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From backyard gardens to wild and weedy paths, plants like hibiscus, prickly pear cactus, sunflower, and dandelion have long offered practical uses in food, wellness, and tradition. Join clinical herbalist and author Mimi Prunella Hernandez on Thursday, June 12th at 5:30 p.m. at Columbus Library for an engaging exploration of familiar herbs, weeds, and wild edibles inspired by her two books. Check out her books and other similar titles at the library!

 

National Geographic Herbal: 100 Herbs from the World’s Healing Traditions by Mimi Prunella Hernandez

You’ll discover the healing properties of herbs and spices, and learn which popular herbs deserve special conservation attention. Blending traditional lore and current science, the information found in these pages stretches from tips for the kitchen garden and home apothecary to news about activism in the global arena. 

 

National Geographic Backyard Guide to Edible Wild Plants by Mimi Prunella Hernandez and Heather Wood Buzzard

Nature lovers, gardeners, and foodies can turn their backyard into a bounty with tips for identifying wild plants, advice for beginner and experienced harvesters, and ideas and recipes to bring the wild into the kitchen in this handbook to 102 common wild plants that can be foraged for delicious food and drink. 

 

Enchanted Herbal: Connect to Nature & Celebrate the Seasons by Gail Bussi 

Grow into a healthier and more authentic version of yourself with the gifts, lessons, and opportunities of nature and the seasons. This practical book invites you on a nourishing journey, providing dozens of recipes, meditations, and journaling prompts. You’ll learn how to grow your own herbs, incorporate essential oils into your life, and celebrate nature’s seasonal changes throughout the year.

 

How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying by Ellen Zachos

This on-the-go guide is perfect for new foragers eager to learn about the edible plants they’re most likely to find, no matter what region they’re in, and provides photos and easy-to-follow identification and use guidelines for the 40 most common—and most delicious—wild plants. The author offers clear, concise descriptions of edible wild plants, in addition to any potential lookalikes, as well as critical information about proper harvesting, processing, and cooking. 

 

Edible Wild Plants of the Carolinas: A Forager’s Companion by Lytton John Musselman and Peter W. Schafran 

Foraging edible plants was once limited to specialists, survivalists, and herbalists, but it’s become increasingly mainstream. Influenced by the popularity of the locavore movement, many restaurants feature foraged plants on their menus, and a wide variety of local foraged plants are sold at farmers markets across the country. This is a guide for the everyday forager, designed to help anyone enjoy the many wild plants found in the biodiverse Carolinas.

 

Jen Pace Dickenson is the Youth Services Librarian for Polk County Public Libraries. For information about the library’s resources, programs, and other services, visit polklibrary.org or call (828) 894-8721.