The Thrifty Forager: Alys Fowler

Thrifty Forager reviews Alys Fowler’s The Thrifty Forager and finds not only a useful guide to finding wild food but a plant directory and a guide to setting up a community orchard to boot.

Darling,

I have something to admit.

I’ve been lying to you.

Every time I’ver served you up spinach, be it in soup, pies or rissotto, I’ve actually been feeding you wild things. You’ve had stinging nettles, dead nettles, purslanes and oraches; I’ve fed you fat hen, good King Henry and goosegrasss. You’ve eaten dandelions and thistles. They’ve come from the side of train tracks, along the river, in the parks and sometimes in my garden..

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Alys Fowler takes a fresh look at foraging, encouraging you to look closer to home, from the weeds in your garden to the trees in your street. Alys showcases her favourite edibles with a plant directory packed with useful information – photographic identification, plant description and tips on how to grow and how to eat it (including recipes) – that will give you the confidence to identify plants yourself. The book also features innovative ideas for eating your local landscape, from community gardens in Todmorden, UK to Edimental (edible ornamentals) gardens in Norway – this is a fast-growing, global phenomenon that is fun, environmentally friendly and thrifty. Paperback 192 pages

Check it out on Amazon The Thrifty Forager – Alys Fowler