Edible wild plants in the Seirra Mountain Range

[backpacker]

Where can I find a book that specifically addresses edible wild plants in the Seirra Mountain Range in California.

Thanks for your help!!!!!!

 

[Karen Hood]

Get "Sierra Nevada Natural History" by Storrer and Usinger. It's filled with all sorts of useful information. It shows plants, animals and general history of the mountain range. Ron and I have been using it for years.

Karen

 

[tknife]

Check out Christopher Nyerges' book on the subject. I don't recall the exact name, but it's edible plants. Sports Chalet carries it, or check out his School of Self Reliance online.

[ 03-26-2001: Message edited by: tknife ]

 

[Dave B]

I don't know much anymore about that part of the country, but I was able to get >200 hits in a google.com search using:

("edible plants""sierra nevada").

Some of the listings look usable.

db

 

[HM]

One more vote for Chris Nyerges's book. He also has a website.
For a brief review (oh yeah....) on the book go to http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/000983.html
It has some wild recipies (like 'mudsoup') but based on his long-time, hard-earned and first-hand experience.

Happy searching,

HM

 

[coyotlviejo]

Also consider books and resources on surrounding areas. I live in S. Oregon, and I find that most books that apply to my region make heavy mention of the Sierra Nevada, as well. Plus consider that the Sierra Nevada borders the Great Basin on one side, the Central Valley on another, plus extends into areas touching the Mojave, Columbia Basin, Southwestern Sonoran zones, etc. If you can't find much that specializes in the Sierra, look at these borderlands. But you should be able to find tons of stuff on the Sierra.

Try "Edible and Useful Plants of California" and also "Early Uses of California Plants" - I don't know who the authors are.

Another tip - contact the BLM offices and Nat. Forest offices and ask for complete botanical inventories for their districts. Most offices are willing to give these out for free.

Good luck!

 

[Ned]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by backpacker:
Where can I find a book that specifically addresses edible wild plants in the Seirra Mountain Range in California.

Thanks for your help!!!!!!</font>

I used to teach a course on wild edible plants at Humboldt State, but that was back when God was a child. I supplemented my own lists with Wild Edible PLants of the Western US (by Kirk) and Western Edible Wild PLants (by H D Harrington). No idea if these are still availalbe, and there may be other better texts. On bit of advice... first buy a good book on Poisonous PLants of the region and learn to sight identify the main culprits, like Death Camus and Water Hemlock. This will save you a lot hassle. There are not that many plants that can kill you or make oyu seriously ill, and it's best to know all of them before you start experimenting with eating wild plants.