There are many books on foraging but this book is for beginners who wish learn more about the amazing range of incredible foodstuffs growing right on their doorstep which they had previously not recognised as being edible.This book then takes this knowledge a little further, and shows you how to preserve it for later use or how to use it in a wide range of healthy dishes using minimum input from supermarket products. Indeed, as your knowledge progresses, you will find that your stressful visits to the supermarket are reduced considerably while the therapeutic walks in our beautiful countryside are increased. Foraging is a pastime which can be taken by yourself giving you time to reflect upon life but, as a child, it was a family outing where we gathered and processed an abundance of nature's harvest right on our doorstep. It was never a task I resented for there was more satisfaction in gathering your own lunch than there ever would have been nipping down to the supermarket in the car.
There is a more serious side to this too. Food shortages appear to be on the cards and in order to supplement the diet in order to keep healthy, a basic knowledge of foraging, at the very least - is necessary. Once you can identify ten edible plants then you are on the way to becoming self sufficient. Many of these plants are available during the winter but it is knowing which ones and further, how to process them, that gives you the edge when it comes to self-sufficiency in the winter months. A little knowledge of their nutritional value is included since many plants produce an abundance of complex carbohydrates but we also need fats and protein in order to stay healthy. There are some plants which produce excellent amounts of protein and fats. Understanding which these are will help you make wise choices when it comes to feeding yourself - and your family - off the land