Christopher Nyerges - Foraging California: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods in California

This amazing book catalogues in clear, direct language the full range of wild edible plants found in California. Organized by latest scientific family and ecological region. it teaches not only a plants place on the land but its essential botanical attributes. More than that, Christophers lifetime of dirt-time experience makes him expert on the edible and nutritional 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 its all in one brilliant guide!

Paul Campbell, author of Survival Skills of Native California

Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods in California

Christopher Nyerges

GUILFORD, CONNECTICUT

HELENA, MONTANA

AN IMPRINT OF GLOBE PEQUOT PRESS

Copyright 2014 by Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

FalconGuides is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press.

Falcon, FalconGuides, and Outfit Your Mind are registered trademarks of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.

Chart on page 10 by Thomas Elpel, reprinted with permission.

Photos by Christopher Nyerges unless otherwise noted.

Map: Melissa Baker Morris Book Publishing, LLC

Text design: Sheryl P. Kober

Project editor: Julie Marsh

Layout: Sue Murray

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available on file.

ISBN 978-0-7627-8684-8

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The identification, selection, and processing of any wild plant for use as food requires reasonable care and attention to details since, as indicated in the text, certain parts are wholly unsuitable for use and, in some instances, are even toxic. Because attempts to use any wild plants for food depend on various factors controllable only by the reader, the author and Globe Pequot Press assume no liability for personal accident, illness, or death related to these activities.

Dr. Leonid Enari, my teacher, mentor, and friend

After I had already spent several years learning botany and ethnobotany in high school and college, books and lectures, often very piecemeal and second-hand, I had the very good fortune in approximately 1974 to meet Dr. Leonid Enari, the senior biologist at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, who was teaching his course on Edible, Medicinal, and Poisonous Plants. His knowledge was astronomical, and after I took several of his courses, he always allowed me to come to his office where he would identify the various plants I brought him and tell me their stories. Never once did I bring him a plant that he didnt know. In most cases, he knew several stories about each plant. He eagerly worked with me on my first book, and he assisted me in compiling lists of safe and primarily edible plant families. His unique background in botany and chemistry made him ideally suited as a primary source of information. He acted as my teacher, mentor, and friend, and he always encouraged my study and teaching in this field. I felt the great loss when he passed away in 2006 at age eighty-nine. Thus, it is to Dr. Enari that I dedicate this book, Foraging California.

I also had many other mentors, teachers, and supporters along the way. These include (but are not limited to) Dr. Luis Wheeler (University of Southern California botanist), Richard Barmakian (nutritionist), Dorothy Poole (Gabrielino chaparral granny), Richard E. White (founder of the nonprofit WTI, who taught me how to teach, and how to think), John Watkins (a Mensan who knew everything), Mr. Muir (my botany teacher at John Muir High School), Robert Tally of the Los Angeles Mycological Association, William Breen (also of the LA Mycological Association, who taught me to cook with mushrooms), and Pascal Baudar and Mia Wasilevich, both wild-food cooking experts. These individuals all imparted valuable information to me, and they have all been my mentors to varying degrees; I also thank them for their influence. Euell Gibbons also had a strong impact on my early studies of wild food, mostly through his books; I met him only once.

Of course, there have been many others who taught me bits and pieces along the way, and I feel gratitude for everyone whose love of the multifaceted art of ethnobotany has touched me in some way. Some of these friends and strong supporters have included Peter Gail, Gary Gonzales, Dude McLean, Alan Halcon, Paul Campbell, Rick and Karen Adams,Barbara Kolander, Jim Robertson, and Timothy Snider. I also want to extend a special thanks to my beloved wife, Helen, for her support of this project, and for putting up with me all this time!

Christopher with Euell Gibbons in 1975

Yes, I took many of the photos in this book, but I couldnt do it all myself. Rick Adams deserves special thanks for the many trips we took together to get many of the photos for this book. Other folks who contributed photos include my wife, Helen; Gary Gonzales; Barbara Kolander; Otto Gasser; Vickie Shufer; Louis-M. Landry; and Jeff Martin.

Photographer Rick Adams

We owe a debt of gratitude to the generations of indigenous Native Californians whose lives and livelihoods depended on plants for food and everything else. Much of this knowledge has been passed down generation to generation, and much has been rediscovered by researchers.

Many of the living old ways have been lost, but the knowledge of how to utilize the plants of the land has not been entirely forgotten. Various generations have realized the great value of knowing how to identify and use what nature has provided, even though this information waxes and wanes in importance in the general viewpoint.

When there is war or depression or famine, we desire to rekindle this link to our past, and hope for our future. When times are good and money flows, we forget our roots. Just fifty years ago, you were considered poor, to be pitied, if you actually used wild foods.

With Euell Gibbons in the early 1970s, the tide began to turn again, and today everyone wants to know at least a little about our national heritage of wild foods. Everyone wants to be self-sufficient and part of the solution. And today we have an abundance of books, videos, and classes to teach us about these skills.