Preppers are telling us that our way of life might change drastically in the near future. They warn that the mod cons we all enjoy every day might disappear in a flash of disintegrating grid. Not only light and hot water but gas pumps may go down. Without gas pumps, the big trucks that keep the grocery stores stocked won't run. So how will you get your food? Well, knowing the wild foods of California might help.
In the panorama of history, dependence on food grown by others is relatively recent. Most people grew the majority of their food at home, or raised it in the farmyard. Although a lot of their diet was based on crops, hunting and gathering was always important. Most people looked to the great outdoors for sweeteners (wild honey and maple syrup), nuts (valuable sources of fat and protein), berries, greens (especially in spring after a winter diet devoid of fresh food), and game for meat. As the Hunger Games books relate, hunting was a skill much admired by those who liked meat.
Small beginnings are OK. Remember that it was a lowly dandelion that reminded Katniss of the lessons her father taught her before his untimely death. Picking that flower and more of them made dinner for her family that night and assured them of future survival.
Perhaps you're pretty sure you wouldn't make it as a hunter. Maybe even the idea of fishing puts you off. Well, being a vegetarian isn't all that bad; in fact, it's already popular in California.
After all, almost anyone can pluck up a green plant or pick a ripe berry. Of course, it's helpful if you know which are good to eat or which might make you sick (or worse). And plants are not hard to find. Dandelions grow everywhere, even in city lots. So do nutritious nettles and wild onions, and many ornamental flowers are edible.
Check out informative websites and books both old and new for tips on finding plants that have all the vitamins, minerals, and health-boosting nutrients you need. Many authors give instructions on how to prepare things like acorns (the Native Americans knew how to get rid of the bitterness before grinding them for flour). Dandelions are a great spring tonic. You can find recipes for cooking plants in soups and stews, as well as guidelines for eating some raw.
It's fun to learn all this stuff, even if doomsday never comes. Who doesn't want a measure of independence and some sort of control in all situations. Take childlike pleasure in roaming the woods, ravines, roadsides, and wastelands for tasty treats or medicinal herbs. You can even find California plants that make soap, another thing that you routinely get at the grocery store.
California has mild weather in many areas, which means game is plentiful and plants can grow year-round. It also has a vast seacoast, home to sea bass, mussels, sea grapes, and many other delicacies. Live in the mountains? You can find berries, wild grapes, nuts, and edible fungi there. Even the desert has its treasures. You just need to know how to find them and use them.
In the panorama of history, dependence on food grown by others is relatively recent. Most people grew the majority of their food at home, or raised it in the farmyard. Although a lot of their diet was based on crops, hunting and gathering was always important. Most people looked to the great outdoors for sweeteners (wild honey and maple syrup), nuts (valuable sources of fat and protein), berries, greens (especially in spring after a winter diet devoid of fresh food), and game for meat. As the Hunger Games books relate, hunting was a skill much admired by those who liked meat.
Small beginnings are OK. Remember that it was a lowly dandelion that reminded Katniss of the lessons her father taught her before his untimely death. Picking that flower and more of them made dinner for her family that night and assured them of future survival.
Perhaps you're pretty sure you wouldn't make it as a hunter. Maybe even the idea of fishing puts you off. Well, being a vegetarian isn't all that bad; in fact, it's already popular in California.
After all, almost anyone can pluck up a green plant or pick a ripe berry. Of course, it's helpful if you know which are good to eat or which might make you sick (or worse). And plants are not hard to find. Dandelions grow everywhere, even in city lots. So do nutritious nettles and wild onions, and many ornamental flowers are edible.
Check out informative websites and books both old and new for tips on finding plants that have all the vitamins, minerals, and health-boosting nutrients you need. Many authors give instructions on how to prepare things like acorns (the Native Americans knew how to get rid of the bitterness before grinding them for flour). Dandelions are a great spring tonic. You can find recipes for cooking plants in soups and stews, as well as guidelines for eating some raw.
It's fun to learn all this stuff, even if doomsday never comes. Who doesn't want a measure of independence and some sort of control in all situations. Take childlike pleasure in roaming the woods, ravines, roadsides, and wastelands for tasty treats or medicinal herbs. You can even find California plants that make soap, another thing that you routinely get at the grocery store.
California has mild weather in many areas, which means game is plentiful and plants can grow year-round. It also has a vast seacoast, home to sea bass, mussels, sea grapes, and many other delicacies. Live in the mountains? You can find berries, wild grapes, nuts, and edible fungi there. Even the desert has its treasures. You just need to know how to find them and use them.
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Discover the wild foods of California through our informative blog. Stop by our website and find out all the details at http://livingwild.org today.
