Top 5 edible plants

I never cared much for polk at all it has to much of a weedy taste for me.Alot of folks might disagree with me here but I have always felt that eating plants for short term survival is a waste of time.In a stressful survival situation your body is going to require a much higher caloric intake to be beneficial,in other words fish, critters and bugs.Even edible plants can cause diahrrea even if cooked,there are also many poisonous look a likes.Mushrooms have to be identified by an expert and even then they are not always sure,plus mushrooms provide not nutritional content whatsoever.Nuts and berries are the best with juice,sugar and a small amount of fat and protein in the nuts.Almost all grasses are edible but the human body has an impossible taske of digestion,thats why cows have eight stomachs.Stick to the for sures and the basics of plants has always been my logic.
 
But plants can be so much more than food. I use yarrow to stop bleeding and it has done the job when nothing else would work except a tournicate. I use plants to get rid of poison oak/ivy/sumac rash. I use plants for soap - and remember that in the backwoods cleanliness can even be the difference between life and death. What if you are out for a short 3-day hike and you get diarrhea? Squirrel meat and grubs aren't going to stop your problem and keep you from getting dehydrated, but many plants can do the trick.

In addition to the medicinal and useful values, many plants are just plain nutritious. I can get more energy-sustaining carbs from camas or cattails than I could from drinking all the boiled fat from a deer carcass.

It is true, however, that because of the complexity of edible plant knowledge there are definitely other survival skills to learn first. Go for the most valuable knowledge first, and go for the easiest stuff to learn, because your more likely to apply it. But definitely learn the plants when you have the time. They are here for us to use.
 
Originally posted by scotjute
Has anyone actually eaten "paw-paws"?
We didn't have them that I know of in north Lousisiana.
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Yes, I'm not sure of the range and distribution of assimina triloba but we have them here in the midwest. You often have to go looking for them though. They are "prime soil indicators" and the fruit is highly favored by lots of wildlife. They usually get it before people can. If you like bananas, you would love paw-paw. They are funny-looking- like an oblong unripe tomato, and the flesh is very mushy when ripe. You can pretty much spread it on toast, which isn't a bad way to eat it. :)
 
Coyote,I agree especially thet plants are very useful for medicinal uses,As a matter of fact I adhere more to knowing plants uses more than their edibility.As I said Yucca makes great soap,plaintain is great crushed and applied to bee stings,pine needle tea is a good cold remedy,and so on.
 
even in short term survival situations edible plants can help because you first can start eating right away. Then hunt. I don't see it as a black or white issue.

I am omnivorous!



But serious practice is necessary and that is what this thread is about. I also see this as a means of passing on this knowledge to people because who knows how the future will pan out. simply look at alot of African countries right now that are plagued by draughts all kinds of stuff, maybe some Africans don't know truly all their options.
 
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