Foraging and Wildcrafting

Recently I went on a wonderful Plant Walk with my father hosted by Amber of The Wild Garden. It was a fantastic experience. We toured a very small section of wild growth around the Ottawa Canal. I took lots of pictures and wrote down tons of info. And instead of writing it down numerous times for myself and others I shall write it here. Please note I am in no way a Botanist or experienced forager, this information is for the Ottawa region and should you wish to use it please cross-reference with at least 2 field guides.

Sumac - deer horn sumac, has fuzzy stem like antlers. The berries are edible and can be dried and used as spice or made into a lemonade style drink.

Wild Grape - Wild grape is on the left, Virginia Creeper is on the right. They are often confused but Virginia Creeper is not edible. Wild grape leaves and berries are edible. Can make stuffed grape leaves. The grapes are good for juice but are high in tartaric acid so the juice should be allowed to sit for 24 hours, the tartaric acid will settle to the bottom. The tip of the young vine can be made into a tincture that is good for varicose veins.

Thimbleberry - has an edible berry that looks similar to a raspberry but is about the size of a thimble.

Milkweed -(love this plant!!) The new shoot of the plant is tasty and can be cooked like asparagus. The milky latex is toxic (to us but not Monarchs!) so it can't be eaten raw but once cooked it is fine. The unopened flower buds are delicious in a stir fry or cooked as a fritter. The pods can be eaten whole when very small or you can stuff and the larger pods. The white fluff is also edible before the seed starts to form, you can eat it straight from the plant or add it to casseroles.

Garlic Mustard - young leaves are edible. Invasive plant!

Yellow Wood Sorrel - leaves have a lovely lemony sour flavour.

Catnip - in the mint family, has a square stem. Stimulating to cats but calming to people. Great for a sleepy tea. Cooling which makes it good for fevers. Soothing to tummy. Essential oil makes a great bug repellent.

Amaranth - nutritious leaves similar to spinach.

Daisy - Pretty much everything is edible. The yellow bit can upset tummies but is fine in a tea once dried. Leaves are good raw or cooked, the flower bud is good pickled or frittered.

Yarrow - Is a wonderful styptic, stops blood flow. Crush leaves or make a spit poultice. Can be made into a tea to wash wounds. Is an anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic.

Lambs quarter - Another excellent nutritional leaf similar to spinach. It is in the same family as quinoa. The graininess on the leaves is a normal part of the plant.

Elderberry - very revered in uk. Prevents and treats flu. The flowers are edible cooked or dried but not raw. Good as tea, frittered flower buds, syrup. The rest of the plant is toxic.

I've already noticed many of these plants in my regular walks and even my front yard. Cant wait to use this info more.