Urban Edibles is a cooperative network of wild food foragers. By creating awareness about what is available in our neighborhoods, we hope to re-establish the connection between people, environment and food.
507
sources and counting...
disclaimer
Ultimately it is your responsibility to gain a positive identification of the plants listed on this site. Consult multiple resources, beware of "poisonous look-alikes," and be judicious when choosing grounds for harvest as the urban environment is often tainted with chemicals. Remember, the paramount rule of harvesting wild edibles is: "If in doubt, don't!"
Beautiful Bounty
For this month’s scouting mission, we emphasized asking permission, and after we started, there was a chain reaction of food sources!
We started picking plums from a tree in the parking strip in front of a house. We knocked on the door, and the man who lived there not only was more than happy to let us pick his plums, but invited us into the backyard where two beautiful Asian Pear Trees grew- dripping with yellow fruit. He offered us glasses of water, looked at our website, and was generally helpful and interested! Another pear tree shared his neighbors’ property and to keep up the good work, we knocked on their door as well. The woman who answered seemed relived to have us pick her pears (”Glean away!) and offered us the rest of the raspberries growing on her bushes.
There was more than enough food for all of us there (a fairly big chunk of folks!). We all felt great for making a connection with the people in our community, and sharing food with them and each other.
Laura uses the handmade fruit picker to get at high up pears!
scouting your hood
Eucalyptus wonderland!
- Bring a notepad, a buddy, and take it slow.
- Write down the source type and the nearest street address or intersection.
- Include any relevant details including:
- Accessibility: How easy is it to get to? Is it partly in someone's yard?
- How bountiful is the source? Pick conservativly or go all-out?
- The specific variety if known (Braeburn Apple, Malus domestica, "Red/yellowish ones", etc.)
- How does it taste?
Julie and Michael discovered that using a cell phone to record source data works really well! Check these out:
Grapes Get the Flash to hear this.
Walnut Tree Get the Flash to hear this.
Silk Tree Get the Flash to hear this.