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Mountain View News Saturday, December 7, 2024


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

[Nyerges is the author of several books including “Self-Sufficient Home” 
and “How to Survive Anywhere.” He also leads wilderness classes every 
weekend. He can be reached at School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Eagle 
Rock, CA 90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

OLLIE & 
ROCKY

Meet Ollie and 
Rocky, ready for 
Santa to bring 
them a home! At 
just 3 months old, 
they are adorable 
siblings. They are 
neutered, vaccinated, and tested negative for 
FELV/FIV, making them healthy and ready to 
find a forever home.

Both boys are very sweet and playful. They will 
make a delightful companion for someone who can provide them with the love and attention she 
deserves.

Having a buddy helps kittens thrive, so if you can adopt them together, or if you already have a 
young feline at home, they would be delighted to join your family.

Have they captured your heart? You may apply to adopt one or both at lifelineforpets.org/mindys-
kittens for a chance to come and meet them. Don’t miss the chance to welcome these little bundles 
of joy into your life! What a great and fun start they would make for the new year!


INCLUDING WILD FOODS IN YOUR DIET: SOME 
CAUTIONARY CONCERNS

From my teens when I was hiking and backpacking, I enjoyed learning 
about wild foods, one by one, and incorporating them into my diet. I do 
recall certain botany teachers who would tell me that “the Indians ate this 
plant,” but the teacher never tried eating the plant themselves. That wasn’t enough for me. I 
wanted to know how the plant tasted, and what it would mean to include it in my diet.

I have never tried to live exclusively from wild plants, except for short periods of time, never 
more than 2 weeks, though I do eat some wild foods nearly every day. For me, I wanted 
to know each wild plant intimately, and let my body get accustomed to it as well. I know 
that some people have a hard time adjusting to new food, such as when they move to a new 
country. 

I have attempted to eat every new wild food that I learned about. Some I continued to eat 
regularly to this day. And some others, well – I could see why even native peoples in the past 
only ate them when no other foods were available.

I have conducted wild food cooking workshops over the years, where the majority of each 
dish was from a wild plant. Such meals would include bread and pancakes from acorns 
and wild buckwheat, omelettes with cactus and wild greens, soup from nettles and mustard 
greens, drinks and deserts from elderberries and wild cherries, and even coffee substitutes 
from such plants as California coffeeberry.

While I have been accused of having an “iron stomach,” such is not the case. I can’t – and 
don’t – just eat “anything.” I have always preferred that my food tastes good, whether it was 
from the wild or not. I prefer a good aroma, and good texture to the foods I eat. I am not 
exactly a cook, but I do like to enjoy my meals.

These days, I advocate that people carefully learn about the nutritious wild foods, and work 
with each new plant, one at a time, until you know you like it, and your body accepts it.

ELDERBERRY

There are cases where you need to be extra cautious. For example, I have long pressed the 
fruits of wild elderberry and drank the juice once chilled. At one of my wild food gatherings, 
I served guests a small glass of the chilled juice. One man liked it so much that he kept 
asking for more, which I gave him. Later I learned he was out in the front yard vomiting. I 
learned that day that, though raw elder juice doesn’t bother me, the fruit should always be 
gently cooked first before serving to a general audience. Raw elder fruits should be dried, or 
lightly simmered, before making into juice, jams, jellies, or other deserts.

On another occasion, one of our students kept nibbling at the raw elderberry fruits we’d collected. 
He ate perhaps two handfuls of the fruit and within an hour, experienced an unpleasant 
case of vomiting and diarrhea at a nearby bathroom. It was not a pleasant experience, he 
told us. Elder is not unique in this way. Many foods can cause vomiting or sickness if not 
prepared properly, or if it is eaten on an empty stomach.

CHICKEN OF THE WOODS MUSHROOM

I am often concerned about enthusiastic foragers serving the chicken of the woods mushroom 
which has only been gently sauteed. Fortunately, I had some very good mycology 
mentors who taught me to always boil the tender pieces of this fungus in at least three changes 
of water to get rid of the acid before moving on to breading the pieces or sauteeing them. 
It’s true that some people can eat this tasty mushroom without the boiling, but I prefer to err 
on the side of caution.

“COFFEE” FROM CALIFORNIA COFFEEBERRY

One of my favorite wild food drinks is made from the roasted seeds from the California 
coffeeberry plant, a native plant unrelated to “real” coffee. I learned decades ago that those 
who enjoyed the flavor of coffee, but not the caffein, enjoyed roasting California coffee berry 
seeds, grinding them, and percolating them into a coffee-like beverage. The beverage smells 
like coffee, though the flavor is slightly distinctive. Nevertheless, I always enjoyed drinking 
it as I would regular coffee. Keep in mind that the bark of this bush has long been used as a 
laxative, so its cathartic effects are well-known, but the beverage from the seed never had this 
effect – on me. After serving this beverage many times to students, I found there was a high 
percentage of vomiting. People don’t 
like to vomit, and so I have stopped 
serving this to anyone.

In spite of these hazards, I’m a big 
fan of encouraging people to expand 
their diets for both nutritional and 
survival benefits. But do it slowly, 
and with caution. 

Listen to your body. Take the time to 
prepare wild foods properly, just like 
you would properly prepare any conventional 
foods.


Pet of the Week

 Sergeant is a 3-year-old grey pit bull with a playful, cuddly 
personality waiting to shine. This sweet boy started out a little shy 
but quickly warmed up with treats, walks, and positive vibes. Once 
he feels safe, Sergeant’s true colors come through—he’s loving, 
affectionate, and always ready for an adventure or a cozy cuddle 
session.

 This handsome lad has been spending time in a foster home. His 
foster family reports that Sergeant is house-trained, enjoys long 
walks, and thrives on structure and patience. While he’s strong and 
energetic, he’s learning leash manners and benefits from a calm, 
reassuring presence when exploring busier areas. He may need a 
little time to get comfortable with new people and surroundings, 
but once he does, he bonds deeply and loves being part of the pack.

 Sergeant is looking for a loving home that can provide him with 
consistent care, gentle introductions, and plenty of affection. If 
you’re ready for a loyal, adventurous companion, Sergeant might 
just be the perfect addition to your family!

 The normal adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and 
age-appropriate vaccines. Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those 
who prefer, adoption appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30 and can be scheduled 
online. View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. 

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls 
or email.


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