2nd Edition of “Foraging California” available

SECOND EDITION OF CHRISTOPHER NYERGES’ “FORAGING CALIFORNIA”
JUST RELEASED

Christopher Nyerges’ first book for Falcon Guides, “Foraging California,” has just been released in a revised second edition.

Yes, we know that many of you don’t live in California… nevertheless, the book sells well outside California as well, because so many of the common wild edibles have such a widespread distribution. And for those of you in Cali, you’ll love this new edition. There’s even a photo of Halcon with native palm seeds.

The latest edition of the book includes 16 more pages, and a section on Mushroom identification, with only a few of the most common, easy-to-identify mushrooms included.

Lots of pictures of people in this second edition, mostly while processing or gathering some of the wild foods. Kevin Sutherland is shown with oyster mushrooms, Angelo Cervera is grinding acorns and Vicki Chiu is showing some cherry seeds. There are also pictures of the processing of plants, such as the drying of nettles, or the drying of cactus pads.

There is a nutritional chart in the front of the book showing the nutrient value of many of the common wild foods. Included in the second edition is a chart showing that acorns are indeed a quality food, and that prickly pear – with all its essential and non-essential amino acids – can be called a superfood.

The Second Edition includes additional photos by Lily Jane Tsong, as well as photos from Christopher, and from Rick Adams.

Though “Foraging California” is primarily a book about edible plants, there are some other uses mentioned, such as medicinal uses, and plants used for soap or rope. Also, since many of the plants listed are fairly widespread, people from other states have told us that they find the book useful there also.

“Foraging California” includes mostly non-native plants, because these so-called weeds are routinely killed off by gardeners and farmers using weedwhackers, plows and poisons, and yet most of the common weeds are good food and medicine. Some of the “invasive” plants turn out to be some of the most nutritious plants in the world, such as lamb’s quarter (poor man’s quinoa, and a rich source of minerals), purslane (highest plant source of Omega 3 fatty acids), and dandelion and its many relatives. These are all described in “Foraging California.”

Paul Campbell (author of “Survival Skills of Native California”) write in the Foreword, “This amazing book catalogues in clear, direct language the full range of wild edible plants found in California… Christopher’s lifetime of dirt-time experience makes him an expert on the edible and nutritious properties of this wonderful flora, so easily overlooked but at our disposal everywhere. I have followed Christopher on endless plant walks and never failed to learn something new and important. Now, at last, it’s all in one brilliant guide.”

“Foraging California” is available from bookstores, from Amazon, and from the School of Self-Reliance.