Posted by Wendi (Flower Child) on May 2, 2008, 11:00 am, in reply to "Re: A couple of points to mention..."
It is true that there are many things humans can safely eat that animals won't touch. But if there is doubt, don't eat it if they won't eat it.
If you're desperate, and there happen to be pigs around, as a last resort you can look at what they are eating. Pigs have similar biology to humans (IMHO this may be part of why they are considered unclean for food). If the pigs eat it, there is a good chance that it may be safe for human consumption.
Start small, always test small amounts first, even if you *think* you are 100% sure that you have correctly identified the plant. This is especially true of mushrooms, and many edible varieties are native to various areas of the country. However, I would not even suggest attempting to identify them solely from a book.
Cactus is an excellent source of water. But know how to identify them, and what parts are okay to consume or not. Some can make you violently ill, or cause other effects that wouldn't be helpful in a crisis situation 
  |
|
Message Thread:
|
