[MaineWilderness09]

I have been looking for information about useful plants in Maine and can't really find any in books or online. The ones I have found are Orache (Atriplex Patula) , Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium Album) and St. Johns Wart. If anyone has information about these I could use it as well. Thanks

[snowshoe67]

Hey Mainewilderness09! Hello Check Out "Edible Wild Plants" By Thomas S. Elisa& Peter
A. Dykeman A great Book! I got alot of Info. from U. of Maine. I Also Plan a Few Clases this spring At The Maine Primitive Skills School in Augusta,Maine

[NorthWet]

When I arrive in a new area, the fastest route I've found to learning the local foragables is to locate the noxious weeds list for the area. Googling each of the plants listed combined with 'edible' and, later, 'herb' reveals all sorts of useful goodies.

For instance, you could check out this page as a playing starting point.
Eastern Forest Threat Center - Browse Threats

I also spotted a decent list of aquatic invasive species for your state, many of which will likely be edible too.

Granted, not every invasive species is edible, or useful (e.g. scotchbroom) but many are wonderful (e.g. lamb's quarter, cattail, milkweed etc) This method won't teach you all of the local edibles, but it will get you up and running for those you are most likely to encounter, as well as offering those you have no need to worry about over-foraging. More than once I've offered to weed a garden and brought home the weeds for dinner.

I haven't had a chance to try it but ... the oft cursed kudzu is quite edible. Appalachia--Science in the Public Interest (scroll towards the bottom for uses - inc. a unique thickening agent - an alkaline version of cornstarch etc.)

For each useful plant I find, I also do a search for poisonous look-alikes. You won't find them often, but they are out there and knowing how to distinguish them is imperative.

Takes a bit of time but is always well worth it!

I also have several edible books but have found it faster to ID a plant in front of me, then determine its' usefulness than it is to wander hoping to find the plants listed in a book. It just never worked out well for me [shrug] The books are still invaluable but I use them more for recipes n such than plant IDing. Though I thought this book looked interesting (but I haven't seen it in person) Amazon.com: Foraging New England: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods and Medicinal Plants from Maine to Connecticut (9780762709540): Tom Seymour: Books

Just be forewarned, you are starting on the path of an addiction. Can't count how many times I've been caught IDing plants I see in the background of a movie instead of paying attention to action scene.

[Omegaman]

Foraging New England is a great book because unlike other foraging books this one is about the plants in our region and the author is from maine.

[cowgirlup]

Originally Posted by Omegaman

Foraging New England is a great book because unlike other foraging books this one is about the plants in our region and the author is from maine.

Thanks!! I will have to check that out!!!

[snowshoe67]

Originally Posted by Omegaman

Foraging New England is a great book because unlike other foraging books this one is about the plants in our region and the author is from maine.

The author is "Tom Seymour " Omegamanyes you are so right I Also have that book because I Live in Maine! Thanks for bring that up!

[NightShade]

There are many useful plants in maine....
Just a few that pop into mind off the top of my head....

Common barberry
Staghorn sumac
Blueberry
Common plantain
Clover
Dandelion
Yellow pond lilly
Katniss
White pine
Juniper
Wintergreen
Oak

And so so many more!.. I have literally a small library on the subject of new england edibles and medicinals!.. There are many good books on the subject.. I found that cross referencing different books was a great way to learn as much as possible on a given plant as different books sometimes will give more or less information on any given plant!

[crazydave]

somewhere I posted a guide site which covered the eastern seabord as a lot of the plants are native to western europe. I cant remember if I did it here or elsewhere. I'll have a look

I do have a pack of cards from the speedhook folks which covers a lot as they do an east and west set.

[crazydave]

have a look on here, it covers by state apparently

Wildcrafting.net: Foraging Database, Edible & Medicinal Plants

[cowgirlup]

Looks like a great site! Thanks!