Survival Foraging

Last of the Breed , by Louis L'Amour is a fantastic piece of adventure fiction. And, a book that's centered around foraging and survival advice. The story follows Joe Mack, a U.S. Air Force pilot and Native American. Mack has been shot down by the Soviets, and is trapped inside Siberia wilderness, forced to rely on his survival skills as he slowly makes his way to freedom. Foraging, plant identification, and tracking all play key roles in the story. With author L'Amour sharing practical survival advice. He considered himself. From boyhood he had at every opportunity gone back to the woods. He had lived and survived under some of the bitterest conditions. He had killed or gathered his own food; he knew how to make clothing; he had often made moccasins, something not every Indian knew how to do anymore. Joe Mack banked his small fire and bedded down in a mound of leaves with fir boughs over him. It was cold and it was drafty, but Joe Mack had lived so before this. The story i...

Many preppers dismiss foraging as a waste of time. They'll say things like "You can't live off nuts and berries." Or claim that stockpiling canned goods is more efficient. Keeping an emergency supply of non-perishable food is great. But foraging is practical too. And anyone who thinks foraging is "useless" or a "waste of time" needs a quick lesson in military history. Foraging In The American Civil War Canned food was invented by Napoleon to feed his armies as they marched through Europe. Before then, soldiers got most of their food through foraging. And even after  Napoleon, a lot of armies still relied on foraging. During the American Civil War, both Union and Confederate soldiers foraged for food. While troops were issued rations, supply lines were inconsistent. And many goods never arrived to the front lines. Because of this, soldiers would often hunt for eggs, pick fruit and berries, and shoot rabbits or ducks. Knowing how to forage allowed t...

Most foragers look for fruits and berries they can eat. But, there are also edible tree leaves which can keep you alive in a worst-case scenario. These take no preparation, and can provide you with enough nutrition to stay alive. Here are seven common tree leaves that you eat. 1. Maple Leaves Maple leaves have a distinct five-lobed shape, making them easy to spot. You can pick maple leaves off the tree itself.  But remember to leave plenty of leaves behind, so you don't damage the tree or stunt its growth. Maple leaves taste bitter. So, you'll want to boil them for at least five minutes. This helps to improve the taste. Additionally, maple leaves make an excellent addition to salads. And some foragers like to eat their maple leaves with a little powdered sugar or syrup. Adding some sweetness to the leaves will make them taste significantly better. 2. Birch Leaves Foraging for birch leaves and eating them is an age-old tradition in many parts of the world. It's something tha...

Plant once, harvest forever. That's the gardener's dream. Especially if you're growing vegetables to eat. In this article, I'll share three easy to grow perennial vegetables that you can grow. These are low maintenance, low effort crops - perfect for a backyard garden. If you're a homesteader, prepper, or just someone who wants high-quality and fresh vegetables - you're going to love these three plants. 1. Globe Artichoke Globe artichokes are a perennial vegetable that keep coming back, year after year.  Artichokes are flavorful, nutrient-rich, and filling. Globe artichokes are also fairly easy to grow. A spot in full sun with plenty of room for the plant is ideal. Also, because these artichokes get big, you'll want to leave plenty of space between each one. Globe artichokes will begin to produce edible buds within two to three years. So you aren't getting an immediate food source with these. But, you can plan ahead and have a regular supply of fresh art...

Black-Eyed Susan is an easily identifiable plant. It's iconic black and yellow flowers are easy to spot and recognize. Additionally,  Black-Eyed Susan is common.  You'll often find it growing wild in field and meadows. Or, planted in gardens. What many people don't realize, however, is that Black-Eyed Susan is a forgeable plant with medicinal benefits.  And in this article, you'd discover how to use  Black-Eyed Susan as an herbal remedy for numerous aches and illnesses.  Here's everything you need to know. How To Forage For  Black-Eyed Susan Black-Eyed Susan grow in all 48 of the contiguous states. And, they're commonly found throughout most of Canada. So, there's a good chance you can find this plant in a field or meadow near you. Identifying  Black-Eyed Susan is easy.  Look for bright yellow flowers with a black or brown center. Black-Eyed Susan blooms from June until September, making it easy to identify throughout the summe...

Winter foraging. It's an important topic that is rarely discussed. Cold weather months generally make it hard to find fresh fruits, vegetables, or other plants - even if you live in a place that doesn't get snow. For these reasons, today's article will help you learn three life-saving tips for successful winter foraging. 1. Nuts Are An Easy Find Nuts are some of the easiest winter foraging foods you can locate. Black walnuts are commonly found well into winter. They're tough to crack, meaning squirrels and other animals tend to avoid them. If you do locate black walnuts and want to eat them, you'll have to remove their outer husk.  This is time-consuming and the pulp will stain clothes. But it's better than going hungry.  Once you separate the nut from the husk, you'll still need to crack the shell. A hammer or large rock should do the trick. After which, you can enjoy your treat! Acorns are also edible and can be found near any mature oak tree, These nuts d...

Comfrey is an incredible plant with many benefits. Namely, its medicinal properties.  Comfrey roots and leaves contain allantoin - a natural chemical compound that promotes the growth of new skin cells.  At the pharmacy, you can find a variety of comfrey ointments and creams which help treat bruises, blisters, sprains, and even broken bones. But wild comfrey offers similar healing properties. As such, learning how to forage for wild comfrey can help save your life. And, it can provide you with a source of natural medicine. Perfect for situations where you cannot get to a drugstore or hospital.  Here's everything you need to know about foraging for wild comfrey. How To Find Wild Comfrey Comfrey is actually a wildflower. And, it grows in damp, shady areas.  Comfrey  flowers are bell shapes, and can come in a variety of colors. Usually, they are pink, purple, yellow, or white. And the leaves  are large and oval-shaped. The best time to forage fo...

If you're like most people, you probably think that flowers are just for decoration. But did you know that some flowers are edible? That's right, you can actually eat violet flowers! Finding violets is a great foraging goal for beginners.  There are over 100 different varieties of violet, and they are all edible. On top of this, violet flowers are easily identifiable, with their 5 purplish petals and a butterfly shape. Violets also grow in wide-range of different locations.  You can find these plants in backyards; parks; or large, open-areas of wilderness (like fields and meadows). Once you've found a patch of violets, here are some tips on harvesting and preparing them : If you're picking violets from your garden or yard, make sure to wash them first. This will help remove any dirt or pests that may be on them. The same applies if you're picking wild violets and then bringing them back home. Violet leaves and flowers can both be eaten raw, cooked, or used in a vari...

Berries are the first food source most people picture when they think about foraging.  However, there are some risks to berry picking that many folks never consider. Mainly, the danger of getting poisoned. Something that will leave you very sick, or even dead. Today's article shares several crucial tips to help you safely forage for wild berries. The first of which comes from  Foraging for Survival: Edible Wild Plants of North America , an excellent book by by Douglas Boudreau and Mykel Hawke: HUMANS CAN EAT 90 PERCENT OF THE ANIMALS ON THE PLANET.  Since we get more energy from meat, it's usually a better survival option for work-to-food ratio.  HUMANS CAN EAT 10 PERCENT OF THE PLANTS ON THE PLANET.  Since a lot of vegetation isn't digestible for us, we need to be sure what we DO eat, is good.  HUMANS CAN EAT 50 PERCENT OF THE BUGS AND 50 PERCENT OF THE BERRIES.  For bugs the general color rule that helps is: bright isn't right, but bland is just...

  Pines are some of the most easily recognizable trees you'll encounter.  They're also evergreen, and common. So you're likely to spot them at any time of year - in almost any part of North America. Pine trees are also a great source for forgeable resources. And for many unexpected reasons. So, in today's article we'll answer two questions: "Can you eat pinecones?" and "What other benefits do pine trees offer?" To answer the first question... Yes! You Can Eat Pinecones! There are about 20 varieties of pine trees that produce harvestable pine nuts. Pine nuts are the seeds inside of a pinecone. They are edible, and often expensive at the grocery store. If you're foraging for fun, this can be a great way to enjoy premium ingredients without the premium price. But, if you are survival foraging in the woods, you may not want to focus on harvesting pinecones. Why? Because getting to the nuts can be quite time consuming. You generally need to dry yo...