Survivalists are telling us that these days we all need to know how to be independent of the mod cons we've come to expect. We hardly know how to live without electricity, hot and cold water at the turn of a faucet, and food galore at every turn. But what if you couldn't go to a restaurant or to a grocery store? If you don't want to just sit down and starve, it might be time to learn about the wild foods of California.
Food, of course, either grows - like a plant - or lives all around - like deer and rabbits or oysters and sea bass. To get the animal kind, you'll need to have some weapons and know how to use them. For small game, you can set snares rather than depend on bullets or arrows. Anyone who has seen the 'Hunger Games' - or better yet, read the books - knows that those who can hunt have a great advantage.
Not just hunting for game, either. Remember that it was a bright dandelion that triggered memories for Katniss. Her father had taught her about edible plants before his death in a mine explosion. The fact that she realized that plants growing in the meadow and the forest could feed her family brought her hope and fired her determination.
That means that you don't have to be a mighty hunter or live near a source of seafood to feed yourself from nature. Vegetarians do just fine, as many in California could already tell you. Cultivated salad greens are no more delicious than the ones that grow all around you free for the picking.
Finding edible plants is something anyone can do. Dandelions are so tenacious and persistent, people spend fortunes keeping them out of their lawns. Nettles, field cress, watercress, wild onions and garlic, mints, and day lilies are familiar plants to most of us, even if we've never thought of actually eating them.
Check the local library for books old and new that show you which plants have been eaten throughout history, even though they might have gone out of fashion today. After all, the Native Americans didn't have grocery stores. The internet is another source of information, with photo galleries and recipes to make even bitter acorns palatable. A lot of things can be eaten raw, like greens, roots, nuts, and berries.
It's fun to learn about living off the land, even if you're never unfortunate enough to need to do so. It gives a feeling of independence and a bit of control over the future. The child in all of us likes to move through the woods like an Indian, scour the beaches for mussels and other California delicacies, and know which plants make good soap, good wine, or good eating.
The Golden State is a perfect place for finding menu items in the great outdoors. With a year-round growing season, this area is home to more plants and wildlife than many other areas. The desert has pinon nuts and jojoba bushes, the mountains have blueberries, the sea shore has sea grapes. Enjoy!
Food, of course, either grows - like a plant - or lives all around - like deer and rabbits or oysters and sea bass. To get the animal kind, you'll need to have some weapons and know how to use them. For small game, you can set snares rather than depend on bullets or arrows. Anyone who has seen the 'Hunger Games' - or better yet, read the books - knows that those who can hunt have a great advantage.
Not just hunting for game, either. Remember that it was a bright dandelion that triggered memories for Katniss. Her father had taught her about edible plants before his death in a mine explosion. The fact that she realized that plants growing in the meadow and the forest could feed her family brought her hope and fired her determination.
That means that you don't have to be a mighty hunter or live near a source of seafood to feed yourself from nature. Vegetarians do just fine, as many in California could already tell you. Cultivated salad greens are no more delicious than the ones that grow all around you free for the picking.
Finding edible plants is something anyone can do. Dandelions are so tenacious and persistent, people spend fortunes keeping them out of their lawns. Nettles, field cress, watercress, wild onions and garlic, mints, and day lilies are familiar plants to most of us, even if we've never thought of actually eating them.
Check the local library for books old and new that show you which plants have been eaten throughout history, even though they might have gone out of fashion today. After all, the Native Americans didn't have grocery stores. The internet is another source of information, with photo galleries and recipes to make even bitter acorns palatable. A lot of things can be eaten raw, like greens, roots, nuts, and berries.
It's fun to learn about living off the land, even if you're never unfortunate enough to need to do so. It gives a feeling of independence and a bit of control over the future. The child in all of us likes to move through the woods like an Indian, scour the beaches for mussels and other California delicacies, and know which plants make good soap, good wine, or good eating.
The Golden State is a perfect place for finding menu items in the great outdoors. With a year-round growing season, this area is home to more plants and wildlife than many other areas. The desert has pinon nuts and jojoba bushes, the mountains have blueberries, the sea shore has sea grapes. Enjoy!
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Discover the wild foods of California through our informative blog. Stop by our website and find out all the details at http://livingwild.org today.
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