Gathering plant materials . . .

As we discuss in the Weeds or Healing Herbs class, it is very important you know how to identify the plants you want to use in your healing salves and on your dinner table. Having a good collection of reference books is essential.

Forager's Harvest: A practical guide to all aspects of edible wild plants: finding and identifying them, their seasons of harvest, and their methods of collection and preparation. Each plant is discussed in great detail and accompanied by excellent color photographs. Includes an index, illustrated glossary, bibliography, and harvest calendar. The perfect guide for all experience levels.

Other references:

• Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
• Healing Wise by Susun Weed
• From Earth to Herbalist: An Earth-Conscious Guide to Medicinal Plants by Gregory Tilford
• Wild Cards: Edible Wild Foods by Linda Runyon
• Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game from LearningHerbs.com
• A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Of Eastern and Central North America
• A Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs
• The Complete Medicinal Herbal: A Practical Guide to the Healing Properties of Herbs, with More Than 250 Remedies for Common Ailments
• Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs with all their Uses as Remedies for Common Ailments
• Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification
• Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs