The Best Wild Foraging Resources to Help Expand Your Palate

Can you eat that mushroom? Will those plants provide health benefits? If you're entering the world of foraging, you should check out these resources.

Want to eat more vegetables and maybe help knock back some invasive species in the process? Handy foraging apps, videos, groups, and other resources are available to assist you on this journey.

We're going to show you all the resources you need to learn about the edible species of wild plants near you, as well as which plants to avoid. It’s an adventurous way to get more greens in your meals.

1. Find a Local Foraging Group

One of the best ways to learn more about the edible plants in your region is to join a foraging group. Joining these platforms can help you make new friends with similar interests in no time. Hopefully, your mentors will already know which nearby plants are tasty, and which are best avoided.

Meetup

Check for local foraging groups on Meetup. With over 80 groups worldwide, you just might find a handful of foragers in your neighborhood. Many groups have a particular focus on mushrooms, if that suits your interests.

Find a Forager

Locate clubs, classes, and experts on foraging through the extensive Find A Forager database. Chances are, you'll find someone who can help guide you through the art of foraging in your particular part of the world.

The rest of the site also has plenty of helpful guides to gardening and foraging for beginners and more experienced foragers alike.

Eat the Planet

Find a list of classes, tours, and groups near you with the list on Eat The Planet. You might find anything from a foraging walk to wildcrafting info. Featured groups are in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

2. Watch YouTube Videos on Foraging

YouTube is a perfect place to learn just about anything, and foraging is no exception. Here are some videos to help you learn more about eating wild plants the safe way.

Atomic Shrimp

The How To Get Started Foraging video from Atomic Shrimp presents safety info about foraging in a fun, engaging way.

The video starts off by quizzing viewers on which of four similar-looking plants are actually harmful to humans. It’s a helpful reminder about the importance of plant identification, but the video doesn't try to scare viewers off foraging forever.

It also advises aspiring foragers to refrain from eating anything right away, and instead focus on learning more about the plants native to your area.

The Outsider

Learn how to prepare a milkweed stir-fry, white pine needle tea, and many more dishes in the Wild Food Foraging video from The Outsider.

The video offers tips about where to find different species of edible wild plants, as well as info on how to identify them correctly. Plus, the Cattail Veggie Pasta recipe looks legitimately delicious.

Haphazard Homestead

Dealing with weeds is a common nuisance almost every gardener faces. The Foraging Wild Edibles: Fix Your Garden Problem by Eating the Weeds video offers a novel solution to this issue.

Learn which common weeds, including dandelion, bittercress, and wild carrot, can become part of your dinner. There’s also an important lesson on which weeds to avoid eating at all costs.

Many websites and apps for beginner gardeners present a wealth of information, but few offer such practical advice on handling weeds.

3. Grab Some Foraging Apps

Download these apps to keep foraging resources on hand at all times. You can hone those plant identification skills anywhere.

Shroomify

Even novice foragers know one thing: not all mushrooms are edible, and some can be harmful. This app helps you identify over 400 different fungi and gauge whether they are safe to eat.

Detailed and clear illustrations and photographs of the mushrooms help make identification easier. Overall, it’s a handy tool for any mushroom forager.

Download: Shroomify for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

Wild Edibles Forage

Packed with a large plant identification guide, as well as some recipe selections, this app helps you gather wild food safely.

Featuring over 1,000 images, you get many identifying photos per plant. You can even just scroll through the enormous plant library to increase your overall knowledge of vegetation.

Download: Wild Edibles Forage for iOS ($5.99)

Forager’s Buddy

Find and share foraging locations with this map-based app. You can save specific foraging locations, as well as note the type and quantity of plant you've foraged, and make general notes about your finds as well.

You will need to share your location to use any of the app's features.

Download: Forager's Buddy for Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

Wild Berries and Herbs

The Wild Berries and Herbs app is a mobile field guide to edible berries, herbs, and more. Learn whether you can eat it raw or cooked, as well as a plant's blossoming and harvest period. There's even a photo quiz to test your knowledge of these plants.

Download: Wild Berries and Herbs Lite for iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

Download: Wild Berries and Herbs 2 PRO for Android ($11.99)

Edible Wild Plants

In this app, clear photos help you identify over 40 edible wild plants. Swipe through the photos to learn about Alfalfa, Common Chickweed, and many more.

Ideas for ways to cook and eat the plants are also presented. Grind some plants into a flour, and eat others in a fresh salad, for instance.

There's also a sister app featuring Edible Seaweeds.

Download: Edible Wild Plants for Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

4. Browse Foraging Websites

Lastly, foraging websites offer another treasure trove of info about the best ways to eat wild plants. In addition to these general resources, search for sites that focus on your specific area.

Edible Wild Food

The Foraging for Wild Food Guide offers valuable resources, including information about the Universal Edibility Test. Topics like sustainable foraging, safety, and timing harvests are also explored.

Wild Edible

If you're even slightly interested in gathering your own veggies in the wild, then Wild Edible is an invaluable source. The Foraging: Ultimate Guide to Wild Food section here has great advice on foraging in a safe, sustainable, and smart way.

Enjoy Fresh Eats With Help From Foraging Apps, Sites, and Videos

To add some new vegetables, mushrooms, and even berries to your dinner plate, consider learning more about foraging through these helpful websites, apps, and channels. It's a fun, rewarding way to explore new foods and add variety to your meals.