Once we were all foragers.  Some people continue to forage as a cultural tradition while others enjoy eating wild foods.  Foraging is one way to appreciate the abundance and diversity of life in nature.

Watercress

Author:  Andrea Wang    Illustrator:  Jason Chin 

Fiction

Age:  8-10

Caldecott Award Winner

Tags:  Caldecott, foraging, tradition, plants, fiction

A reluctant young girl helps pull watercress from an Ohio roadside.  As she learns her family’s history of foraging in China, she becomes more open to the tradition of foraging.

Out in the Wild

Author and Illustrator:  Mike Lowery

Fiction  Graphic Novel

Age:  7-10

Bug Scouts series

Tags:  Bug Scouts, foraging, graphic novel, fiction

The Bug Scouts find friendship as they seek to earn their “Practical Plants” badge.  If your children love bugs, invite to take the official Bug Scout oath on page 10.

The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles

Author:  Mike Krebil Photographs  

Nonfiction

Age:  10 and up

National Outdoor Book Award

Tags:  Foraging, recipes, plants, field guide

This excellent field guide covers 40 wild foods.  Each plant lists its’ range, habitat, positive ID checklist (to avoid toxic look alikes), what parts are edible, cautionary notes, sustainable harvesting and preserving the harvest.  10 activities, 17 recipes and processing tips are provided.  Plants are alphabetized by common name.

Explore

CAUTION: Foraging is not for beginners as there are many toxic look alike plants.  You should only forage under the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable forager.  Contact your local scouts, library, or nature center to see if they know of any planned foraging activities or can recommend a knowledgeable guide.

Activity

You can still teach your children about foraging without an experienced guide by looking for animals that are foraging—squirrels gathering nuts, birds hunting for worms or insects, bees looking for nectar among the wildflowers.  Keep a list of animals you see foraging.

Contact your local librarian for more age-appropriate books on foraging.