Stalking the Healthful Herbs

Euell Gibbons made a very useful guide by publishing this book on more than 40 herbs. It is not only enjoyable to read but contains information on natural remedies, beverages, infusions, recipes and edibility, if aplicable, of the herbs covered. Each plant entry has the common & scientific name, some lore & history of the plant, general description and basic identification accompanied by very raw drawing/sketch, mentions places to look for each plant (includes general habitat and distribution), gives the flowering time and when to take specific parts of the plant, tells of abundant vitamins and/or minerals in each plant, explains what ailments may be cured, provides recipes and other useful tips and information. If you are new to learning how to identify plants then you may find this book to be lacking in some guidance here and I always suggest using more than one book for identifying plants as there is no room for error here. If you are an herbalist, botanist, forager, survivalist or just curious about herbs I highly recommend this book as an addition to your library...I doubt you'll be disappointed!

If you have read Euell Gibbon's "Stalking the wild asparagus", then you'll love this book like I do. Euell was the original forager, a true expert. A must have for any foraging enthusiast.

A hundred years from now, I believe, the Gibbons books will still be regarded as first-rate texts. The science is, if not impeccable, supportive of Gibbons' readable and magnetic approach to edibles. He's a charmer, but not self-consciously so. His charm is in his love for the subject, and his expertise. Too bad Johnny Carson made a bit of a clown out of him, because he was anything but a clown. "Stalking the Wild Asparagus" is the centerpiece of his output; indispensable for anyone with any level of interest in the subject.

The original "Stalking the wild..." editions went out of print some years ago and that was a shame. Nobody but a character like Euell Gibbons could write such a downhome book that passed on folk wisdom and botany in a delightful way.I actually prefer this book to "Asparagus" because it is a bit more useful. For example, if you live nearly anywhere in middle America, violet leaves pop up in your lawn and garden. They're readily available and easy to find. And he gives uses for cucumber-scented borage, which you can actually plant from seeds. This herb now is a top seller for its healthful oil-rich seeds that contain linoleic acid. If borage doesn't grow in your fields, you can put it in your herb garden. He gives great ideas for violets, borage, mint and other herbs either readily found or available to grow.Careful however; some of the wild herbs look alike; most dangerously hemlock and parsley, angelica and other members of the carrot family look alike with their feathery fronds. Best to take a course in plant identification at the local community college if you are collecting these.

I own the original. And am thrilled to see it reprinted. Gibbons was the virtuoso of the herbal heyday, and his stories of nature, and his naturalist outlook, will enthrall you as much as the herbs you'll learn about. He is, and will allways remain, part of this foragers life, even though I never knew him personaly.