The forager handbook, anyone read it?

[Islay]

I'm not a terribly experienced forager, but I've really enjoyed flicking through this book for more ideas. It's one of the most comprehensive foraging books i've come across so far, and nice to read one that's totally up to date.

I've done a more thorough review on my blog (address in signature), but just wondering whether anyone else had any thoughts on it?

[Andy Hamilton]

Yep that is a good one, interesting that you are a novice forager as I really thought that it was a book for more experienced foragers - not having great pictures and all.

[frozenthunderbolt]

Perhaps you could suggest a good introductory book with accurate visuals Andy? :-)

[Andy Hamilton]

I tend to suggest any wild flower book as they can be picked up from second hand book shops for next to nothing. It's hard to offer just one difinative as I think I learnt from a mixture of books. Wild flowers of Europe or something like that would do. Not sure about NZ and how differnent the plants are.

[citizentwiglet]

The old Observer books were wonderful - the ones from probably the 50s with the hand painted plates. They weren't as good when they went over to photographs. I used to have quite a collection of them that were passed down by my grandparents, they must still be in my Dad's house somewhere. I'd love to find more of them.

I have the usual 'Food for Free' by Richard Mabey in the teeny tiny pocket edition (which is handy), and the rather more bulky Edible Wild Plants and Herbs by Pamela Michael, which isn't quite so handy.....!

I agree with Andy, if you can get a handful of books from a charity shop for the price of one new one, you're onto a winner. I find that so many books have either excellent descriptions but lousy pictures, or vice versa; and I am a very nervous forager - I would only take something I was pretty much 100% sure about as I don't want to poison the kids (though sometimes it is tempting...)

Andy, you'll have to come a visit us North of the border and take us on a good foraging and build my confidence up a bit!