Berries You Can Eat
Blackberries:
Many wild berries are not safe to eat, it’s best to stay away from them. But wild blackberries are 100% safe to eat and easy to recognize. They have red branches that have long thorns similar to a rose, the green leaves are wide and jagged. They are best to find in the spring when their white flowers bloom. They are clustered all around the bush and their flowers have 5 points. The berries ripen around August to September.
Dandelions:
The easiest to recognize is the dandelion, in the spring they show their bright yellow buds. You can eat the entire thing raw or cook them to take away the bitterness, usually in the spring they are less bitter. They are packed with Vitamin A and Vitamin C, and beta carotene.
Asparagus:
The vegetable that makes your pee smell funny grows in the wild in most of Europe and parts of North Africa, West Asia, and North America. Wild asparagus has a much thinner stalk than the grocery-store variety. It’s a great source of source of vitamin C, thiamine, potassium and vitamin B6. Eat it raw or boil it like you would your asparagus at home.
Elderberries:
An elderberry shrub can grow easily grow about 10 feet and yield tons of food. Their leaf structure is usually 7 main leaves on a long stretched out stem. The leaves are long and round and the leaves themselves have jagged edges. These are easiest to identify in the spring as they blossom with white clustered flowers that resembles an umbrella. Mark the spot and harvest the berries when they’re ripe around September. Elderberries are known for their flu and cold healing properties, you can make jelly from them and are very sweet and delicious.
Gooseberries:
These are also common in the woods in northern Missouri, the branches are grey and have long red thorns, and the leaves are bright green and have 5 points. They have rounded edges and look similar to the shape of a maple leaf. The flowers in the spring are very odd looking. They are bright red and hang down. The berries ripen around late May or early June.
Mulberries:
Mulberry leaves have two types, one spade shape and a 5 fingered leaf. Both have pointed edges.
Pine:
There are over a hundred different species of pine. Not only can the food be used as a supply of nourishment but it also can be used for medicinal purposes. Simmer a bowl of water and add some pine needles to make tea. Native Americans used to ground up pine to cure scurvy. It’s rich in vitamin C.
Kudzu:
Pretty much the entire plant is edible and is also known for medicinal values. The leaves can be eaten raw, steam or boiled. The root can be eaten as well. (like all herbs, pregnant women and breast-feeding woman should consult a physician first before use)
Day Lily:
You can find this plant in many parts of the country, These are not Tiger Lilies or Easter Lilies (which are toxic), a Day Lily is completely safe to eat. Day Lilies have bright orange flowers that come straight out of the ground, their main stock/stem has no leaves so that’s your confirmation that it’s a day lily, if you see an orange six-petal flower like this one that has a bear stem (no leaves) it’s a Day Lily. You can eat them whole or cook them or put them in salads.
