In this video, I share 20 common wild edible plants that grow across much of the United States. These are plants that are widespread, useful as food, and worth getting to know if you're interested in foraging or wild foods. You'll see a mix of greens, berries, roots, nuts, and tree foods — many of which grow in backyards, along trails, and in disturbed ground. Whether you're new to foraging or looking to deepen your knowledge, these are some of the plants I come back to again and again. 🌿 Want to learn more about wild edible plants? I wrote a field guide called Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest, which includes detailed plant profiles, harvesting tips, and recipes. If you purchase it from the link in this post, I get a little affiliate income, too! 🌱 Go deeper with me on Patreon I teach monthly classes on wild foods, herbal medicine, and practical plant knowledge. If you'd like more in-depth learning and a supportive plant community, you can join here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/thebackcountryherbalist/posts Safety note: Always be 100% confident in plant identification before eating any wild plant. Use multiple sources, pay attention to look-alikes, and harvest responsibly. Thanks for watching, and happy foraging 🌿 Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:27 Dandelion 00:55 Chickweed 01:27 Lamb's quarters 01:53 Purslane 02:22 Sheep sorrel 02:50 Nettle 03:31 Burdock 03:54 Japanese knotweed 04:26 Wild Blackberry 04:56 Wild blueberry 05:32 wild strawberry 06:06 rose hip 06:42 hawthorn 07:11 elderberry 07:46 hazelnut 08:15 oak 08:49 Wild violet 09:30 miner's lettuce 09:54 fir and spruce tips 10:39 more info and my book!

Purslane is one of my favorite wild edible plants—and once you learn to recognize it, you’ll start seeing it everywhere. This humble “weed” is actually a succulent, incredibly drought-tolerant, and packed with nutrients. In this short video, I’ll show you how to identify purslane, how to harvest it, and a few simple ways to enjoy eating it. It’s a great reminder that some of the most nourishing foods are already growing around us. If you’d like to go deeper into wild foods, my book Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest includes detailed plant profiles, harvesting tips, and recipes to help you confidently use wild plants in your kitchen. And if you enjoy learning about plants with me, I share monthly classes, plant walks, and behind-the-scenes projects over on Patreon. Learn more: 🌿 Get my book: Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (follow youtube shopping link) 🌿 Join my Patreon for classes and plant education: https://www.patreon.com/cw/thebackcountryherbalist/posts A few quick notes about purslane: • It’s a succulent with a crisp texture and mild flavor • Best harvested young, before stems become fibrous • Can be eaten raw, cooked, or pickled • Often grows in dry, disturbed soils and sidewalk cracks • Considered a nutrient-dense plant rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants Always harvest from clean areas away from contamination, and be sure of your identification before eating any wild plant.

**Can my friend turn me into a pro firemaker? 🔥** In this video, I visit my friend Jazmen, a wilderness skills instructor and founder of Northwest Natura in Bellingham, Washington, to get a one-on-one lesson in traditional firemaking. From gathering materials in the forest to striking flint and steel, she walks us through the entire process step by step—and yes, there’s plenty of laughter along the way. We cover: – How to find and choose the right materials for firemaking – Splitting kindling safely with a hatchet – How to make feathersticks – Building a proper tinder nest – How to make char cloth – How to strike flint and steel and nurture an ember – Building a fire structure that actually catches Whether you're a plant lover like me, curious about wilderness skills, or just want to spend some time learning alongside us in the woods, this video will give you a practical look at the full firemaking process from start to finish. 👉 Learn more about Jazmen and her work: Website: https://www.northwestnatura.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northwest_natura/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northwestnatura 📘 Pre-order my Winter Twigs Book Here: PREORDER: https://www.mountaineers.org/books/books/winter-twigs-of-the-pacific-northwest-common-trees-shrubs ✨ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more videos in the **Hands on Plants** series. Fire Safety Reminder: Always build your fire in a clear, open area at least 10–15 feet away from trees, shrubs, logs, and other flammable materials, and avoid low-hanging branches overhead. Keep water and tools nearby so you can fully extinguish the fire if needed—ideally at least one bucket of water (or several liters) plus a shovel or dirt to smother embers. Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure it is completely out before leaving the area. Always check local burn restrictions before lighting a fire. In Washington State, you can check here: https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/outdoor-burning/burn-restrictions

In this episode of Hands on Plants, I visit Carnation Farms in the Snoqualmie Valley of Washington State — a historic farm that’s reimagining what agriculture can look like in a changing world. Director of Regenerative Agriculture Eric Popp takes me on a tour of their 300-acre property, where sheep, soil, and vegetables work together in a carefully designed cycle of renewal. We explore how livestock are integrated into vegetable production, how cover crops restore fertility, and how the farm’s business model balances ecology with profitability. This isn’t just another farm tour — it’s a glimpse into the future of food and land stewardship. At Carnation Farms, regeneration isn’t a buzzword; it’s a rhythm of life that connects animals, plants, and people in a continuous circle of care. ✨ In this video you’ll learn: – How regenerative agriculture works in real life – Why livestock integration can build soil instead of deplete it – How cover crops and grazing cycles improve soil fertility – The philosophy behind Carnation Farms’ holistic business model If you’re curious about regenerative farming, soil health, and hope for the planet, this one’s for you. 🎥 Watch next: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F93omK1WiW4 🌱 Support the Hands On Plants series + get access to extended cuts and monthly classes: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/thebackcountryherbalist/posts 🎥 Subscribe to follow along as we visit more inspiring plant people for the Hands on Plants series! 📚 Check out my books: Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest: https://www.mountaineers.org/books/books/edible-plants-of-the-pacific-northwest-a-visual-guide-to-harvesting-and-cooking-with-40-common-species Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Northwest: https://www.mountaineers.org/books/books/medicinal-plants-of-the-pacific-northwest-a-visual-guide-to-harvesting-and-healing-with-35-common-species #RegenerativeAgriculture #CarnationFarms #SustainableFarming #HandsOnPlants #SoilHealth #FarmTour #WashingtonFarms

Learn all about chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)—where it grows, how to identify it, and how to turn its tart fruit into a delicious homemade fruit leather. 🌿🍒 Chokecherry is a native plant with a long history of both medicinal and edible use, and in this video I’ll guide you through the essentials of working with it safely and deliciously. 🌿 Stay connected: → Join my newsletter for updates → subscribepage.io/vTL6LC → Support my work on Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/thebackcountryherbalist → Follow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/adiantumschool/ If you love learning about wild plants, foraging, and practical herbalism, make sure to subscribe and join me for more videos! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Chokecherry ID 01:30 Harvest where abundant 01:48 Astringent 02:18 Dark chokecherries 02:39 Two picking methods 04:13 Caterpillars 05:00 Freezing the clusters 05:28 Fruit leather

✨ Recorded live at Third Place Books in Seattle ✨ In this 44-minute presentation, I share the inspiration behind my new book, Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest. We explore: 🌿 What’s in season to forage right now 🌎 Foraging ethics and how to harvest responsibly 🕰️ How foraging helps us slow down and build deep knowledge of place 🍲 The importance of wild food preparation for health and flavor 👀 Why I designed the book as a highly visual, hands-on guide Whether you’re brand new to foraging or a longtime plant lover, this talk will give you fresh insight into the practice of gathering wild foods — and a deeper appreciation for the Pacific Northwest. 🌿 Stay connected: Join my newsletter for updates → subscribepage.io/vTL6LC Support my work on Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/thebackcountryherbalist Follow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/adiantumschool/ Thank you for being here and for supporting this path—it means the world to me! 💚 #EdiblePlants #PacificNorthwest #Foraging

Prairies are one of the rarest ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest — and restoring them starts with seeds. In this episode of Hands on Plants, I’m visiting the South Sound Prairies seed farm in Tenino, WA, where thousands of pounds of native wildflower seeds are grown each year to bring prairies back to life. Join me and seed specialist Justine Mischka for a behind-the-scenes tour of the farm: - How seeds are harvested with specialized tools like seed vacuums and combines - The drying sheds, seed storage containers, and cleaning machines that prepare seed for the field - Amplification beds where wild-collected seed is scaled up for restoration - The dedicated people making large-scale prairie restoration possible This YouTube version gives you the full farm tour — if you’d like to see the extended cut with even more behind-the-scenes details, that’s available on my Patreon. 👉 Volunteer with South Sound Prairies: https://www.cnlm.org/donate-get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/#1686003001633-7b13ac34-80b7 👉 Join their mailing list: https://www.cnlm.org/donate-get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/#1686003001639-e4e01935-c5fe 🌱 Support the Hands On Plants series + get access to extended cuts and monthly classes: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thebackcountryherbalist 🎥 Subscribe to follow along as we visit more inspiring plant people for the Hands on Plants series!

✨ My New Book Is Here! ✨ I’m so excited to share my brand-new book: Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (published by Skipstone). In this video, I’ll take you on a tour through the pages—showing you the in-depth plant profiles, recipes, and the many photos that make this book a true field companion for foragers, gardeners, and plant lovers. Inside you’ll find: 🌱 Sustainability at the heart of every entry (always leaving some for wildlife). 🌱 Multiple ID photos for each plant at different stages of growth. 🌱 Practical information and harvesting tips. 🌱 A recipe for every plant to bring your foraging finds into the kitchen. I also share a bit about my writing journey—from my first book Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Northwest, to this one, and even a sneak peek of my next project: a Winter Twig ID Guide. 🌿 Stay connected: Join my newsletter for updates → subscribepage.io/vTL6LC Support my work on Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/thebackcountryherbalist Follow me on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/adiantumschool/ Thank you for being here and for supporting this path—it means the world to me! 💚 #EdiblePlants #PacificNorthwest #Foraging

What does ethical wildcrafting look like in practice? In this interview, herbalist and teacher Sean Croke shares his thoughts on harvesting with reciprocity, wild plant propagation, the complexities of invasive species, and the constant project of planting trees on his small section of the black river— including how beavers have been munching through many of his newly planted trees. Sean runs The Hawthorn School of Plant Medicine, where he offers a 9-month program in which he teaches about plant propagation, plant communication, herbal medicine making, and sustainable wildcrafting practices rooted in respect for the land. This conversation blends practical knowledge with thoughtful perspectives on how humans can participate in the ecosystem in ways that nourish both people and place. 🔗 Learn more about Sean: The Hawthorn School of Plant Medicine: https://hawthorn-school.weebly.com/our-philosophy.html Order Sean’s Book: https://revelore.press/product/one-time-around-the-wheel/ 🌱 Support the Hands On Plants series + get access to extended cuts and monthly classes: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thebackcountryherbalist 🎥 Subscribe to follow along as we visit more inspiring plant people for the Hands on Plants series!