Uses:Berriesareedible,bothfreshanddried.InfusionorDecoctionofleavesusedastonicorforcoughsorstomachproblems.
TrailingBlackberry-Rubusursinus
General:prostrate,trailing,heightto5m,withslender,curved,prickles
Leaves:alternate,deciduous,3leaflets3-7cmlong,leafletsdarkgreenandtoothed
Flowers:whiteorlightpink,4cmacross,clustersor3-5
Berries:darkpurpletoblackberriesto1cmlong,edibleandchoice,verydelicate
Ecology:commonindisturbedsitesorforests,lowtomiddleelevation
Uses:berriesedible,infusionorteaofleavesusedforstomachproblems.Decoctionofvinesandrootsusedfordigestive/stomachproblems.
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HimalayanBlackberry-Rubusdiscolor
General:Erecttosprawling,stoutstemswithsharp,stoutprickles,oftenformingdensethicketsthatspreadthroughrunners
Leaves:alternate,moreorlessevergreen,leafletstoothed,oval,ingroupsof3to5,smoothontopwithfinewhitehairsbelow.
Flowers:whitetopinkish,2-3cmacross,5petals,clustersof5-20
Berries:blackberries,1-1.5cmthick,edible,choice
Ecology:introducedspecies,widelynaturalizeindisturbedareasatlowelevation
Uses:blackberriesusedforfood,jam
Thimbleberry-Rubusparviflorus
General:Erect,thornless,0.5-3mtall,densethickets
Leaves:alternate,deciduous,large25cm,soft,maple-leafshaped,3-7lobed,toothed,finelyfuzzyonbothsides
Flowers:white,large4cmacross,petalscrinkleliketissuepaper
Berries:shallowlydomed,raspberry-likeclustersofred,hairy,juicy,caps
Ecology:opensites,clearings,lowelevationforestoflowtosubalpine
Uses:thimbleberriesusedforfood,jam,dried
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BaldHipRose–Rosagymnocarpa
General:Spindly,stemscoveredinsoft,straitpricklesthatlookpainfulbutarequitegentle,to1.5mtall
Leaves:alternate,deciduous,compoundwithanoddnumber(5-9)oftoothedleaflets.Leaflets1-4cmlong.
Flowers:palepinkrose,small1-2cm,5petals,andsingleattheendofbranch
Berries:orangetoscarletpink,pearshaped“hip”,6-10cm,withNOsepallobes(thesearethelittleleaflikepartsstickingoutoftheendofmostrosehips)
Ecology:varietyofhabitats,opentowooded,drytomoist,lowtomiddleelevations.
Uses:Petalsofflowercanbeeatenorusedinteaorfoodsforflavoring.Outerrindofhipcanbeeatenasfood,usuallysparingly.Hipcanbeusedwholeintea,ifseedsareeaten,itmaycausethebottomtoitch.
NootkaRose-Rosanutkana
General:Spindlyto3mtall,pairofpricklesatthebaseofeachleaf
Leaves:alternate,deciduous,compoundwithanoddnumber(5-7)oftoothedleaflets.Leaflets1-7cmlong,moreorlessroundedtips.
Flowers:palepinkrose,large4-8cmacross,atthebranchtip,veryfragrant.
Berries:redtopurplish,roundshaped“hip”,1-2cmacross,withhairysepals
Ecology:varietyofhabitats,opentowooded,drytomoist,lowtomiddleelevations.
Uses:Petalsofflowercanbeeaten.Outerrindofhipcanbeeatenasfood,usuallysparingly.Ifseedsareeaten,itmayproduceanitchybottom.
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ThinleaforEnglishPlantain-Plantagolanceolata
General:Perennialfromfibrousroot,15-60cmtall,manytallfloweringstems
Leaves:allbasal,stronglyveinedorribbedlengthwise,lanceshapedtonarrowlyellipticoroblong,hairlessorhairy
Flowers:Greenish,small,withyellowstamensstickingout
Ecology:roadsides,fields,disturbedandhighlytraffickedareas
Uses:poulticeofleafusedforskinirritation,nettlestings,andinsectbites.Infusionofleafusedfordiarrheaandasanantibioticwashineyesandears.
Yarrow-Achilleamillefolium
General:Perennialaromaticherb,10-100cmtall
Leaves:Fern-like/feather-like,stalkedbelowandstalklessabove,alternate,pinnatelydissected
Flowers:Rayflowersusuallyabout5,whitetopink/red,diskflowers10-30creamcolourded;headsnumerous,inshort,umbrellacluster
Ecology:ondrytomoist,welldrained,opensites,meadows,rockyslopes,gravelbars,roadsides,lowtohighelevations
Uses:Appliedasapoultice(boiledorchewedleaves)andplacedoversores,burns,bruises,sprains,swellings,andevenbrokenbones.Canmakeateaforcold,arthritis,headaches,menstrualpain,toothaches,anddigestiveproblems.
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CommonDandelion-Taraxacumofficinale
General:Perennialherbwithmilkyjuice,thick,oftenblackishtaproot,5-60cm
Leaves:Allbasal,oblongtospoonshaped,toothed
Flowers:headsyellow,singlefloweronhollowstem,NOBranching
Ecology:introducedweedofdisturbedsites,veryabundantinlowtomiddleelevations
Uses:flowers,stemsandleavesareedibleraworcooked,rootsareediblewhencooked.Rootcanbedried,roastedandmadeintotea.
WesternHemlock-Tsugaheterophylla
General:Treeto60mtallwithnarrowcrown,droopinglead(uppermostbranch),downsweepingbranchesanddelicatefoliage
Leaves:needles,short,flat,bluntandsomewhatsoft,widelyandirregularlyspaced,unequallengths(5-20mmlong),yellowishgreen,layingflatonbranch.
Ecology:Fairlydrytowetsites,lowtomiddleelevation,veryadaptedtogrowinginhumusanddecayingwood
Uses:Barkusedfordyes,stemsusedforfirestarter(finetwigswilllightevenwhenwet),needleteausedfortonic,poulticeofleavesusedforburnsandskincare.
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DouglasFir-Pseudotsugamenziesii
General:Largetreeto70mtall,stifflyerectlead(topbranch),branchesspreadingtodrooping
Leaves:Flatneedles,yellowish-green,2-3cmlongwithpointedtips,1grooveonuppersurface,2whitebandsonundersideofeachneedle,needlesarespirallyarrangedaroundstem.
Ecology:Fromextremelydrytoverymoist,lowtoupperelevation
Uses:Barkandwoodusedforfires,thepitchisusedforcoughsoreatenlikecandy/gum
GlossaryAlternate:arrangedsingly,likeabeanstalkthatcanbeclimbed
Basal:comingoutofthebaseoftheplant
Compound:dividedintosmallerparts;leafsdividedintoleaflets,inflorescencesdividedintosmallerflowerclusters
Deciduous:fallingaftercompletionofitsnormalfunction,usuallyattheapproachofadormantseason
Opposite:arrangedinpairsoppositeeachother,likearmsonadoll.
Perennial:growingfor3ormoreyears,usuallyfloweringandproducingfruit(seed)eachyear
Pinnate:feather-formed;ofacompoundleadinwhichleafletsareplacedoneachsideofthecommonaxis
ReferencesMoerman,D.E.1998.NativeAmericanEthnobotany,TimberpressIncorporated,Portland,Oregon.
Pojar,J.andA.MacKinnon.1994.PlantsofthePacificNorthwestCoast;Washington,Oregon,BritishColumbiaandAlaska.MinistryofForestsandLonePinePublishing,Vancouver,BritishColumbia,Canada.