Customer Reviews

The Flavors of Home: A Guide to Wild Edible Plants of the San Francisco Bay Area

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"The Flavors of Home" is a highly readable and well-illustrated account of the variety and richness of edible plants in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before reading it, I could never have imagined that an urban realm of some 6 million people would house such a rich supply of edibles (and a surprising abundance in our own backyards!)

Ms. Roos-Collins thoughtfully informs you of the types and usages of local plantlife, provides recipes, and warns you where danger lurks. The hand-drawn illustrations by Rose Craig are excellent.

I highly recommend this wonderful resource to anyone wanting to know more about the variety and seasonal availability of edible foliage in the Bay Area.

Clearly written & makes plants easy to identify. This reference makes hiking in the area a joyous experience

This book is everything I had hoped for and more. I've been obsessed with foraging since I was a little kid, walking home from school sucking on sour grass or playing on the farm where my dad worked, pretending I was a survivalist. This book is especially amazing because I live in the S.F. Bay Area and it specifically illustrates the plants in my area.

I've learned so much from this book so far. Margit provides fantastic recipes, instructions and details on failed or successful experiments. In the spirit of "treading lightly" she never gives away the secret locations of certain rare plants (but hinting at their whereabouts) and always advises us to "take only what you need." I love her spirit, from the magical way she describes oak trees, to her respect and ethical principles. Her voice is honest and direct with a splash of humor here and there.

This book is a delightful treat for anyone who is interested in botany, the study of native plants, survivalist skills, native american lore and experimental cooking. Who would have thought that there was such an abundance of wild food in such an urban area? Thank you Margit for preserving and documenting such precious information. I plan on passing this knowledge down to my children and future generations.

This book is enjoyable for the quality of the writing as well as for the interesting plant lore. It is graceful, intelligent, and clear. Ms. Roos-Collins is an author you'll love spending time with.