Monthly Archives: September 2015

Facebook is a great place to connect with other Alaska berry hunters/foragers. Here are three Alaskan groups with lots of information and members to share knowledge with:

Alaska berry pickers: Alaska Berry Pickers

Alaska edible and medicinal plants: Alaska Edibles and Medicinals

Alaska wildcrafting and foraging: http://Alaska Wildcrafting and Foraging

Enjoy!

Although not strictly a “berry book”, Medicinal Flora of the Alaska Natives by Ann Garibaldi is an excellent resource to learn about traditional uses of local plants. While we all may know of many ways to utilize the fruits themselves, this book gives information about how other parts of the plant are used as well. For example, the Dena’ina people prepared a tea of crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) leaves for stomach ailments, and while we often think of pumpkin berries (Geocaulon lividum) as inedible the leaves have been used by the Dena’ina people as a poultice.

The book is out of print, but is available for free online as a PDF from the Alaska Natural Heritage Program.

Here are a few of my favorite books which include lots of great information on berries in Alaska. Anyone interested in collecting berries in Alaska should add these books to their personal library.

This book identifies most of the edible, non-edible and poisonous plants in Alaska. The big plus with this books are all the recipes provided.

Editors of ALASKA® magazine. 1984. Alaska wild berry guide and cookbook. Alaska Northwest Publishing Company. Alaska.

I’m still reading and exploring this book. Lots of information on medicinal uses and how to harvest and prepare your goodies.

Gray, B. 2011. The boreal herbal. Wild food and Medicine plants of the North. Aroma Borealis Press. Yukon.

This was one of my first Alaskan plant reference books. It was written by one of the pioneers of Alaskan edibles and should be in everyone’s library.

Heller, C.A. 1993. Wild edible and poisonous plants of Alaska. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska.

Verna has explored many areas of Alaska documenting and with her husband, Frank, photographing much of it as well. Her book fits well into a hip pocket and should accompany anyone foraging for Alaskan berries.

Pratt, V.E. 2001/ Alaska’s wild berries and berry-like fruit. Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd, Hong Kong.

This book is a brief compilation of Janice’s larger book and is also a great one to take out while harvesting.

Schofield, J. J. 1999. Alaska’s wild plants. A guide to Alaska’s edible harvest. Alaska Northwest Books. Oregon.

This is a must have book. Janice has thoroughly explored each plant within the book’s covers. She provides great anecdotal information which brings to life each and every plant.

Schofield, J.J. 2014. Discovering wild plants. Alaska, Western Canada, the Northwest. Eaton, New Zealand.

The Alaska Grown Source Book is a place to look for commercial berry growers. It has a produce availability chart that tells you when raspberries and strawberries are available in the state. It also lists all the different farms across Alaska including u-pick locations if there are any in your area. Here is a link from DRN where you go to download the latest guide: Alaska Grown Sourcebook