Wild edibles exist almost everywhere and are in abundance if you forage for them. Edible wild food has naturally grown in almost every corner of our planet for tens of thousands of years. Edible weeds, flowers and wild herbs were foraged and used as food (as well as medications); and they provided all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients required for the human body to maintain good health. Foraging for food used to be the way to survive.

A great way to learn about your local natural environment and have fun getting out into the fresh air, and learn a bit what it was like to live like your ancestors, is to learn to forage for edible plants.

Wild edible plants and herbs grow extensively in all Lebanese territories from mountains to valleys. And Lebanese cuisine is famous for its vegetarian dishes that our ancestors used to eat during harsh time of history and for religious traditions.

There are numerous benefits to eating wild edibles such as:

• They are free.
• They are genetically stronger than other food.
• Longer root systems make most weeds drought-resistant.
• Most edible plants and weeds are more nutritious than hybridized store produce.
• Eating local wild plants means that the plant fights off the same organisms as your body therefore making them highly beneficial for the immune system.
• Wildcrafting (picking your own) edibles means you get exercise, vitamin D (sunshine) and get to be in a natural, relaxing setting.