Buzz
We've all heard tales of hikers who survived by consuming wild berries or other natural foods while stranded in the wilderness. While it's valuable to learn about local edible plants, it's crucial to acknowledge that there are also many dangerous and even deadly species hiding out there for the unwary.
If you happen to get lost in the wild, bear in mind that roughly 97% of people involved in search-and-rescue operations are located within the first 24 hours. There's no need to begin nibbling on unfamiliar berries if you've only been lost for an hour.
The reality is, foraging knowledge isn't just about memorizing a chart or catchy rhyme. You must learn how to properly identify the specific plants you may come across, and also remain cautious of lookalikes that could be harmful. Wild plants and mushrooms often differ from their images in field guides, so even the best books can't guarantee safety. If you wish to learn to forage, you need both education and hands-on experience.
Some things come with more ease than others. Take wild raspberries for example; I’ll pick and eat them while hiking because I’ve encountered them countless times and I’m confident there are no harmful lookalikes. However, wild mushrooms are a different story—despite having a rough idea of what some might be, I avoid them. My mushroom knowledge isn’t deep enough, and with mushrooms, one wrong move can be fatal.
This rant was triggered by a Twitter discussion related to a foraging subreddit.
The plant in the picture is pokeweed, which I instantly recognized from seeing it grow in my own backyard. I’m familiar with its early sprouts appearing alongside my lettuce seedlings, its growth pattern, the changing color of its berries as they ripen, and the birds that enjoy eating them. I don’t blame the original poster for questioning whether it’s safe to eat—it was a thought I had too when I first saw it, so I researched it. Pokeweed is toxic, though technically edible if you pick the young shoots and cook them thoroughly. It’s something you’d resort to in early spring when food is scarce. It’s used as a survival food and in medicinal practices, but it’s not something to throw into your salad for extra flavor or color. Just grab a bag of spinach instead.
Other posts in the subreddit included one seeking help with identifying mushrooms that had already been chopped and photographed on a cutting board. Some commenters flagged these as being misidentified and potentially dangerous.
Respect the expertise of seasoned foragers. Knowing what’s safe to eat and what isn’t in the wild is a skill that comes with time, practice, and learning. Bottom line: if you need help identifying a plant, you should not be eating it.
