I am an ecologist and botanist. I have a great understanding of native plants for medicinal, utilitarisn (rope, string, thatching, etc) and food uses - at least here in the mountain and desert northwest. I have for the last year ran a native plant seed business to supply native plant nurseries. It serves both as a means of income (rather meager) but, more importantly, as a real means of self study of the native plants and their uses by Native Americans.

Unfortunately, most "edible plant" books are written by authors that have simply went to the library and compiled a list of information which they then add some fancy language too so that is sells to you. But they don't tell you specifics - because they do not know the specifics! Most of the authors are a bunch of book worms that found a way to make some money but no real practical knowledge.

For example, during the small pox epidemics in the early 1900's one Native American tribe was known to be surviving an epidemic rather well. A physician was sent to assertain what they may be using. What they found is that the natives were boiling a root from Lomatium dissectum (Fern Leaf Desert Parsley) - a biscuitroot that happens to also contain a medicinal oil. Penicillin was discovered shortly after and the observation and use of this plant for BOTH viral and bacterial disease and infection was lost. Recently, contemporary medicine has again begun to look at native plants. Low and behold, they have found, via formal studies, that this plant has significant anti-viral and anti-bacterial effects.

So, I no longer rely on a supply of medications but on my own knowledge of what this plant looks like, where it grows (region and habitat) and always have a community marked that I can get to a root in the winter (they can grow to 10 pounds!). I also keep a very large supply of seeds for both myself and my nursery clients (who grow them for the alternative medicines in the health food stores).

My point - I have a permanent supply of medicine that no one can steal from me! It is alwasy fresh. And it always renews itself and I can put my effort into other things. Efficiency - very important in survival situations.

This then is the truest sense of survivalism. Living off the land in using holistic principles and ecology to assure the survival of the resource and a long term supply for oneself. Conservation.

As another example, I live in Ellensburg, Washington. Here in the sagebruish desert there is a plant called Canbi's Buiscuitroot. This year, I decided to find this plant and dig one up. What I found is that it grows on the most desolate sites where even the sagebrush is scarcely present. It is a very non-descript and low growing plant. It grows for about 6 weeks in the spring then dries up with no sign of its existence (by the way, the same is true of bitterroot). And unless you know what you are looking for, AND you knew when to look for it, you would never even know it was there. So those fancy books... they are worthless becuase they do not tell you these things.

In any event, I dug one up. It had a round tuber about 2" across. I was amazed as most native plant tubers are much smaller and take a great deal of work to collect in quantity. I then ate it - raw. Now, understand that I am formally trained in botany and know how to use the technical keys to identify plants (5 volume set: Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Univ of Wash).

I was absolutely amazed at how well it tasted!

Then I looked around and realized there was about 4 plants within 5 feet of where I stood. I then ran a transect across the area and soon realized that I could collect a 5 pound bag of these damn things in a days work. In a weeks work, I could 35 pounds of fresh food, vitamins, etc. And I would not have even taken 10 percent of the plants.

Let's do the math. Lets say you learn 5 plants and can get 35 pounds of food from them during 5 weeks of harvest. THAT IS 165 POUNDS OF FOOD and a full annual supply for one man (at one-half pound per day supplemented with meat).

My point is, the average urbanite can stand out here in the sagebrush and think there is absolutely nothing to eat. But the Native Americans knew different and now I do too. I have since found 4 species of buiscuit roots (all edible), common camas fields, bitterroot stands by the millions - LITERALLY.

And I have not even begun to talk about native grains yet! And believe me, they are worth the effort if you know your stuff. The only thing you have to watch out for, the only thing you have to learn, is how to avoid ergot - a fungus that grows in the grains of some species that is poisonous and can kill you.

But the point is, you can survive out here in the Columbia Basin, in the middle of the damn desert with very little effort. I am not just saying that but have proved it too myself in learning these plants, how/when to collect them, how to prepare them, what to watch out for, and how to store them.

I am wondering if there are others on this list who have taken survivalism to this level? I no longer need to worry about nitrogen gas for perserving, packaging materials, etc. All of that to me is a waste of time. I don't have to worry about carrying or packing my supplies around with me. I don't have to worry about protectiong my supplies. And I do not have to worry about them running out.

I hope to share some of this knowledge - but not all of it. It has been a real effort here and if times get tight, I know that I will not survive if there is too much competition for the plants out there. But, if you have question on native plants (food, medicine, utility) give me a hollar. And if you need seeds, I know some folks here who sale retail. They are called (as I am) wildcrafters. Some make medicine by the use of alcohol to extract the medicinal chemicals from the plants. But there are also the others like myself who are just very knowledgeable about the plants and animals on which one might survive or depend upon in an emergency.

The Wildlander

One of the saddest ironies is the inevitable decline in health of indigenous peoples after being civilized to wonder bread, bologna and coca-cola. You are probably aware of Native Seed Search in Tucson Arizona and their fine work. You should also remember that any knowledge gained is a gift, and should be properly shared. Some survivalists hoard #10 pails of freezedried lima beans and chicom ammo can to defend american ideals and temper their plans for a post apocalyptic America with greed and hostility. Most of them are trying to sell the stuff on eBay now before the expiration dates. Hoarding our plant helpers will only insure a visit by trickster coyote.

i'm trying to get my skills to that level. Although i still have very little knowledge of what eatible. But i know what local plants are usefull for string/rope making. But i'm still practising to split and roll fibers... Some people make it look so easy!

Well I am no ecologist or botanist but I have spent (and still spend) considerable amount of time studying plants in my area that are useful. I have eaten my fair share of cattail too. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Too bad you dont live anywhere near me, otherwise I would have a lot of questions. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

While I see from your posting you are not advocating this form of obtaining medicine and foodstuffs, for the masses, an added caution might be beneficial.

A through knowledge of plant identification and their potential uses are clearly a valuable asset to have in many situations and could be life saving.

I am concerned, if there was a greater “conversion” of the masses (even in small numbers) to this form of medicine and foodstuffs acquisition, the negative effects on the environment and future of native/wild plants might be significant. While you may be very conscientious and conservative in your collection of native/wild plants, the same may not be true for the general masses.

The legal and controlled collection of seeds/plants and their distribution for establishing a harvestable and sustainable crop seems noteworthy, but even this could have a negative impact on local native plants if not carefully controlled.

Just my humble opinion.

Pete

This was one of the best posts ever on this site. Thanks! Really, really thought provoking...I have slowly learned what is food on my property, and I know so little. There's much for me to understand out here in the Pennsylvania woods...

How much land does it take to support a family of four, assuming that you are leaving enough plant material behind to regenerate itself?

Sue

40 acres and a mule...if you intend on having enough left over to sell. You _could_ support a family of four on a typical house sized plot, if you like fish. I wouldn't reccomend it.

I think it also depends a lot on the climate. It's pretty dry in my neck of the woods. Around here I think if you try to live on 40 acres and a mule you'd better learn to like the taste of mule. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Regards, Vince

Good point Vince,
A lot depends on where you're at, whether you're going to plant/harvest or forage/hunt, etc. I'd say, that if you're talking about living off the land "Native style" you'd need considerably more room... after all, most of the Native Americans were more or less nomadic, even though they had a "home range", the distance between Summer and Winter camps was often tens to hundreds of miles apart (in the Midwest anyway). In case anybody's interested, the general rule of thumb is "leave two to three plants for every one you harvest/take", but that doesn't take into account that there may be somebody in front of/behind you harvesting "Nature's bounty" as well. I try to stay off public lands (it's probably illegal to harvest there anyway, State/Federal lands are mostly OFF LIMITS, check with the rangers first), and go where I have some idea of the use/traffic that the land's getting besides me. Here in Illinois, I don't think a family of four could get by on less than about a hundred acres if they weren't farming, and if they were farming, it would still be strictly subsistance. Being a half...hearted farm boy from the sticks, I'm fairly confident of my assessment, take it or leave it <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Troy