A Forager's Life: Reflections on Mother Nature and my 70+ years of Digging, Picking, Gathering, Fixing and Feasting on Wild Edible Foods

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

SALES HOOK
One of America's most acclaimed foragers and wild food educators writes of a lifetime in nature and in the classroom from his many thousands of wild edible forays with adults and young people, to the legendary Euell Gibbons and the first Earth Day, to the rise of todays great wave of interest in foraging.
A story of discovery and close calls and of course, the best of the wild recipes.
Mikes first book, The Scouts Guide to Wild Edibles (St. Lynns 2016), won the 2017 National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA) for Nature Guidebooks.

Reviews

"When times are stressful, as these are, people instinctively do two things: take to their kitchens and go out into nature. They can also be armchair enjoyers of other peoples adventures. One of Americas most respected foragers and wild food educators, Mike Krebill, writes of a lifetime spent in nature and the classroom in A Foragers Life. While not a traditional field guide, everything about the plants and mushrooms mentioned within is as accurate as if it were. Beyond the pleasures of foraging for edible wild plants, Krebill scatters delicious and sometimes surprising wild food recipes throughout the book. These include: Grandmother Krebills Hickory Nut Cake, Queen Annes Lace Pancakes, Mulberry Ice Cream Soda, Chanterelle Frittata, Spiderwort Soda, Clover Flower Spoonbread, Wild Grape Jelly, Hen of the Woods Jerky, Soft Persimmon Cookies, Sumac Rubber Candy and more. Michele Atkins, The Paris Post-Intelligencer

"Mike Krebill's anecdotes, useful insights, delightful recipes and helpful resources will help to explain the wonderful world of foraging. Think of this type activity as a sport or hobby, but also know as well that the ability to forage can be a survival imperative." The Graine Thumb, Virginia Master Gardener Association

"The narrative is broken up by recipes, lists, and images. In my case, I was eager to see what foraged botany starred in the 21 recipes. I own at least a dozen wild food books, and Krebill's recipes are unique to this tome. They include Queen Annes Lace Pancakes, Clover Flower Spoonbread, Sumac Black Raspberry Lemonade, and Hickory Nut Sandies, among others. . . . I was drawn into Krebills storytelling. First, about his cousin trying to defy poison ivy to reach a generous stash of hickory nuts but then finding himself hospitalized with an angry rash. And second, when a middle school class was chowing down on a particularly delicious fried puffball and suddenly discovering wriggly little creatures inside. Both serve as warnings to newbiespay close attention to the project whether gathering or cooking." Paris Wolfe, The Herb Society of America Blog

"A Foragers Life contains nibbles of wild wisdom from a man with an unmatched passion for teaching and discovering wild foods. Here, Mike guides us down trails of memories that have shaped his experiences in a lifetime exploring wild edibles....Mike will continue to inform and inspire countless more students to unearth their own passion for foraged flavors." Chelsea Ewen Rowcliffe, naturalist and foraging instructor

Author Bio

Mike Krebill is an inductee into the National Wild Foods Hall of Fame. Considered by many to be one of the great foragers living today, he is a sought-after speaker at major foraging events across North America from Oregon to New York, Tennessee to Ontario, Canada, and states in between. An award-winning life science teacher for 35 years, he was one of the architects of a six-year effort to bring environmental education into Michigan's public schools. As a young leader in environmental management initiatives, he was named to Gov. Rockefeller's Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board. Early in his career he was recruited to become Iowa's first Naturalist, and today is an honorary member of the Iowa Association of Naturalists. He has been active in Scouting at every level for 50+ years, and has received multiple awards for outstanding service as a wild plants educator. Mike had been botanical technical editor for 14 books on foraging by well-known authors (including Sam Thayers Natures Garden and Leda Merediths The Foragers Feast). Mike's first book,The Scout's Guide to Wild Edibles (St. Lynn's Press ), won a National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA) for Nature Guidebooks.