6 Must-Have Wild Food Foraging Books

I'm often asked this question: "What foraging books do you recommend?" In this video, I discuss 6 wild food foraging books that I personally use and enjoy. Additionally, I mention 4 supplementary resources that you may find useful. Enjoy!
Update: Ancestral Plants Vol. 2 by Arthur Haines is not out of print. You can find it here (I am not affiliated in any way with this product): www.arthurhaine...
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[@LearnYourLand]

Update: Ancestral Plants Vol. 2 by Arthur Haines is not out of print. You can find it here (I am not affiliated in any way with this product): www.arthurhaines.com/5583359ae4b044190979349f/

[@ladonnad.steele2470]

ADAM....YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!

[@gcxred4kat9]

Adam, I just bought "The Complete Mushroom Hunter" by Gary Lincoff and I can't recommend it enough, especially for beginners.

[@blefnefnef]

To make it easier/faster for people to take note of all of the books - all of the books listed in the video are as follows, author first, book title after the dash: 1. Samuel Thayer - Foragers Harvest 2. Samuel Thayer - Nature's Garden 3. Arthur Haines - Ancestral Plants vol.1 4. Arthur Haines - Ancestral Plants vol. 2 5. Gary Lincoff - The Joy of Foraging 6. Leda Meredith - Northeast Foraging 7. Rhoads & Block - Trees of Pennsylvania 8. Lawrence Newcomb - Newcombs Wildflower Guide 9. Ann Fowler Rhoads & Timothy A. Block - The Plants of Pennsylvania 10. Gleason & Cronquist - Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada.

[@susiecreamcheese6054]

Thank You

[@blefnefnef]

@@susiecreamcheese6054 Np, glad to help! Figured Adam would have had it in the comments or description already. Thank you for the thank you ;)

[@kennethmadaras9490]

FYI - Perhaps people already know this but, Northeast Foraging by Leda Meredith is actually part of a series by the publisher. They all have different authors. There are 6 other regions that essentially covers the entire United States.

[@benhaines6301]

Great recommendations. I bought Forager's Harvest after watching the video and it is now one of my most cherished books! Did you make your mushroom book video?

[@katiegoin721]

Can’t wait to meet you !Taking a foraging class with you and Sam this summer ! I can’t wait to learn!!!!

[@LearnYourLand]

Awesome, Katie! Looking forward to meeting you.

[@TheDustin49]

Adam, I recommend "The Lost Book Of Herbal Remedies" by Nicole Apelian and Claude Davis. I've really enjoyed reading it, and it's very informative. You can get from the lost herbs website. Enjoy!

[@nicmic6138]

Agreed, it's my beginners go to

[@01traceyuk]

I have this book too. Highly recommended. Lots of friends have purchased it too after seeing how much information is inside

[@simaobontempo238]

But it is more medicinal oriented right?

[@funfirefreedom9164]

Today I got about 5kg of wild plums from one young tree. About half the calories I ate today were plums XD.

[@farmatcoventry]

Own and love Sam Thayer's books! Your smile while standing beside him is priceless! Thank you :)

[@joshstilwell5302]

For people living in the Great Plains states like Kansas, Edible Plants of the Prairie and Medicinal Plants of the Prairie by Kelly Kindscher are both phenomenal.

[@35ABSTRACT]

Because of you, I just received both of Sam's books. Very, very readable and understandable. Thanks, Adam, for a spot on recommendation.

[@richardcerra988]

I know that guy he lives in my town! thats way cool

[@JohnSmith-kf1fc]

Lucky you!!!

[@sherrypalmer1601]

Next time you see him give him a high five from me. Timely in our 2022 supply chain breakdown in 3rd year postcovid19 emerge. 🇨🇦🙂🌱

[@kevinkelly1529]

We cannot forage without giving a nod to Euell Gibbons' Stalking The Wild Asparagus! It's a great 1st foraging book for anyone. I bought my copy of it almost 60 years ago and still occasionally refer to it, especially the recipes.

[@Popcorncedar]

Each plant at a time is really key. I’ve tried buying books and learning a whole bunch per each season but it just fills my brain with minimal info. Couple things per year, learn them and find them. Then move on.

[@jjkairos7317]

I just also have to compliment you on how you present information in your videos, as an intermediate-aspiring to be expert forager in the distant distant future, I think your presentation style is by far the best I've seen. Given your probable age if you keep this up you will be a seasoned authority in the not too distant future. If your ever in Kentucky and want to forage with a local let me know. Continue to enjoy the videos and share them with various groups on social media

[@elisecreations]

This is my current favorite foraging book: Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods From Dirt To Plate (The Wild Food Adventure Series, Book 1) by John Kallas

[@nj1639]

.......and who started the modern foraging movement? Euelle Gibbons. I consider him to be the base on which this inverted pyramid of foraging info is built upon. "Stalking the Wild Asparagus".

[@jarredt2655]

Only A few times a year I stumble upon a gem of a channel here .. Happy to say that today I found the gem of the year. Subbed, keep up the fantastic work!

[@KambizSayari]

Man do I love your videos! Keep up the great work!

[@melahansen4349]

Thank you so much Adam for sharing your knowledge and your book suggestions. I’ve just recently moved to Toledo Ohio from the Pacific Northwest and while I had all kinds of books and knew my plants there I’m finding species here that we didn’t have over in Eugene Oregon and surrounding areas. Your videos have helped me greatly and I love the work that you do to pass the knowledge on to the people. Each one teach one then teach two, as my friend says. #medicineforthepeople

[@richardwysocki8300]

Adam, it is always a pleasure to watch one of your videos. Your extensive knowledge on the subjects you cover, your skillful and thoughtful presentations, and your pleasant, enthusiastic, likable personality are a rare and most-welcome combination; they produce a synergy which make you and your work more than the sum of your/it's parts. Peace and prosperity to you and yours, Sir! And thank you!

[@vincentfloyd4344]

Adam thank you for the awesome information that you bring forth in your informative videos they are so helpful in understanding where to start and how to start as well as entertaining:-) I to live in Western Pennsylvania:-)

[@zpoedog]

I live in Southern Oregon and you have opened up a new chapter in my quest for knowledge. Great vides! Thank you

[@LearnYourLand]

Hey, glad I could help! Thanks for watching the video and commenting! Always appreciated.

[@tropicalco2339]

Hope all is well zpoedog

[@boboala1]

I just looked on Amazon for the Haines/Ancestral book vol. 1 and it was $164 (ouch!) I really like Gary's books & recipes so I'll check out his foraging book you showed instead. PS to anybody, except Adam - who's too busy: would states west of the Mississippi but east of the Rockies (like MO) be considered 'Eastern NA/US'? TIA!

[@katanabryant1036]

Hey, won't you make your own book! I'd buy it! Definitely need to consider it! 📚

[@RomeoEdward]

You are amazing, thank you for what you do.

[@LearnYourLand]

Thanks, Richard! I appreciate the support.

[@bluetickbeagles116]

This video makes me miss my home state. Pennsylvania offers an endless abundance of outdoor activities including foraging plants. Green, plush, Appalachian chain, forests, wildlife....I miss it so much!!

[@asecretturning]

You're always so wonderful at being thorough and I really appreciate it 🙏Thank you!

[@r.a.wskillsadventuresandbu5571]

Love your videos buddy they have really been helping me expand my knowledge, Keep them coming.

[@magicalhoof7431]

Thank you. I still cant catch your name when you introduce yourself. Your videos are awesome!! I forage in the great Shenandoah Valley, VA.

[@borderlineiq]

It is Adam Haritan. He does say it fast, and I thought it was Harrison until I found his name in his linked profiles.

[@jayharry2237]

I just went to Shenandoah valley last September. I foraged at Montipilier and it was epic! You have a great area my friend!

[@ladonnad.steele2470]

also THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TREES, authored by DAVID MORE & JOHN WHITE

[@LearnYourLand]

Sounds great!

[@johndonahue4777]

I recommend Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons. There is also a good interview/biography sorta, about Euell Gibbons, in an old back copy of Mother Earth news. His poem about the snail is a tiny masterpiece.

[@bluegreyfogg]

I just stumbled across this book while in an old book store in Savannah recently, Stalking the Wild Asparagus

[@discobikerAndRosie]

Foraging books are great but I've learned you need the books that contain plants from your area! Every state has different plants!

[@jordincooper]

when are you going to publish a book?

[@LearnYourLand]

Hey Jordin, I'm not quite sure when an actual book will be written, though I'm about to release a field guide to common mushrooms of Northeastern North America. Should be available within a month!

[@jordincooper]

Thank you for your reply. That is great news, I was starting to look for a field guide for mushrooms. I can't wait to hear when it's available. I wish i could come and be one of your understudies. You are such a great teacher, keeping my attention the whole time. Great Job!

[@tessilyn]

Learn Your Land I'm so pleased to hear that! I'll be one of the first in line to get it!

[@Bryon79]

+Learn Your Land Did your field guide ever come to fruition, and if so, how/where may one obtain a copy? Thank you for all you do and share with us.

[@mikehall6179]

Learn Your Land do you have a link i can find your guide. Love all your videos and i am learning my land thanks to you !!!!

[@natashagranados1821]

You are so special! Thank you so much for everything you share! ❤️❤️❤️

[@recycler3462]

Hi there, I am roaming Western North America. I consider myself to have a fair amount of knowledge for the area, but am definitely not a master in the subject of Botany. My dad was a certified arborist in San Diego, so I got a good tree background. I have read some good books about the Indians from here. I have Thomas Elpel's "Botany in a day" but find it to be limited to flower ID and not really focused on my area, although there is some helpful information in that book, plus there's a good basic education at the beginning of the book. If anyone in my area has some "must haves" please share. Thank you for your time PS, I grew up in the country side of Mid East Kansas and have a YT channel myself focused on survival skills, so I guess you could say I've got a well rounded outlook on my skillset.

[@rob_6292]

just found your channel and it is exactly what ive been looking for ('cept eastern PA) in the area we live in. awesome content.

[@anasazirose]

You do so much work on your channel, why not make Amazon links to these books so we can support you?

[@LearnYourLand]

That's a great idea and I have thought about that. One of the ways viewers can support the channel is to check out the online store, which carries personally created medicinal mushroom extracts (if you're into that kind of thing!): wildfoodism.bigcartel.com/

[@krswan72]

Thank you so much for this. It’s always nice when I don’t have to weed through a bunch of field guides and informational books to find ones with quality information.

[@LearnYourLand]

Glad you enjoyed it, Kelsey!

[@lisabooker6405]

Was so grateful for this I had to watch it twice. Second time was just to be able to write them all down. Thank you!

[@Botanifiles]

Favorite book as a purely information based reference on the utilitarian applications of plants would be: ‘Native American Ethnobotany’ by Daniel E. Moernan, it’s expensive but well worth it.... I’m a forager residing in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey

[@kan-zee]

Unfortunately your selected western Pennsylvania book selection don't apply to Northern Ontario Canada. Love your infotainment videos...keep it up. ☑✍🏼😎👍 📓 📔 📒 📕 📗

[@kellycrouch9576]

All nice to know...BUT living in Florida makes these books kinda a waste of time and money. Don’t misunderstand,happy to learn but finding 80% of stuff in those books DOWN SOUTH is a pipe dream. I’ve got stuff growing on my property that I have looked up with zero results. Frustrating to be sure. Gotta respect the applied knowledge and efforts. Thanks.Still grateful though

[@Bebeembop]

Hi Adam. Love your videos. I will be requesting some of the foraging and plant identification books you recommended here. Did you ever do a video on mushroom books? I’d love to see your recommendations even though I’m in the Great Lakes region.

[@gpvaneron1584]

awesome vid . when you get to the mushrooming books one , "Boletes of Eastern North America" was recently released and is really well done

[@LearnYourLand]

Yes! I plan on picking that up within the next week. Thanks for the reminder. :D

[@jgeorgeyegmail]

@@LearnYourLand make the mushroom book video please :)

[@pyraxusthelutarian7276]

I see this is one of your older videos from many years back, but I have been enjoying going back and watching them. I just wanted to share my own recommendation as you suggest for a pocket field guide I recently purchased called "Trees of Pennsylvania:field guide second edition" by Stan Tekiela. It's layout in my opinion is exceptional with a full color photo on the left with bark, flower and fruit insert photos. The right page is the full description of key features including many being edibles, fall foliage colors and the author,s notes. It even has right corner thumb tab images that divide the entries into categories based on leaf/needle structure (# of needles per cluster, simple, lobed, compound, alternate and opposite) which makes it very easy to locate species quicker. It has 117 species total with common natives as well as non-native species noted in the description. The first edition was in 2004 and this second edition is from 2021. Already in the first week of owning it I have definitively learned seven new tree species just along my own street. The book was about $13 on amazon and it's small enough to fit in my back pocket. He also has several other state specific field guides for trees, birds and wildflowers, some made especially for kids. I think his books are excellent for beginners and novices.

[@johnsmalldridge6356]

Thank you so much for this video! I don't have some of these and look forward to purchasing them in the future. I'm envious of you getting to forage with Samuel Thayer! His books are definite must haves. A great book for beginners is Edible Wild Plants by John Kallas. I also like the the classic Euell Gibbons books because of the stories he tells about his foraging adventures.

[@LearnYourLand]

Hey John, thanks for sharing your recommendations! John Kallas and Euell Gibbons are both great resources. Surprisingly I haven't dug too deeply into their work, though both of them have certainly been instrumental within the foraging community - both past and present.

[@simaobontempo238]

Hey there. My name is Simão. At the moment I m living in Europe so I m not sure if buying those first two would be better than choosing for example one from Peterson’s editions which have way more species (hopping that I could find some here). On the other hand I recognize the fact that having less is better; I was just hopping that those first two you showed had species that I could find around here, cus If so I would go for them as well. Btw since I’m a traveler could you tell me some examples of which places that first two wouldn’t be a good choice. Last question do you recommend any book that covers a world wide species? Thanks

[@RobloxGamer-ex3pp]

I would like to show you a MAGIC golden chanterelle spot. I mean magic all the harvests if over a 100 at a time this summer. Entire forest floor in a dried up creek bed. Its beautiful. Every time i harvested within four days they were all back and fully grown. I mean magic.

[@davidsawmandave8731]

What book would u recommend for Va , I am subscriber and enjoy your videos , I really like plants , thanks alot

[@josephinecronin1195]

Planning a big road trip across the US - looking for this info to enhance the journey.

[@akhilldhilipkumarkalaiyara1601]

I have personally found Edible Wild Plants by John Kallas to be quite good at being an introductory book into foraging

[@gratefulkat183]

I just went through your videos looking for your recommendation for mushroom field guides and have not found it. Please create one if you have the time, I know we all would appreciate it.

[@artemisgrier8989]

I think Adam released a mushroom guide.

[@juliacampbell5881]

New to this channel and I love it. Very good videos with so much information explained in a way everyone can understand. As for this topic I would just like to add that another wonderful resource is the local city and state college extension programs. They are underused in my opinion and offer much more than just local gardening information. We are moving from Washington state back to the southeast and so I am contacting these places to bone up on local plant and animal species as well as grow times, invasive plant or animal species, and much more. It is a cheap and very easy resource to use and because most of the information is localized you have a lot less data to comb through. Just thought I would mention that. Julia

[@autumnrosehacker8690]

Thank you for your truth and absolute honesty. North East PA foraging, here I come!

[@goognamgoognw6637]

The intention is great, unfortunately foraging is an utopia because there are no old growth forest or fields anymore and much less variety of plants than two centuries ago. It's also due to great predators missing causing proliferation of deer that will eat everything. Foraging would have been very plentiful in the time of first colons (but they didn't know the difference between toxic plants and edible ones). Indians probably could live most of the year on foraging alone. But today, it is only a dream. Imagine that in the time of virgin forest you could walk half a mile and find so many varieties of things and animals everywhere.

[@JohnDoe_88]

Way cool that u got to spend some time foraging with Samuel Thayer!

[@wisconsinfarmer4742]

I am glad to see you know Sam Thayer. Actually thought of his enthusiasm when I started absorbing your vids.Thank you.

[@SabrinaEdmundson]

I wish this was a flip through! My ADD brain needs good pictures 😂

[@briantibbetts2826]

Thanks So much Adam this is what I was looking for and if it has your blessing I will surly buy it. Thanks a Ton!!

[@boboala1]

When is the next Gary Lincoff day? Does he visit other states for public events? TIA

[@bonksai70]

I couldn’t find his video that he mentioned about mushroom field guides. Does anyone have a link

[@survivorprepper9218]

So, what are some good foraging books for desert environments in the U.S.A.???

[@carolyn9andthecats653]

Dude! Sam Thayer looks as if he could be ur dad!

[@xtina7376]

Incredibly informative, thank you so much for helping me expand my foraging library, Adam! I was wondering, could you possibly suggest a NorthEast tree identification guide that would be useful/user friendly for a beginner?

[@grantmacdonald3904]

Stan Tekiela’s field guides

[@deltronzero9]

wondering if you can share any information on locating resources for general botany? especially in the north east/new england region

[@badeybushcraft4946]

Great video! Now I'd better snag a copy of the ones I don't have before the rest of your subscribers beat me to it! :)

[@LearnYourLand]

Haha, yes great point! Thanks for watching!

[@michalynobrien869]

This is really random, but has anyone ever told you that your doppelgänger is Evan Peters? PS - me and my boyfriend love your channel and have found "chicken of the woods" and turkey tail so far thanks to you! :)

[@LearnYourLand]

Ha... I've never gotten that one before! I'll add it to the list. :D

[@rockcrazygal5166]

Hi there Cathy from Ontario Canada, Im a wild crafter too! Thx for such great info!

[@LearnYourLand]

Hey Cathy, you're welcome, and thanks for watching and commenting!

[@scottkersey7893]

Hi Adam, thank you for your time and knowledge. I have found a book that caught my attention. It is called Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora . I hopen you enjoy.

[@LearnYourLand]

Hey Scott, that's a great one! I'm thinking about filming a "6 Must-Have Mushroom Books" video soon, and that book would certainly make the cut. Glad you enjoy it too!

[@scottkersey7893]

Thanks Adam, I will be looking forward to more of your videos and recommendations. Enjoy what God has given us

[@dextersgarden404]

It blows my mind that he never monetized these videos. I wonder if people realize how much money he willingly turned down by not having ads. Thank you for your knowledge!

[@hawks9142]

He does have a donation link on his website! I suppose that's just how he'd prefer people to support him

[@johndonahue4777]

He deserves for me to have to watch some ads. His is a very exceptional show. It's like ASMR or meditation. A really unique gift and natural presentation. These videos are like his 'book' and people buy books about foraging. No shame in honest work. Or getting paid for it.

[@teddawson7890]

For those in the west get all of Gregory L. Tilfords books.

[@ShannasCountryCreek]

Could someone please come help me learn my land🙋‍♀️

[@Garysopinion]

Well since you asked. Kinda like THE ABC CLINICAL GUIDE TO HERBS by Mark Blumenthal / The American Botanical Council. and Varro Tyler wrote some good info on Herbs....

[@christleei]

i use to live in the sayre athen and waverly area love wild foods

[@jenniferg6818]

Yeah. Come visit ME.

[@jackatmtn]

You must have a 50lb pack carrying that library :) Awesome info, as always thanks for sharing your knowledge... it is appreciated, can't wait for the mushroom book video !

[@LearnYourLand]

Thanks! You're absolutely right... my pack is quite heavy most of the time! Helps build a strong back. 😁

[@riverflyswatter]

How to share with the forest animals too.

[@kellyclark4397]

One of my favorites is The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies by Nicole Apelian PhD * Claude Davis. It is full of identification, harvest, food & medicinal uses. Great photos of plants & mushrooms to further identify. Enjoy! Thank you for all you do! I've learned so much through your videos!!!

[@WoLf_Beard_GuY-FilmS]

I live in southern California, will the books like Ancestral Plants still be good for a very very beginner like me? or even the Foragers Harvest? I'm not sure which book from this video would be a good starting point? Which one/s would you recommend?

[@commonconservative7551]

I think acorns are not worth the effort/calories put into processing..........maybe better as a defoliant / herbicide

[@jjkairos7317]

I would recommend John Kallas book- Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods From Dirt To Plate (The Wild Food Adventure Series, Book 1) its a small representation but for a novice and even an advanced forager he also takes a similar approach as Sam and shows both stages growth in photographs but also recipes and suggested uses.

[@zkindinger]

Picking up some of you recommendations. Saw that Thayer has another book in the series. Recommend it? Do you know if I can find a plant list for each? Also, reading the comments you mentioned a publishing a mushrooming book. Did that happen?

[@danielfegley2735]

Being fascinated by nature as a child I have many books most of them are on identification but recently I've gotten a few on foraging none of them are the books you've recommend , for identification I like the Audubon society although it doesn't pertain to one particular region it's all over the United States my foraging plants are mostly weeds that you'd find in your backyard except for the two of the books that I'm recommending, the three books I would recommend is Edible wild plants a North American Field guide by Thomas S Elias & Peter A Dykeman be careful you get the right author on this book I have now three books with the same name different information also I recommend Field guide to medical plans by Bradford Angier the third book I do not have on hand so I can't promise the name of the author it's called top 100 immune boosting foods this does not deal with wild foods so much but it does give you an insight into the nutrition of the foods you do eat the one wild food it does talk about is rose hip and there it shows that it has two hard to find immune boosting abilities it gives both antiseptic and anti bacterial in fact it's the only one in the book that has both of these

[@jilljohnson9310]

What about Alaska????

[@luckeychuckey70]

Mick Jagger jr LOL

[@beautifulfretboard2299]

I want all those books

[@kate2396]

another book I recommend, esp for learning how to make remedies in addition to identification is called The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies authored by Nicole Apelian and Claude Davis

[@garyrunningfox6115]

How does someone see about the books without going through PayPal.?? I can't seem to get an account open, and I can't access my old account....

[@moon1111rises]

Yesss finally .xox

[@richarddavis689]

Love your videos, great info. I live in Oklahoma and would love some regional book recommendations

[@thomasdarcy8999]

This guy is absolutely amazing. Wealth of knowledge with great delivery!

[@keenanleetodd]

12:21 plant police.

[@TheSanctuaryNY]

Is there ONE must buy book on foraging wild plant (north-east plants)?

[@LearnYourLand]

Hey Guillaume, I'd probably recommend The Forager's Harvest by Sam Thayer as the #1 book to buy. (But if you buy it, you might as well get the follow-up book, Nature's Garden.)

[@TheSanctuaryNY]

Thanks!

[@paga357]

Ancestral Plants Vol 1 is available in e-book format: www.arthurhaines.com/ancestral-plants

[@spicewitch3584]

I like your videos, I wildcraft in Utah n will have to make a few vids on my favorite rocky mountain plants. thanks for the inspirations.

[@ioan3218]

Hey, i really like your content and you seem like a swell guy. I subscribed recently and am now binge watching your stuff but one issue i have is that i live in europe, specifically britain and there's not a lot of content available for this part of the world. I have some limited knowledge on mushrooms and some grasses and berries but i do want to learn more. Do you have any tips or other sources where i or others can learn about european wild eadibles? Thanks and have a good one

[@rapier1954]

Thanks Adam I really appreciate this video.

[@LearnYourLand]

You're welcome, glad you enjoy it!

[@lapuertadelosmuertos]

Understanding nuance as pertaining to plant species and specific epithet, is the Ne plus ultra. Motivations other than the true knowledge of a plant's current definition are superfluous. Take one step in disregard of these facts and you'll be pushin' up daisies.