In a world where vegetables and fruits are found in a supermarket, it is almost unheard of to think about the greens one can find in their own backyard. Apples, oranges, bananas, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and any other vegetable or fruit that comes to mind are found in the produce aisle of a retail store. But what can be found in the wild? What can the seemingly desolate, unfriendly, and dead-looking desert of Arizona offer a hungry critter or even a hungry human being? Surprisingly, the menu isn’t blank or even boring. With the right know-how, campers or hikers can be fed by the very nature they are surrounded by.
Although many plants that render edible parts are protected and shouldn’t be picked or harvested from the wild, if you happen to have one of these plants in your yard, you won’t be breaking any laws. Also, this information can be valuable if you ever find yourself in a survival situation. The following is a quick run-through of the most common plants that I’ve seen in the desert and their specific edible parts. Make sure you look them all up before you go out and make sure you can identify the plants before you go pick something up and take a bite. Too much research and preparation is always better than too little.
