edible plants Archives * The Hunter Gatherer Society

Wild violet identification showing purple Viola flowers with five petals, dark nectar guides, and green heart-shaped leaves growing in woodland habitat.

Wild Violet Identification Guide (Viola spp.): Edibility, Lookalikes, Harvesting & Uses

October 30, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Wild Edible Plants Foraging and Identification Guides

Every spring, one of the prettiest wild edibles begins appearing in lawns, meadows, and woodland edges. Small purple flowers rise above fresh green leaves, sometimes covering the ground in beautiful little patches. Most people admire them for a moment and keep walking. But those familiar little flowers are violets, and they’re much more than a welcome sign of spring. Wild violets have been enjoyed for generations as edible flowers, tender greens, and ingredients in traditional recipes. Their blossoms add a beautiful splash of color to salads, while their mild leaves can be used in soups and other dishes. Better yet, many violets grow close to home. You don’t necessarily have to hike deep into the forest to discover them. However,[…]

Stinging nettle identification showing green serrated leaves, fine hairs, and hanging flower clusters growing in a woodland habitat.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): Identification, Harvesting, Benefits, and Uses

October 10, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms

Stinging nettle might not seem like the most inviting plant to bring home for dinner. Anyone who has accidentally brushed against it knows exactly why. That sudden burning sensation can make you want to avoid it altogether. However, once you get past its prickly reputation, you’ll discover one of the most useful wild edible plants growing in North America. For generations, people have gathered stinging nettles for food, traditional medicine, and even clothing fibers. Today, they’re still valued for their nutrition, versatility, and surprisingly good flavor. Best of all, nettles are fairly easy to recognize once you know what to look for. They often grow in large patches, making them a rewarding wild food for beginners and experienced foragers alike.[…]

Common chickweed (Stellaria media) with green leaves and small white flowers

Chickweed Identification Guide: Edibility, Lookalikes, Harvesting & Uses

September 24, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms

Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is easy to walk past. It creeps through gardens, lawns, paths, field edges, and other disturbed ground, often forming soft green mats during cool weather. For foragers, that little patch of green is worth a closer look. Chickweed is a tender edible plant with a mild flavor. The young leaves, stems, and flowers can be eaten raw or lightly cooked. Better yet, the plant gives us several useful identification features that are easy to check in the field. You still need to identify it carefully. Scarlet pimpernel can grow in similar places and has somewhat similar leaves. Low-growing spurges can also become tangled in a chickweed patch. Both deserve attention before anything goes into your basket.[…]

Wild onion plants showing green leaves, white bulbs, and roots for identification

Wild Onion Identification Guide: Edibility, Uses, Harvesting, and Complete Field Guide

September 17, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms, Wild Edible Plants Foraging and Identification Guides

Wild onions are one of the easiest wild foods to overlook. Their narrow green leaves often blend into grass, lawns, field edges, and open woods. However, crush a leaf and the smell usually gives the plant away. A true wild onion should release a clear onion, garlic, or chive-like scent. Several species in the genus Allium are commonly called wild onion or wild garlic. Depending on where you live, you may find common wild onion (Allium canadense), field garlic (Allium vineale), nodding onion (Allium cernuum), or another regional Allium species. Many of these plants are edible. In fact, the leaves, flowers, and bulbs can often be used much like cultivated onions, garlic, or chives. There is an important safety concern,[…]

Common purslane identification showing fleshy green leaves, reddish stems, and yellow flowers

Purslane Identification Guide: Edibility, Uses, Harvesting, and Complete Field Guide

September 3, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms, Wild Edible Plants Foraging and Identification Guides

Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is one of those wild edible plants that can be hiding in plain sight. It grows low to the ground in gardens, disturbed soil, sidewalk cracks, farm fields, and other sunny places, where its thick leaves and reddish succulent stems are often dismissed as weeds. For foragers, purslane is much more interesting. The tender leaves and stems are edible raw or cooked, with a pleasantly tart, slightly salty flavor and a crisp, succulent texture. Purslane also has a long history as a food plant and is still eaten in many parts of the world. It can be an excellent beginner wild edible, but there is one particularly important identification lesson: learn to distinguish purslane from prostrate[…]