Eight people met at a wild area west of Toronto for a day of studying spring plants and trees, and learning which ones we could eat, as well as other uses for them. Along the way we also discussed caretaking, tracking and other skills, and of course kept an eye on the rest of Nature, including the birds, which were plentiful.

During the day we attempted to identify virtually every plant, shrub, tree and vine that we passed. We also paid particular attention to those that were either edible or poisonous.

This is stinging nettle, edible once it is cooked.

For more info on Edible wild plants, please visit the Wildwood Survival website, Wilderness Survival - Edible Plants section.

Fortunately we had Plamen along with us, who was game to try just about anything that we identified as edible. He was still alive by the end of the day, so we knew we had done a good job!! :)

Here he is munching on a wild carrot root. This was just after he had swallowed a grub hidden in a goldenrod gall.

A very poisonous plant: Baneberry. We didn't let Plamen sample this one!

For more info on Poisonous wild plants, please visit the Wildwood Survival website, Wilderness Survival - Poisonous Plants section.

Some of us paused for a few reflective and meditative moments by this flooded area of the forest,
with numerous Ostrich Ferns growing in the water.

A discussion along the trail.

We also looked for edible fungi and mushrooms. We found this lone Morel, an eminently edible mushroom.

From the common dandelion to the more obscure plants, we tried to ID them all.

Here is a more obscure plant known as Orange-fruited Horse Gentian.

When we paused to get to know the Leatherwood shrub, Brian gave the group an impromptu cordage lesson.

There's more info about cordage on the Wildwood Survival website: Wilderness Survival - Cordage section.

White Spruce needles make a great tea.

Be sure to boil the water first, remove it from the heat, and only then add the needles.

There's more info about tree identification on the Leatherwood Trail website, in the Trees and Shrubs section.

All participants said they had a great day and learned a lot. Thanks very much to everyone who came out and made this day a success!!

Here is a list of what we identified during the day:
Plants: mayapple toothwort wild ginger sarsaparilla blue violet yellow violet white violet zigzag goldenrod goldenrod virginia waterleaf white trillium red trillium dandelion early meadow rue burdock stinging nettle bloodroot rattlesnake fern sweet cicely baneberry starry solomon seal wild leek garlic mustard jack-in-the-pulpit teasel iris cattail blue cohosh small-flowered leafcup mitrewort columbine maidenhair fern ostrich fern christmas fern sensitive fern coltsfoot marsh marigold wild carrot jewelweed horsetail strawberry yarrow sharp-lobed hepatica orange-fruited horse gentian beech drops dogbane bracken fern large-leaved aster	Trees, shrubs, vines: basswood white ash black ash beech hemlock balsam fir white pine scots pine sugar maple ironwood blue beech willow balsam poplar trembling aspen staghorn sumac pagoda dogwood silver maple bitternut white birch speckled alder white spruce round-leaved dogwood hawthorn nannyberry common buckthorn running strawberry bush poison ivy leatherwood red elderberry grape	Birds: rose-breasted grosbeak great crested flycatcher yellow warbler cowbird cardinal ovenbird red-winged blackbird swamp sparrow song sparrow common yellowthroat crow goldfinch ruffed grouse black-throated blue warbler hairy woodpecker downy woodpecker red-eyed vireo blue jay wood thrush peewee white-throated sparrow baltimore oriole veery

Meetings 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

If you enjoyed this website you might also enjoy these other websites in the Wildwood Canada group

Wildwood Survival   Stone Age Skills   Wildwood Tracking   Tracking Quiz   Tracker Trail   Leatherwood Trail
James Bay Road   Route de la Baie James   Rupert River   Trans-Labrador Hwy   Moped Trip   Grey Bruce Wildflowers
Ontario Wildflowers   Ontario Trees & Shrubs   Ontario Ferns   Ontario Grasses   Ontario Insects   World of Mosses
Wildwood Canada   Mumart   Wild Ontario   Ontario Trackers   Orangeville Trackers   Wildwood Trackers   Earth Caretaker

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