With the feast day of St. John the Baptist tomorrow (June 24th), I thought it would be a perfect time to talk about St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). This plant became popular in the 1990s after it was featured in the mainstream news as a remedy for depression and anxiety. As a result, this is... Continue Reading →

In a time of abundance and nearly unlimited options when it comes to food, the concept of fasting might seem difficult or even dreadful for some. Depending on where you live in the world, you may have access to any cuisine you like, at nearly any time of day or night, and probably able to... Continue Reading →

Before you say "no way", let me tell you what you're missing. If you were to look up the world's top superfoods, you probably wouldn't find sardines among that list because they are one of the most overlooked health foods. Loaded with healthy fats, protein, and minerals, if you added these into your diet a... Continue Reading →

  Chestnuts just don't get the attention they deserve anymore, except for the reference in the famous Christmas song. It's too bad, since the American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) was one of the most abundant and useful trees in the eastern United States. This once gargantuan tree kept humans and wildlife well-fed for thousands of... Continue Reading →

Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) was one of the first wild edible foods that I learned about and still remains one of my favorites. Also called autumn berry, it is a small tree/shrub that is considered invasive in many states and can be found along roadsides, fields, and open forests. The edible part of the plant... Continue Reading →

It would be much easier to write a list of what raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) is not useful for. Made from fermented apples, this amazing substance can be used for a wide range of health issues and gentle enough to be taken on a daily basis for general well-being. 1-2 tablespoons in a little bit... Continue Reading →

Next up we have plantain.  This is not the banana looking vegetable you find in the supermarket but the common garden "weed". It is both edible and medicinal. Anyone who has spent time outside will recognize this plant, since it grows everywhere. The part that herbalists use is the leaf. It's too bad that it's often mowed... Continue Reading →

Welcome to the first blog post! We're kicking things off with the first in a series of edible and medicinal wild foods: dandelion. For many people, dandelions are nothing more than a nuisance that they wish they can rid their lawns of permanently. But for herbalists it's happily welcomed every spring. And notice I said... Continue Reading →