Edible Wild Plants: Five Reasons To Try Them!

Why would you want to eat a wild plant? That's a good question. If you do your research then finding and eating edible wild plants can be a great little adventure. Here are some other reasons why you might want to consider a wild plant or two. As usual, do your research to make sure the plant is safe, you're not trespassing, and there's been no pesticides sprayed on it. Consult your doctor for more information before you eat a wild plant.

1. Wild plants can be more nutritious. Our current farming methods have depleted our soils of a lot of the nutrients that they'd normally have. Through the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides the plants grow fine but they don't have a lot of the minerals and micronutrients from the soil in them that they normally would. Our food today just isn't as healthy for us as it was 100 years ago before the modern farming methods. The wild plants are likely still growing in native soil and will be more nutritious.

2. You can bring a different flavor and texture mix to the table. Maybe your friends have become bored with Romaine lettuce and arugula. Mix in some chickweed or young dandelion leaves and you'll have them asking what those greens were!

3. They're (probably) free. Hey, fresh vegetables can add up when it comes to the grocery bill. A few wild plants here and there can certainly stretch that budget a bit.

4. Collecting them can be a good form of exercise. We spend too much time cooped up indoors now. An evening outside collecting some wild plants is a great way to spend time in nature breathing fresh air. Pick a nice evening and just go out to explore. You may find yourself wandering a bit and enjoying the mind clearing process.

5. You'll feel more self-sufficient. No, with a bit of wild food finding you won't be equipped to live off of the grid and in the bush like a hardcore survivalist, but you won't feel totally lost in the woods, either. Imagine if you're on your next hiking trip with your friends and your eye catches two or three plants that you recognize and you can eat. You might not need to eat them but it sure will make your surroundings feel a lot more comfortable. The more comfortable you can feel outside will mean the more you can relax. Isn't that the whole point of these trips? Isn't it to be able to relax and enjoy nature?

I'm not saying that you need to build your whole diet around edible wild plants but it wouldn't hurt to do a little research and experimentation. Just remember to check with your doctor or a botanist first before you eat something you don't know is safe. We don't want you getting sick when you're trying to get out and have fun!