For a generation, the Basic Illustrated series has been as much a part of the outdoors experience as backpacks and hiking boots. These volumes, information-packed tools for the novice or handy references for the veteran, distill years of knowledge into affordable and portable books. Whether you're planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, Basic Illustrated books tell you what you need to know. Look inside to find: Forage for wild plants and herbs and identify edible berries. Discover traditional treatments for common illnesses, from colds to heart disease, and more. Distinguish between edible and nonedible plants. Improve your diet with nutrient-dense and vitamin-rich wild plants. Make delicious desserts, herbal teas, and other healthy recipes.

Meet Your Local Expert Jim Meuninck is a biologist and counselor who, for more than thirty years, has studied the use of wild plants as food and medicine in North America, Europe, Central America, Japan, and China. He lives on the shores of Eagle Lake, in Edwardsburg, Michigan.