Tips for Gathering Edible Wild Plants

If you are a survivalist it is crucial you take a good course in identifying wild plants.  Plants are everywhere and in the case of an emergency, you may have no choice but to stuff you forage yourself.

 

It is absolutely crucial for you to correctly identify plants before picking and eating them.  That wild carrot you think you are picking might be its look a like cousin – poison hemlock.

 

Here are some basic tips about plant gathering.

  • Watch out for plants growing near homes or roadsides as they may have been sprayed with pesticides or exhaust from automobiles.
  • Do not collect plants growing in contaminated water as contracting Giardia lamblia and other parasites is a real danger.  Boil and disinfect the plants thoroughly if you suspect this is a problem.
  • Do not eat anything with fungus or mildew on it.  Many wild plants develop dangerous fungal toxins.
  • Plants that contain cyanide, such as wild chokecherry, tend to emanate a bit of an almond scent
  • If you react very badly to poison ivy then avoid edible foods in the same family such as sumacs, mangoes and cashews
  • If you are eating a very bitter root then boiling them in several changes of water may help get rid of it.
  • Some wild roots, such as Indian turnip contain oxalates. This causes the food to burn your stomach or mouth. Baking the root for many hours can help get rid of this side effect.
  • Stay away from plants with milky sap
  • Avoid plants that are bulbs or have seeds inside pods or that look like beans
  • Avoid plants with a soapy taste
  • Fine hairs or thorns on the plant can mean it is poison
  • If it has foliage like dill, carrot or parsnip it may be hemlock
  • Do not eat a plant with a three leaved growth pattern
  • Stay away from grain heads that are pink purple or have black spurs

 

Following the above tips can really help you avoid many negative side effects and possibly death.  If you are not sure if a plant is poisonous, do not eat it at all.

 

Remember, eating large portions of plant food on an empty stomach may cause diarrheal, nausea, or cramps. Two good examples of this are such familiar foods as green apples and wild onions. Even after testing plant food and finding it safe, eat it in moderation.

Survival

Pickle Juice As Survival Tonic

In a survival situation it is a mistake to throw out any of the juice that is left over after you are done consuming an entire jar of pickles. The green brew left behind is usually a treasure trove of nutrients including vitamins, potassium and bacteria that is beneficial for the gut.  Drinking a bit of pickle juice can help cure dehydration, fatigue and cure an upset stomach.  The nutritious pickle broth can also help relax sore muscles and help the survivor of a disaster feel just a little bit less stress.  Keep in mind that the brine of pickles might be too salty to drink straight up.

 

Athletes have been drinking pickle juice to replenish their bodily tissue for years.  It was the sports drink of choice for the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles for years.  It comes in three flavors – dill, bread and butter or sweet.  Athletes drink the pickle juice it right out of the jar.

 

Why is it such a good rehydrator in an emergency? Pickle juice is usually loaded with potassium, sugar and salt.  The sugar is a quick source of energy that helps speed water to the cells and retain water in the blood. The salt also helps the body retain water, especially in the body tissues and this can prevent dehydration. Potassium is also necessary for the balancing of electrolytes in the blood to relives symptoms of dehydration such as nausea and dizziness. This is why you sometimes feel much better if you have a pickle when you feel hungover. When the body is stressed from a natural disaster it can be a big help.

 

The Goldin Pickle company which is located in Garland Texas is selling the stuff as the “sports drink with a bite.”  The drink is also supplemented with vitamins C and E.  It is a nice alternative for those who prefer a savory sports drink instead of the fruity stuff for a change. It might also help satisfy the cravings for potassium and salt that are often experienced by pregnant women.

 

Yet another application for pickle juice is of course a gourmet element in cooking. Adding pickle juice to cole slaw recipes or salad dressings can offer a unique touch.  It also adds an interesting touch to cocktails like Bloody Marys and Bloody Caesars if you happen to have some vodka lying around in the bomb shelter!  It can be used to flavour cold pastas or lentils in a survivalist situation. Warmed it can be consumed like a soup or a tea but to make it palatable it needs to be watered down with a bit of liquid.

Survival