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Pocket Guide To Urban Foraging PDF
Pocket Guide To Urban Foraging PDF
Pocket
URBAN FORAGING
GUIDE
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Pictures and text
Copyright © Marcus Harrison, 2008
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Whether you want to forage for fun, or have
'survival' in mind, welcome to this freebie pocket-
size urban foraging guide – courtesy of Wild
Food School. It is designed to provide you with
basic information on some of the most common
edible wild green veggies and plants found in
temperate northern urban environments, and the
ones listed here you should find both in big cities
like London and Birmingham and in smaller
urban communities.
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SAFE WILD PLANT FORAGING
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TESTING YOUR TOLERANCE
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of the leaves, or specified part of the plant, and
consume a very small portion. Again wait for
about 30 minutes to an hour and keep an eye on
your reaction.
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URBAN FORAGING...
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You also need to 'manage' your urban foraging
resources so that they are available to you on a
regular basis. Leave some 'annuals' (plants which
flower and die in one year) to go to seed to
provide next year's resource.
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BORAGE – Borago officinalis
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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BURDOCK – Arctium lappa & minor
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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CHICKWEED – Stellaria media
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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DANDELION – Taraxacum officinale
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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GOOSEGRASS / CLEAVERS – Galium aparine
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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GROUND IVY – Glechoma hederacea
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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HAIRY BITTERCRESS – Cardamine hirsuta
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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HEDGE GARLIC – Alliaria petiolata
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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HOGWEED – Heracleum sphondylium
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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COMMON / STINGING NETTLE – Urtica dioica
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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PLANTAIN, RIBWORT & GREATER
Plantago major & lanceolata
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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RAMSONS – Allium ursinum
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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SMOOTH SOW-THISTLE
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SORREL, COMMON – Rumex acetosa
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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SMOOTH SOW-THISTLE – Sonchus oleraceus
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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SPEAR THISTLE – Cirsium vulgare
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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THREE-CORNERED LEEK – Allium triquetrum
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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WINTER-CRESS – Barbarea vulgaris
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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YELLOW-SORREL – Oxalis corniculata
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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HAWTHORN - Crataegus monogyna & oxycantha
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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BEECH - Fagus sylvatica
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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OAK - Quercus robur & petraea
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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SWEET CHESTNUT – Castanea sativa
www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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OTHER PLANT SPECIES IN URBAN HABITATS
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GORSE - Ulex europaeus
This prickly shrub isn’t a great provider but the
flowers have a flavour and smell of coconut.
They can be used to flavour vinegar, make wine,
and also a gorse and honey ice cream.
FUCHSIA - Fuchsia
A number of fuchsias have edible berries and in
Bolivia the berries of a local variety are sold in
the markets. I have nibbled on the black berries
of one or two types, but other varieties in gardens
&c might not be entirely edible so this is one
very much to check out your personal tolerance
before consuming and be cautious in your
approach.
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there is actually a specimen right in the heart of
London on Sussex Gardens, W2.
MOST IMPORTANT...
Check your personal tolerance to ANY new
edible wild plant before consuming in quantity.
If you have a medical condition or are taking
medication then you should seek professional
medical advice before consuming edible wild
plants as they may contain constituents that
impair or amplify that medication.
AND DO...
Be 'aware' of the environment that you are
gathering from. Is there possible contamination
from effluent, car exhaust emissions, sprays, dogs
and so on?
LASTLY...
NEVER consume dead or dying foliage, or that
which is discoloured (although the plant COULD
be just discoloured from bad soil nutrients it
could also be an indicator of weedkillers at
work).
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www.wildfoodschool.co.uk
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