Preppers are telling us that our way of life might change drastically in the near future. They warn that the mod cons we all enjoy every day might disappear in a flash of disintegrating grid. Not only light and hot water but gas pumps may go down. Without gas pumps, the big trucks that keep the grocery stores stocked won't run. So how will you get your food? Well, knowing the wild foods of California might help.
Food does not come off grocery store shelves and out of their coolers, as we all know. It wanders around on land, or swims in the sea, or grows wherever there is sunlight and water. To harvest this rich bounty of wild food, you need to hunt and gather, just like in prehistoric times. (It's nice to know the big raptors are gone, isn't it?) Remember the Hunger Games books and movies? Those who have the skills and drive to go outside the walls have an advantage.
Not just hunting for game, either. Remember that it was a bright dandelion that triggered memories for Katniss. Her father had taught her about edible plants before his death in a mine explosion. The fact that she realized that plants growing in the meadow and the forest could feed her family brought her hope and fired her determination.
For those who are already vegetarians - a popular thing in California - this will make sense. Those who have a gut feeling they won't make it as a hunter of game or a fisher of scaly denizens of the deep can take heart in the fact that plants can sustain you. Look around at the trees, bushes, herbs, seaweed, and grasses, and consider menu plans.
Finding edible plants is something anyone can do. Dandelions are so tenacious and persistent, people spend fortunes keeping them out of their lawns. Nettles, field cress, watercress, wild onions and garlic, mints, and day lilies are familiar plants to most of us, even if we've never thought of actually eating them.
Check out informative websites and books both old and new for tips on finding plants that have all the vitamins, minerals, and health-boosting nutrients you need. Many authors give instructions on how to prepare things like acorns (the Native Americans knew how to get rid of the bitterness before grinding them for flour). Dandelions are a great spring tonic. You can find recipes for cooking plants in soups and stews, as well as guidelines for eating some raw.
It's fun to learn all this stuff, even if doomsday never comes. Who doesn't want a measure of independence and some sort of control in all situations. Take childlike pleasure in roaming the woods, ravines, roadsides, and wastelands for tasty treats or medicinal herbs. You can even find California plants that make soap, another thing that you routinely get at the grocery store.
The Golden State, with it's year-round growing season, is a good place to be if you have to live off the land. And think about it. It would be a shame to starve in one of the most fruitful places on earth for lack of a little knowledge.
Food does not come off grocery store shelves and out of their coolers, as we all know. It wanders around on land, or swims in the sea, or grows wherever there is sunlight and water. To harvest this rich bounty of wild food, you need to hunt and gather, just like in prehistoric times. (It's nice to know the big raptors are gone, isn't it?) Remember the Hunger Games books and movies? Those who have the skills and drive to go outside the walls have an advantage.
Not just hunting for game, either. Remember that it was a bright dandelion that triggered memories for Katniss. Her father had taught her about edible plants before his death in a mine explosion. The fact that she realized that plants growing in the meadow and the forest could feed her family brought her hope and fired her determination.
For those who are already vegetarians - a popular thing in California - this will make sense. Those who have a gut feeling they won't make it as a hunter of game or a fisher of scaly denizens of the deep can take heart in the fact that plants can sustain you. Look around at the trees, bushes, herbs, seaweed, and grasses, and consider menu plans.
Finding edible plants is something anyone can do. Dandelions are so tenacious and persistent, people spend fortunes keeping them out of their lawns. Nettles, field cress, watercress, wild onions and garlic, mints, and day lilies are familiar plants to most of us, even if we've never thought of actually eating them.
Check out informative websites and books both old and new for tips on finding plants that have all the vitamins, minerals, and health-boosting nutrients you need. Many authors give instructions on how to prepare things like acorns (the Native Americans knew how to get rid of the bitterness before grinding them for flour). Dandelions are a great spring tonic. You can find recipes for cooking plants in soups and stews, as well as guidelines for eating some raw.
It's fun to learn all this stuff, even if doomsday never comes. Who doesn't want a measure of independence and some sort of control in all situations. Take childlike pleasure in roaming the woods, ravines, roadsides, and wastelands for tasty treats or medicinal herbs. You can even find California plants that make soap, another thing that you routinely get at the grocery store.
The Golden State, with it's year-round growing season, is a good place to be if you have to live off the land. And think about it. It would be a shame to starve in one of the most fruitful places on earth for lack of a little knowledge.
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Discover the wild foods of California through our informative blog. Stop by our website and find out all the details at http://livingwild.org today.
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