Wild Tater

The occasional 4-leaf clover isn’t the part of this foundational food-forest gift that will bring you the greatest luck. Not only can this thing feed you, but it will feed your other plants, as well.

AKA juneberry, AKA shadbush, AKA saskatoon, AKA Snowy Mespilus, AKA apple serviceberry, AKA quite-possibly-the-best-little-berry-you’ll-ever-find-growing-on-a-tree.

The sugar maple of the rockies! Half the size, half the syrup, but much less than half the maintenance. And here’s two ways to tap them, too.

Also known as the silver buffalo berry, which, while it may make it sound like something for a boy scout, can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Step aside, asparagus! Hostas have come to town! Or better yet, come alongside. There’s room for us all!

Get it started, and it will do the rest. A perfect candidate for food forest veggies.

No, it’s not really a corndog sticking out of the water, but it’s probably even more edible and nutritious. Cattail is a fabulous wild edible worth adding to the wettest part of your food forest.

Ah, nuts! These things are great if you can beat the deer to them.

Pucker up! The aronia chokeberry is tastier than it sounds!

Imagine a blueberry rolled to the shape of an elongated egg, but that tastes like a kiwi, and LOVES cold climates. Did I mention one mature bush can produce several pounds of fruit every year? Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.