Trees, Shrubs, Nuts & Berries Video Cookbook And Field Guide

From Jim Meuninck and Dr. Jim Duke, the same team that created the excellent foraging guide Edible Wild Plants (reviewed in our June 1989 issue), comes this new guide to trees, shrubs, nuts, and berries. A time-coded index sheet, included with the video, makes for an easy reference to the over 100 entries on the tape. As was the case with Edible Wild Plants, host Jim Meuninck introduces each entry, discusses which parts are useable and/or edible and which parts aren't, and often throws in some folklore, history, and a recipe or two. How about a "Vaccinium corymbosum omelet," eh? Actually, that's a blueberry omelet, and it looks pretty good. There's also a number of Native American remedies suggested in the video (though the filmmakers are quick to point out which do and do not have medical evidence supporting the claim.) A section on foraging rules and another section on distinguishing poisonous berries from edible ones help prepare the would-be forager to forage safely with an environmental conscience. Our only quibble was Meuninck's stricture that one should "always forage with a knowledgeable botanist." Most of us don't know any botanists, knowledgeable or otherwise. The other suggestions on various reference books are sound, though, and a reasonably intelligent individual should be able to forage safely as long as he or she follows the basic rules. For those viewers who aren't ready to hit the nature trail, this video is a lot of fun just to watch. Highly recommended. (See KEL'S VIDEO GUIDE TO VERMONT'S COUNTRY INNS/BED & BREAKFASTS for availability.)