People ask me what my favorite plant ID app is all the time, and in the past I didn't have a good answer, because I "learned to ID things back before plant ID apps" (in other words, I was being stubborn). I finally decided to test them out and see if they are actually worth the hype. Watch the video to see which was my favorite, what the differences between apps are, how to take better photos for more accurate ID, and whether I'll be sticking with these apps in the future. Grab a copy of my book here: https://www.mountaineers.org/books/books/medicinal-plants-of-the-pacific-northwest-a-visual-guide-to-harvesting-and-healing-with-35-common-species

Beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) is one of just a few edible native nuts here in the Pacific Northwest, along with garry oak (Quercus garryana). These wild hazelnuts are labor intensive but so so delicious. This video will walk you through everything you need to know about harvesting and processing this native nut. Buy my book here: https://www.mountaineers.org/books/books/medicinal-plants-of-the-pacific-northwest-a-visual-guide-to-harvesting-and-healing-with-35-common-species A few bonus things I couldn't help but add here... CAN I GROW THIS PLANT??? You can definitely plant beaked hazelnut in your yard--it's super common at nurseries. If you are looking to harvest LOTS of nuts, you may want to consider planting European hazelnut (Corylus avellana), since it bears a lot more nuts. Note that this is not a deer safe plant, so you'll need to net it up if you live in a place with lots of deer. Eventually it should get large enough to fend for itself. HAZEL FENCING Did you know that hazelnut boughs were used to make fencing in many places in Europe because of their strength, straightness and flexibility. There is still a modern practice of it, and the fences people make are beautiful, braided and woven pieces of art. In a world of increasingly expensive building materials, that kind of thing might start to be popular again, and you can grow it yourself!

Learning the poisonous and toxic plants of your area is just as important as learning the beneficial ones. Water hemlock is so deadly you should avoid touching it, as it can absorb through your skin!!! In this video I'm on the hunt to get photographs for the toxic plant section in my upcoming book, and spoiler alert... I find some! Get my first book: https://www.mountaineers.org/books/books/medicinal-plants-of-the-pacific-northwest-a-visual-guide-to-harvesting-and-healing-with-35-common-species See you next week!

Finding good harvesting spots can be super challenging, especially for beginning foragers, and those living in cities. Here are some of my top tips. Stay til the end and get two bonus tips! A link to my book on Amazon: https://www.mountaineers.org/books/books/medicinal-plants-of-the-pacific-northwest-a-visual-guide-to-harvesting-and-healing-with-35-common-species

Willow (Salix spp.) can be found on the banks of rivers, in wetlands and around ponds and lakes. It LOVES water. In this video, I'll show how to find, select and harvest bark from willow trees.

In this video I'll show you how to peel bark off branches in field with a knife, and also talk about when to harvest barks.

Grand Fir Abies grandis Pinaceae (Pine family) It's almost time for harvesting fir and spruce tips and I could not be more excited. Nothing is more delicious than a hot cup of grand fir tip tea with a teaspoon of honey. Grand fir (actually a fir) is more elusive than douglas fir (not actually a fir). Something to keep an eye out for. Note that fir tips share very similar medicinal uses: expectorant, antimicrobial, high in vitamin c. They are excellent for coughs and warding off the seasonal cold. There is a lot of talk about the role of vitamin C in warding off Covid as well, so definitely not a plant to be left behind. Get your honey, vinegar and alcohol ready for infusing! We have a few other fir species in Washington, including pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis), Noble fir (Abies procera) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). I most often harvest from pacific silver fir, which is found in higher elevations in the cascades and olympics. All members of the fir genus have large pinecones that face upward with scales that squirrels like to peel off, eat the seed out of, and then throw on the ground. Piles of these scales can be found under many fir trees.

Bleeding Heart Dicentra formosa Papaveraceae (Poppy family) Bleeding Heart was this month's monograph, so I wanted to make sure you all got to see it in a video! It starts to bloom in mid April, and continues through May. High up in elevation you can even find it blooming in June! We harvest the whole plant, including the root. This is a toxic plant, so be sure to read the monograph fully before using internally. Enjoy!

Low Oregon grape (Mahonia nervosa) grows in the forest understory, and because of the habit of the plant, pulling it up out of the ground is necessary in order to harvest the bark. In this video I'll show you how to do it, and talk a bit about the advantages and disadvantages of using this species versus tall Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium).