Winter Foraging
Acorns
Latin Name
Quercus robur
Habitat
deciduous forest, sparse trees and parkland
Edible Parts
acorns, bark and leaves medicinal
Edible Preparation
acorns: dry, shell, leach, eat
Medicinal Benefits
bark: powder for gum disease; mouth ulcers; gum problems apply to gums
Apples
Latin Name
Malus domestica
Habitat
found along forest edges, in disused or abandoned fields, and in shrubby areas and former clearings. Because they grow best in full sun, they will fruit less and lose their vitality as other trees grow up around them*
Edible Parts
thalamus*
Edible Preparation
thalamus: pick, clean, eat raw or cooked*
Medicinal Benefits
thalamus: regulate digestive system, constipation, diarrhea, neutralize effects of fatty foods, purify blood, gout, rheumatism, and prevent gallstones; bark: tonic to relieve biliousness, fever, digestion, dysentery, boils, insect stings, rabid dog bites, and toothache*
Beechn
uts
Latin Name
Fagus grandifolia
Habitat
rich mesic woodlands, wooded slopes, bluffs, shady riverbanks, and better-drained areas in swamps*
Edible Parts
nut, leaves*
Edible Preparation
nut: pick, de-hull, roast, eat; leaves: clean, eat raw or cooked*
Medicinal Benefits
leaves: poultice or salve for analgesic properties, headaches, other mild pain-related issues; bark: powder to medicate headaches, epilepsy, hydrophobia, and vertigo*
Birch Bark
Latin Name
Betula alba
Habitat
deciduous forest, sparse trees and parkland, wet clay to loam
Edible Parts
sap, leaves, inner bark
Edible Preparation
sap: drink, leaves: wash, eat, inner bark: grind into flour
Medicinal Benefits
bark: tea for purifying blood, tonifiying to the whole body, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera infantum, and canker sores; oil for warts and joint pain*
Birch Polypore
Latin Name
Fomitopsis betulina
Habitat
almost exclusively restricted to dead or dying birch trees*
Edible Parts
whole fungi*
Edible Preparation
wash, dry, steep, drink*
Medicinal Benefits
tea: antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuro-protective, and immunomodulating activities*
Birch Sap
Latin Name
Betula pendula
Habitat
deciduous forest, sparse trees and parkland, wet clay to loam
Edible Parts
sap, leaves, inner bark
Edible Preparation
sap: drink, leaves: wash, eat, inner bark: grind into flour
Medicinal Benefits
cosmetic: skincare, acne, eczema, inflammation; drink: diuretic, kidney stone, gout, liver health, anti-cancer, oral health*
Black Walnuts
Latin Name
Juglans nigra
Habitat
grows mostly in riparian zones, thrives best in the warmer regions of fertile, lowland soils with high water tables, although it will also grow in drier soils, but much more slowly*
Edible Parts
nut*
Edible Preparation
nut: de-hull, wash, eat raw, roast or grind into flour*
Medicinal Benefits
nut: anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, weight loss, heart health; hull: extract to treat parasitic infections and inflammation*
Burdock Root
Latin Name
Arctium minus, A. Lappa
Habitat
grassland, freshwater riparian zones, saltwater riparian zones, river banks, stream banks, creek banks, full sun, partial sun, moist, loam
Edible Parts
root, leaves, shoots, stems
Edible Preparation
root: wash, peel, eat; leaves: tri-par boil, eat; shoots: peel, eat; stems: peel, eat
Medicinal Benefits
root: decoction for blood cleanser, antiseptic, acne, boils, eczema, arthritis drink; leaves: poultice for boils, acne, apply to affected area; seeds: decoction for diuretic, blood cleanser
Cattails
Latin Name
Typha angustifolia, typha latifolia
Habitat
salt water riparian zones, river banks, stream banks, creek banks, swamp, marsh, full sun, wet, silt, sandy soil
Edible Parts
leaves, bud, rhizome, flower, pollen, lateral rhizome
Edible Preparation
leaves: peel, wash, eat; bud: wash, peel, eat; rhizome: peel, wash, eat; flower: wash, eat; pollen: sift, add to food, eat; lateral rhizome: peel, wash, eat
Medicinal Benefits
leaves: poultice for antiseptic, blood thickener, faster wound recovery apply to wound; sap: raw for antiseptic, faster wound recovery apply to wound; rhizome: raw for slow bleeding, reduce menstrual bleeding eat; rhizome: powder for blood thickener apply to wound
Chaga
Latin Name
Inonotus obliquus
Habitat
found on living birch trees in the more northern parts of Europe, Asia, as well as in Canada and in the more northeastern areas of the United States. In particular, it is most commonly found on paper and yellow birch trees*
Edible Parts
whole fungi*
Edible Preparation
rinse, break up, dry, grind, steep, drink; rinse, break up, dry, add to stew/soup, eat*
Medicinal Benefits
drink: tea to prevent inflammation, anti-cancer, obesity, improve cognitive function, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol*
Chicory
Latin Name
Cichorium intybus
Habitat
sparse trees and parkland, grassland, full sun, partial sun, moist, dry, clay
Edible Parts
leaves, root
Edible Preparation
leaves: wash, eat; root: wash, roast, eat
Medicinal Benefits
root: tea for parasites, laxative, stimulant, loss of appetite, anti cancer, jaundice, cleanse liver, drink
Chickweed
Latin Name
Stellaria media
Habitat
sparse trees and park land, grassland, full shade, partial shade, moist, clay, loam
Edible Parts
whole plant
Edible Preparation
whole plant: wash, eat
Medicinal Benefits
whole plant: poultice for anti inflammatory apply to bites, stings, rash, eczema, shingles
Chokeberries
Latin Name
Aronia
Habitat
wet (acidic) soils yet can tolerate occasional drought or flooding*
Edible Parts
berries*
Edible Preparation
berries: pick, wash, add to juicer, drink*
Medicinal Benefits
berry: inflammation, anti-cancer, immune support, heart health, packed with antioxidants*
Conifer Needles
Latin Name
Pinus
Habitat
coniferous forest, partial sun, moist, acidic loam, sandy soil
Edible Parts
nut, inner bark, cones, needles
Edible Preparation
nut: wash, eat; inner bark: peel, wash, eat; cones: wash bake, eat; needles: wash, steep, drink tea
Medicinal Benefits
needles: tea for diuretic, laxative, anti inflammatory, drink; sap: raw for burns, sores, apply to wound
Crabapples
Latin Name
Malus fusca
Habitat
temperate coniferous forest, primarily in the Cascade Range and the Pacific Coast Ranges*
Edible Parts
fruit, bark*
Edible Preparation
bark: wash, dry, steep, drink; fruit: wash, pulp, make jam or wash, cook, eat*
Medicinal Benefits
bark and/or fruit: infusion for stomach disorders, skin and eye infections, and as an analgesic*
Cranberries
Latin Name
Vaccinium macrocarpon
Habitat
open bogs, swamps, and along lakesides*
Edible Parts
berries*
Edible Preparation
berries: wash, eat raw or chop and add to dishes; pick, wash, pulp, strain, drink*
Medicinal Benefits
berries: juice or dried for UTI, diabetes, diarrhea, gout, oral health, peptic ulcer disease, and yeast infections*
Dock
Latin Name
Rumex acetosella
Habitat
grasslands, full sun, moist, acidic, sandy soil
Edible Parts
leaves, root
Edible Preparation
leaves: wash, eat; root: wash, eat
Medicinal Benefits
leaves: raw for infections, mouth ulcers, scurvy, loss of appetite, fevers, eat
Goosefoot Seed
Latin Name
Chenopodium spp.
Habitat
grasslands, full sun, moist, loam
Edible Parts
leaves, seeds
Edible Preparation
leaves: wash, eat; seeds: separate seeds from husks, boil, eat
Medicinal Benefits
root: tea for laxative, anemia drink; leaves: poultice for arthritis, abrasions apply to affected area
Grapes
Latin Name
Vitis vinifera
Habitat
thickets along rivers and other naturally open habitats, and often drape trees in open forests or at forest edges*
Edible Parts
fruit, leaves, seed (as oil or extract)*
Edible Preparation
fruit: wash, eat dried or raw; leaves: pick, dry, steep, drink*
Medicinal Benefits
leaves: tea or tincture used as venotonic, vasoprotective, astringent, diuretic; fruit: vitamin, restorative; seed: oil for increase vascular permeability*
Hawthorn Berries
Latin Name
Crataegus
Habitat
large, dense thickets. Generally they occur on moist, deep, fine-textured soils. They are typically found in woods and are commonly used as hedges*
Edible Parts
berries, leaves, flower*
Edible Preparation
berries: wash, pulp, make jelly, ketchup or wine; leaves or flowers: pick, dry, steep, drink*
Medicinal Benefits
berry, leaves or flowers: tea or extract for cardiovascular health, angina, blood pressure and high cholesterol*
Highbush Cranberries
Latin Name
Viburnum trilobum
Habitat
damp thickets and moist woods, but it also can grow on drier sites. It does best on rich, moist and loamy soils in locations with mostly or full sunlight although it is quite tolerant partial shade*
Edible Parts
berries, bark*
Edible Preparation
berries: pick, wash, pulp, eat as jam or pick, wash, pulp, strain, drink; peel, wash, dry, steep, drink*
Medicinal Benefits
berry: juice to treat high blood pressure and UTI; bark: tinctures or tea as anti-spasmodic and menstrual cramps*
Hophornbeam
Latin Name
Ostrya
Habitat
rich moist woods, it is also found on dry gravelly slopes and ridges, often in the shade of oaks and other large trees*
Edible Parts
nutlets, bark, heartwood*
Edible Preparation
nutlets: raw, roasted, boil, or ground up, eat; bark and heartwood: boil, drink*
Medicinal Benefits
bark: decoction for sore muscles, infusion for toothache; heartwood: infusion used for lung haemorrhages, coughs and colds, catarrh and kidney problems*
Jerusalem Artichoke
Latin Name
Helianthus tuberosus
Habitat
moist to mesic black soil prairies, prairie remnants along railroads, moist meadows along rivers, woodland borders, thickets, roadsides and areas along railroads, slopes of ditches and drainage canals, and miscellaneous waste areas*
Edible Parts
root*
Edible Preparation
root: wash, eat raw or cook or eat pickled*
Medicinal Benefits
root: cooked or raw as an aperient, aphrodisiac, cholagogue, diuretic, spermatogenetic, stomachic, and tonic, Possibly, diabetes and rheumatism*
Juniper Berries
Latin Name
Juniperus communis
Habitat
dry or moist coniferous or mixed forests, broadleaf woods, rock outcrops, dry pastures, forest clearings, and even in field and road margins*
Edible Parts
berries*
Edible Preparation
berries: wash, add to dishes, eat*
Medicinal Benefits
berries or extract: diuretic, anti-arthritis, anti-diabetes, antiseptic as well as for the treatment of gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders*
Maple Sap
Latin Name
Acer saccharum
Habitat
mostly found north of the 42nd parallel in USDA growing zones 3–5. It is less common in the southern part of its range (USDA Zone 6) where summers are hot and humid; there sugar maple is confined to ravines and moist flatlands*
Edible Parts
sap, leaves, seed*
Edible Preparation
sap: find tree, add spile, collect, boil down, store; leave or seed: collect, rinse, boil, consume*
Medicinal Benefits
sap: tonic for rheumatism, arthritis, inflammatory conditions*
Maple Seeds
Latin Name
Acer
Habitat
cold climates and humid environmental conditions*
Edible Parts
sap, leaves, seed*
Edible Preparation
sap: find tree, add spile, collect, boil down, store; leave or seed: collect, rinse, boil, consume*
Medicinal Benefits
seeds and leaves: (tonic) diuretic, anti scorbutic, choleric, antiseptic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing*
Miner’s Lettuce
Latin Name
Claytonia perfoliata
Habitat
deciduous forest, mixed forest, freshwater riparian zones, salt water riparian zones, river banks, stream banks, creek banks, partial shade, moist, loam, sandy soil
Edible Parts
stems, leaves
Edible Preparation
stems: wash, eat; leaves: wash, eat
Medicinal Benefits
leaves: raw for scurvy eat
Oyster
Latin Name
Pleurotus ostreatus
Habitat
deciduous forest
Edible Parts
above end of stem*
Edible Preparation
cut stem, rinse, cook, eat*
Medicinal Benefits
eat: anti diabetic, antibacterial, anticholestrolic, antiarthritic, antioxidant, anticancer, eye health, antiviral activities*
Partridge Berries
Latin Name
Mitchella repens
Habitat
rocky upland woodlands, sandy savannas, slopes of wooded sand dunes, sandstone ledges along ravines, mossy boulders in wooded ravines, edges of red maple swamps, and bogs*
Edible Parts
leaves, berries
Edible Preparation*
leaves: dry, steep, drink; berries: wash, add to dish, eat*
Medicinal Benefits
drink: tincture as an emmenagogue, astringent, diuretic, parturient and styptic. Ease menstrual cramps, help with labor pains and ease delivery*
Pine Nuts
Latin Name
Pinus
Habitat
coniferous forest, partial sun, moist, acidic loam, sandy soil
Edible Parts
nut, inner bark, cones, needles
Edible Preparation
nut: wash, eat; inner bark: peel, wash, eat; cones: wash bake, eat; needles: wash, steep, drink tea
Medicinal Benefits
needles: tea for diuretic, laxative, anti inflammatory, drink; sap: raw for burns, sores, apply to wound
Rose Hip
Latin Name
Rosa
Habitat
coniferous forest, deciduous forest, sparse trees, parkland, partial sun, moist, clay, loam, silt, sandy soil
Edible Parts
hips, flowers
Edible Preparation
hips: wash, eat; flowers: wash, steep, drink
Medicinal Benefits
flower: tea for irritated skin, sores, dry skin, burns, apply to affected area
Shasta Daisy Greens
Latin Name
Leucanthemum × superbum
Habitat
grows in almost every U.S. climate zone, can be placed in various soils, and do well in full sun or partial shade*
Edible Parts
petals, leaves*
Edible Preparation
leaves or petals: cut, rinse, add to salad or other dish, eat*
Medicinal Benefits
leaves or petals: extract or ointment for detoxification, rheumatic pain, lower fever, heavy menstruation, woulds, digestive health, respiratory health, and skin health*
Teaberry
Latin Name
Gaultheria procumbens
Habitat
shady and wet woodland areas where ferns, mushrooms and moss thrive*
Edible Parts
fruit, leaves*
Edible Preparation
fruit: wash, eat raw or cooked; leaves: wash, dry, steep, drink or wash, eat raw*
Medicinal Benefits
leaves: oil used as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, aromatic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, stimulant and tonic; infusion: flatulence and colic*
Thistle
Latin Name
Cirsium, carduus
Habitat
wide range of environments but prefers disturbed areas. It tends to grow best in soils with intermediate moisture although it will grow in dry and wet soils. It likes pastures, edges of woods, waste places, fence lines and roadsides*
Edible Parts
stalks, leaves (spines removed), roots, and unopened flower bud*
Edible Preparation
leaves: remove spines, eat raw or cook; mid-rib: remove spines, eat raw or cook; stalk: steam or boil, eat; flower bud: cut open, steam or boil, eat; root: chop, wash, cook, eat*
Medicinal Benefits
root: poultice on sore jaws; hot infusion of the whole plant as herbal steam for treating rheumatic joints; decoction of the whole plant to treat internally and externally bleeding piles*
Tinder Polypore
Latin Name
Fomes fomentarius
Habitat
grows alone, but multiple fruit bodies can sometimes be found upon the same host trunk. The species most typically grows upon hardwoods*
Edible Parts
not edible, solely medicinal*
Edible Preparation
n/a*
Medicinal Benefits
decoction: Hemorrhoids, bladder disorders, dysmenorrhea, diuretic, laxative, anxiety, anti-cancer, lungs*
Turkey Tail
Latin Name
Trametes versicolor
Habitat
deciduous forest
Edible Parts
whole fungi*
Edible Preparation
brush, steep, drink
Medicinal Benefits
drink: tea for anti cancer, cold, flu, support immune system, drink
Watercress
Latin Name
Nasturtium
Habitat
freshwater riparian zones, river banks, stream banks, creek banks, pools, ponds, lakes, streams, full sun, wet, loam, sandy soil
Edible Parts
leaves, pods, stems
Edible Preparation
leaves: wash, eat; pods: wash, eat; stems: wash, eat
Medicinal Benefits
leaves: poultice for acne, eczema, rashes, skin infections, apply to affected area
Wild Carrot
Latin Name
Daucus carota
Habitat
fields, meadows, waste areas, roadsides and disturbed habitats. They are very hardy and thrive in a dry environment*
Edible Parts
flower, seeds, roots, leaves*
Edible Preparation
flower: pick, clean, eat raw or fried; seeds: clean, add to soups or stews, eat; root: cut, clean, cook, eat (first year); leaves: pick, clean, add to soups or cooked foods, eat*
Medicinal Benefits
eat: oil for urinary tract problems including kidney stones, bladder problems, water retention, and excess uric acid in the urine; and also for gout, a painful joint problem caused by too much uric acid, severe diarrhea (dysentery), indigestion, and intestinal gas*
Wild Parsnip
Latin Name
Pastinaca sativa
Habitat
moist to mesic black soil prairies, savannas, pastures and fields, weedy meadows, areas along railroads and roadsides, vacant lots, and waste areas*
Edible Parts
root*
Edible Preparation
root: harvest, wash, boil or fry, eat; harvest, dry, steep, drink*
Medicinal Benefits
roots: tea used in the treatment of women's complaints; poultice applied topically for inflammations and sores*
Willow Bark
Latin Name
Salix
Habitat
deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere*
Edible Parts
bark*
Edible Preparation
bark: peel, dry, steep, drink*
Medicinal Benefits
bark: chew to remedy fever and aches*
Witches Butter
Latin Name
Tremella mesenterica
Habitat
on living birch trees in the more northern parts of Europe, Asia, as well as in Canada and in the more northeastern areas of the United States*
Edible Parts
whole fungi*
Edible Preparation
boil, steam, or fry, eat*
Medicinal Benefits
eat: immune-stimulating, immune-modulating, radiation protection, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, hepato-protective, anti-allergenic, demulcent, hypocholesterolemic, anti-diabetic, anti-tussive, anti-asthmatic*
Enokitake
By Kelvinsong - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27509689
By derivative work: McSush (talk)Leaf_morphology_no_title.png: User: Debivort - Leaf_morphology_no_title.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7681206