People often ask me about the inspiration behind our field guides and what sets them apart from a standard wild plant dictionary. To answer these questions, I’d like to share our origin story.

For many years, I worked as an outdoor educator and wilderness survival instructor. A crucial aspect of my course curriculum was teaching students how to identify and use wild plants. However, students would arrive at class with dense, dictionary-like field guides that contained unclear descriptions and low-quality photographs, making learning and teaching challenging.

As a result, I knew there had to be a better way to present this information systematically. I created a three-tiered curriculum focusing on a dozen common wild plants in each course. These plants were chosen for their abundance throughout North America, their ease of identification, and their nutritional value—the curriculum aimed to teach students how to use these plants for food, medicine, and tools.

After completing the three courses, each student had a comprehensive understanding of 36 unique plants. The curriculum structure allowed students to focus on the plants in their immediate surroundings, which helped them develop confidence and a deep relationship with each plant and its uses.

The learning method was the inspiration for our Bushlore Press Pocket Field Guides. We condensed each course's content into a compact set of (20) 3" x 5" cards printed in the USA on nearly indestructible synthetic paper that is waterproof, tearproof, and fire-resistant. The cards are bound together by an accessory wire link, making them easy to attach to pack straps or belts and fit easily into cargo pockets.

Each set features 13 wild edible plants, hi-resolution photos, descriptions, habitat and harvest season, how to preserve and process your harvest, the rules and tools of the modern forager, and tips and tricks on the preparation and use of each plant.

If you're interested in wild plant medicine, we also offer a Wild Medicinal Pocket Field Guide that features 17 trail medicines for outdoor emergencies. The guide provides information on identification, habitat and harvest season, herbal actions, trail remedies, the rules and tools of foraging, and preparation and use.

If you or your friends and family want to become more self-reliant or connect more profoundly with the land this spring, please visit our website at Bushlorepress.com to check out our field guides. - Zak Baker