The Neighborhood Forager
 Robert K. Henderson
 (Reviewer - Kate Holmes)
 2000 Key Porter Books
 ISBN: 1552633063

A Guide for the Wild Food Gourmet. What the Neighborhood Forager Knows (& what Euell Gibbons didn't!)

Mention “foraging” & people think of tramping through soggy swamps or trackless wilderness, battling mosquitoes & briars to reap a tiny harvest of nuts or berries. Yet, foraging for wild edibles doesn't have to be difficult, or require expeditionary gear to have surprising & tasty results.

Associate Reviewer Kate Holmes writes:

In 1962, the eccentric Euell Gibbons introduced the general public to the idea of getting back to the land in his rather sluggish, yet very informative Stalking the Wild Asparagus, a mostly dry & serious look at living off the land. I remember it as being one of my mother's favourite books.

Now in the year 2000, long after the death of Mr. Gibbons, Robert K. Henderson follows his lead with the lighthearted & sometimes even witty Guide for the Wild Food Gourmet which he dedicates in part to his predecessor & mentor. Following a brief History of Foraging, Robert Henderson, a naturalist himself, passes on a wealth of knowledge concerning not only the use of wild plants for food, but also very simple directions for harvesting & preserving all manner of flora that are right under our noses. He includes, however, specific warnings against any plants that are poisonous or unhealthy.

In our world of cement & technology, The Neighborhood Forager shows us a new way of looking at our cities as well as ways of using the most unlikely plants & everyday flowers for recipes that are surprisingly simple & delicious. Even the most well-trained cooks will find new treats. As well as food, Robert Henderson has wonderful tips on harvesting & preserving. One recipe I found particularly delightful is Winter Air Freshener (page 37), a potpourri which lasts for months & takes only minutes to make from ingredients found right down the street.

Chapter two is entitled “Ever Eat A Pine Tree?” Here Robert K. Henderson discusses not only different types of Pine trees, such as Spruce & Juniper, but also their medicinal values. (pg. 30) Other recipes include Juniper Marinade & Christmas Tea.

Also harvested is “The Bounty of Broadleaf Trees” such as The Rowan, Willow, & my personal favourite from childhood, the Mulberry tree. Then in “The Remarkable Talents of Common Flowers”, the author takes us into our own flowerbeds to see the values of Calendula, Chrysanthemum, Evening Primrose, Daylilies, & a colorful bouquet of others. In fact, even the neighbor's hedge, (the one you wish he'd trim?) becomes a green grocer.

The last pages of The Neighborhood Forager contain a helpful Glossary & an Index which follow two Tables, one outlining the uses of individual plants, which shows growing & harvesting seasons. This fresh look at cooking wild food is a valuable resource for the serious wild food gourmet, or for the novice forager.

Many thanks to Robert K. Henderson for the lovely personalized edition of The Neighborhood Forager, & for his friendship.
(09/07/03)

Kate Holmes
2003©Kate Holmes
A RebeccasReads.Com Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio
She is a Canadian wife, mother, grandmother, & avid reader. She has hungered for knowledge her whole life which has led her to haunt her local library & used book stores, looking for “old friends.” She has several bookshelves over which presides a print of Amergin, an ancient wizard from Celtic myth.

A welcome addition to her study, Della, her computer (named for its maker), has become a large part of her world. For some time Kate Holmes reviewed for another ezine, & as a means of giving herself a more varied reading experience, has joined RebeccasReads as a Associate Reviewer.