Browsing Nature's Aisles: A Year of Foraging for Wild Food in the Suburbs

When most of us think of self-sufficiency, we think of growing a large garden, and maybe keeping a few chickens for eggs or meat. While this is certainly part of the picture, unless you live on a large acreage or happen to be a permaculture god or goddess, it is unlikely that it will be enough to allow you to completely break free from the corporate food machine. Wild foods are the ideal solution to bridging the gap between what you are able to produce to feed yourself and what your family needs to survive.

Browsing Nature's Aisles is the story of one suburban family's adventures in wild foraging. As part of their commitment to self-reliance and resiliency, Wendy and Eric Brown decided to spend a year incorporating wild foods as a regular part of their diet. The experience fundamentally changed their definition of food. Not only did they learn about specific flora and fauna, but they also had to learn how to prepare them in ways that would be both aesthetically appealing and palatable.

With information on collecting, preparing, and preserving easily identifiable wild edibles found in most suburban landscapes, this unique and inspiring guide is a must-read for anyone who wants to enhance their family's food security by availing themselves of the cornucopia on their doorstep.

Wendy Brown and Eric Brown are suburban homesteaders growing roots (both literally and figuratively) in southern Maine. They have been studying wild edibles for many years. Wendy is also the author of Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs.