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Monday, 18 March 2013

Wild Berries of Alberta and British Columbia


 This list was originally only to include edible" safe" berries in Alberta and British Columbia (Canada); including Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Haida Gwaii, plus Kootenay, Yoho, Jasper, Mount Revelstoke, and Glacier National parks.Then I came to remember that many of the berries generally considered safe MAY INDEED BE POISONOUS  (Choke Cherries and Saskatoons are  prime examples). So, obviously, a "SAFE" list would not only be impractical; it is impossible.
 Non the less, just knowing the wild berries of Alberta and British Columbia; knowing what to look for and where; after a disaster or in any other survival situation can give enough nourishment to keep you alive. an added benefit; berries gathered in the wild generally have superb flavour and can be gathered when they are properly ripe. These fruits are not only delicious, but contain important nutrients and anti cancer compounds that are increasingly lacking(many of our supermarket berries, fruits, vegetables, meats, and other foods may, now, actually cause; cancer)from our commercially available fruits. Many wild berries are high in vitamin C and alsp contain trace elements, carbohydrates, proteins, and important nutrients such as iron, calcium, thiamine and vitamin A-thus making you-- THE REAL SURVIVOR--living on strictly HEALTH FOOD.
  1. Arbutus
    Mountain Ash
    Red Baneberry-Poisonous ***A GIFT FROM NATURE,
    ALL WILD BERRIES THAT GROW IN THE ARCTIC
    EXCEPT BANEBERRY ARE EDIBLE.
    Bearberries-also incorrectly called Kinnikinnick-Kinnikinnick means SMOKING MIXTURE, not the plant.
    Alpine Bearberry
    Common Bearberry
    Red Bearberry
    Black Bearberry
    Bunchberry
    Black Huckleberry
    Blackberry
    Black Raspberry-very uncommon in Western Canada but ONE TYPE,
    MORE COMMONLY CALLED A BLUE RASPBERRY is found.
    Blueberries- also known as bilberry
    Dwarf Bramble
    Bunchberry
    Prickly-pear Cactus
    Cascara
    Chokecherry
    Red Cherries-Pin-cherry
    Cloudberry
    One-flowered Clintonia
    Pacific Crab apple-Also called the Western crab apple and of course by the United States of the Americas the Oregon crab apple.
    Bush Cranberries
    Low-bush Cranberry
    High-bush Cranberry
    Black Crowberry
    Northern Black currant
    Golden Current
    Prickly Currants
    Red Flowering Current
    Red Swamp Current
    Skunk Current
    Red Currant
    Devils Club
    Dogwoods
    Pacific Dogwood
    Red-Oster Dogwood
    Elderberries
    Black Elderberry
    Blue Elderberry also Red Elderberry
    Fairybells
    Northern Gooseberry
    Oregon- grape
    Grouseberry
    Hawthorns
    English Holly
    Honeysuckles
    Huckleberries
    Black Huckleberry
    Evergreen Huckleberry
    False Huckleberry
    Red Huckleberry
    Junipers
    Lilies of the valley
    Poison-Ivy & Poison Oak
    Indian Plum-Also called bird plum, oso-berry, skunk bush, sour berry
    Wild Arctic Dwarf Raspberry
    Western Black Raspberry
    Wild Red Raspberry
    Trailing Raspberry
    Trailing Wild Raspberry
    Roses
    Salal
    Salmonberry
    Saskatoon –Also called Canada Serviceberry, Serviceberry, June berry, Shad bush and INCORRECTLY False Solomon’s seals.
    Soapberry
    False Solomon’s Seals
    Common Snowberry
    Strawberries
    Beach Strawberry
    Virginia Strawberry
    Woodland Strawberry
    Smooth Sumac
    Thimbleberry
    Twisted-stalk
    Pacific Yew
    False-wintergreens
    Wolf Willow-Silver Berry
    Two very interesting notations: many plants that appear to be growing wild in this area or anywhere else in North America for that matter and like wise many of the plants claimed to have ancient and traditional  First Nation, North American Indian, or Inuit, peoples usage; either did not exist in North America until quite—in some cases—very- recently; or were used in a  much different manner than is claimed. Several of the introduced berries are indeed deadly.
    Listed below (I have also covered some in other posts) are some edible plants that were introduced (most often unintentionally) from other parts of the world.
    Asparagus
    Beans
    Burdock
    Chickweed
    Corn or Mais
    Curly dock
    Dandelion
    English Plantain
    Evergreen Blackberry
    Green Amaranth
    Himalayan Blackberry
    Lamps quarter, Pigweed, Wild Spinach
    Mint
    Mustard
    Purslane
    Sheep Sorrel
    Shepherds purse
    Thistle

    Watercress

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