This is a great post. I love your philosophy and I want to get more into foraging. How did you start? In other words, what are some easy, common edibles to spot? I have loads of dandilions in my yard, redbud trees, but aside from those, what other things are common and delicious?
Depending on what part of the country you're in, it can vary greatly.
I would start with the dandylion, as the whole plant is edible, from flower to root. My wife makes a wonderful dish from the flowers by putting them in boiling water for a few seconds (blanching) then transferring to them to cold water. After that, just saute them in a little salt and oil. Its a lot of work, but it's worth the effort. Most wild edibles, and game for that matter, will have a stronger taste than you expect, so a little goes a long way.
For a beginner, I would recommend getting a Peterson's Field Guide for your area. Its a great way to start building your foraging knowledge!
Both wild edibles and the study of herbology are important to us. If you care to follow us, I know we will get around to blogging it soon. We have plans for a separate perennial garden next season which will incorporate some of our favorite wild foods.
That dandylion recipe sounds easy enough. Thanks for all these tips. Definitely following you now and I'm looking forward to learning from you!