Foraging 101: The universal edibility test

Published

2 years ago

April 3, 2023

admin

As a prepper, it’s important to get your preps ready for different survival scenarios. This means even if you have a bug-out bag, you should take the time to learn how to forage for wild edible plants.

If SHTF and you lose your gear or run out of supplies, knowing how to conduct the universal edibility testcan help you find wild herbs and plants that are safe to eat.(h/t toTruePrepper.com)

The universal edibility test will guide you through a detailed process to determine which plants or plant parts are safe to eat.

While the test may seem tedious, doing each of these steps properly ensures that you can stay safe and avoid poisonous plants while trying new plants.

Through the test, you will gradually expose yourself to the plant in a controlled manner. It will also help you monitor any symptoms that may develop between exposure.

This wilderness survival skill will be useful both in the wild and in your own backyard after dealing with a long-term scenario where your food supply may run out. Choose a plantthat is abundant in the area you are foraging in

If you are planning to do the universal edibility test, focus on a plant that you can harvest a lot of.

The universal edibility test is a thorough and lengthy process, and the last thing you want to do when your supplies are running out is to waste time doing it if you don’t have plenty of the plant you are testing. Separate the plant parts

Start by putting all the plant parts into separate piles for testing: Flowers Buds Leaves Stems Seeds Roots

Make sure you try each part of the plant separately since some components could be toxic while others are edible. One example is rhubarb, where the plant stalks are edible but the leaves are toxic.

You should also check the plant you forage. It must be in good shape, not rotting and doesnt have any insects in this step. (Related: Prepper foraging tips: 6 Wild lettuce lookalikes to avoid.) Start with one part of the plant

Picking a part of the plant that you can harvest a lot will help make sure that the time you spend on the test is worth it. Smell the plant

If the plant you select has an unpleasant odor, do not eat that part of the plant. Strong or acidic smells should be avoided.

Avoid any plant or partthat smells like almonds since that is an indicator of a toxic compound. Touch the plant

Touch a piece of the plant to your wrist for 15 minutes.If you experience itching, burning or numbness, do not eat that plant part.

Wait for eight hours until moving on to the next step to check for the development of rashes or other reactions.Do not eat anything during this step. Touch the plantto your lips

If you want, you can cook the pieces of the plant for this. Prepare it as you would eat other vegetables.

Cooking plants is preferred because some plants are toxic when eaten raw, but not when cooked.

Once the plant part is prepared, touch it gently to your lips to test for any burning, itching or numbness.If you experience any of these side effects in the next three minutes, do not eat that part of the plant. Put the plant on your tongue

Once you confirm that you can safely touch the plant to your skin, try placinga small portion of the plant in your mouth.

Place the plant on your tongue for 15 minutes. Chew the plant

After 15 minutes, chew the plant and then hold it in your mouth for another 15 minutes without swallowing.

If the plant tastes soapy or bitter, spit it out. Do not eat that part of the plant. Swallow the plant

Swallow the plant part. Wait for at least eight hours for any adverse reactions.

If you don’t notice any negative side effects, prepare at least 1/3 cup of that plant part and eat it.

If you have no reaction after waiting another eight hours, then that part of the plant is edible.

Keep in mind that you need to repeat this entire process for all of the parts of the plant. In some cases, the entire plant could be edible, but some plants may have select parts that are edible. More foraging tips for preppers

Here are more tips that can help you forage for wild edibles safely when SHTF:

Do your research

When foraging for plants, make sure you can identify a plant properly before touching or consuming it.

Improve your foraging skills by attending plant walks with an expert, studying basic botany, cross-referencing different illustrated and updated guidebooks, or using educational websites.

Familiarize yourself with the area

Study up on the area you plan to forage. Read up on poisonous or endangered plants that grow there, and find out what edibles are abundant.

Avoid locations near factories, golf courses, roads, or places where the water and soil could be contaminated. Look for off-trail areas away from human activity, which are usually safer.

Harvest responsibly

Check local land management guidelines for any harvesting or foraging limits. Forage only in areas and amounts that are permitted so you don’t get in trouble.

Take only what you need and leave enough for the wildlife and for regrowth. This means taking no more than five percent of one species in a certain area.

Look for edible weeds

When foraging, look forweedy patches where edible species grow in abundance. Look for edible weeds like dandelion and nettle.

Walk lightly

Be mindful of your impact when venturing off the trail while foraging.

Leave no trace and walkon durable surfaces like logs and rocks. Avoid trampling other flora as you explore an area.

Read up on poisonous plants and mushrooms

Once you learn how to recognize edible plants, take the time to also learn how toidentify poisonous plants.

Some poisonous plants can give you a rash, but others could kill you if you consume enough of them.Learn how to recognize the traits of toxic species, especially those that look similar to edible and medicinal plants.

If you want to save time, buy and review an illustrated edible plant guide.

Remember that the universal edibility test does not work for mushrooms or other types of fungus. If you want to forage for mushrooms, get a mushroom guide.

Learning about local plants using a guide may be easier, but knowing how to test a plant’s edibility is a useful skill for any prepper.

VisitGreenLivingNews.comto read more articles about foraging.

Watch the video below to learn how to forage for wild yam.

This video is from theForaging Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories:

5 Medicinal mushrooms you can grow in your home garden or forage in your backyard.

How to start an herbal medicine cabinet.

Prepper recipes: How to make delicious acorn pancakes.

Sources include:

TruePrepper.com

Backpacker.com

Brighteon.com
Submit a correction >>

World

Liverpool football star Diogo Jota killed in car crash

Published

55 mins ago

July 4, 2025

admin

Liverpool football star Diogo Jota killed in car crash

Liverpool star Diogo Jota has died in a car crash.

The 28-year-old Portuguese forward died in the accident in the early hours of Thursday morning near Zamora, in northwestern Spain.

His brother, Andre Silva, was also killed in the crash on the Rias Bajas Highway (A-52) near Palacios de Sanabria, heading towards Benavente.

Follow the latest updates following Diogo Jota’s death

Jota and Silva were driving to Santander to catch a ferry back to England ahead of the start of Liverpool’s pre-season training on Monday, CNN Portugal reports.

The news outlet reports that Jota was advised against flying back to England due to recent surgery.

Police said the accident happened at 12.30am when the Lamborghini the pair were travelling in veered off the road.

“A vehicle left the road and everything indicates a tyre burst while overtaking,” the Guardia Civil in Zamora told Sky Sports News in a statement.

“As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both people were killed. Pending the completion of forensic tests, one of the deceased has been identified as Diogo Jota, a Liverpool FC player, and his brother, Andre Felipe.”

A Spanish government source told the PA news agency that police were investigating the crash as “a possible speeding incident”.

Police added that no other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road, including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle.

It comes just 10 days after the player married his long-term girlfriend, Rute Cardoso.

He had three children.

The footballer, who played as a striker for Liverpool, began his career in his native Portugal and played at Atletico Madrid in Spain before moving to England.

He joined the Merseyside club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020.

Jota played an important role throughout his five years with the Reds, including scoring six times in Liverpool’s recent Premier League-winning season.

He scored a total of 47 times in 123 matches for the club. He also played 49 times for the Portugal national side, scoring 14 times.

Silva, 25, played for Penafiel, a Portuguese second division club.

Teammates and football legends pay tribute

A statement issued by Liverpool FC said the club was “devastated” by their player’s death.

“The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre,” the club said in a statement.

“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

“We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

The Portuguese football federation said it was “utterly devastated by the deaths”.

“Far beyond being an exceptional player, with nearly 50 caps for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference within his own community.

“We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and Andre Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese Football, and we will do everything to honour their legacy daily.”

The Portugal and Spain women’s teams held a minute’s silence for Jota and Silva before their match in the Women’s Euros in Switzerland on Thursday evening.

It came after Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot said in a statement: “What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not.

“All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.

“My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.”

Jota’s former manager at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, offered his thoughts in a post on Instagram.

“This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose, but I can’t see it,” he said.

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father.

“We will miss you so much. All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk posted on Instagram: “What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man.

“You mean so much to all of us and you always will!”

Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota’s captain in the national team, said: “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married.

“To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.

“I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”

Jota’s Liverpool teammates Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai have also paid tribute.

Szoboszlai wrote: “Words cannot describe how heartbroken and devastated we are… Your smile, your love for the game will never be forgotten.

“We will miss you so much, but you will stay with us forever, on and off the pitch.”

Jota’s former teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Thiago Alcantara have also shared messages on social media.

Mane posted a picture of himself and Jota with heartbreak emojis.

It came as Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish wrote on X: “You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.”

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard shared an image of Jota on Instagram and wrote: “Condolences to his family and friends during this incredibly sad time.”

Liverpool owners Billy Hogan, John Henry and Tom Werner, who are part of the Fenway Sports Group, said: “This tragic situation and the reality of it is truly shocking, devastating and has left us numb with grief.”

Football icon Lionel Messi has also paid tribute, sharing an image of Jota on Instagram with the message “QEPD” – short for the Spanish phrase ‘que en paz descanse’, which translates to “may he rest in peace'”.

European football clubs such as Barcelona and AC Milan have also shared messages, along with basketball player LeBron James and tennis icon Rafael Nadal.

Meanwhile Liverpool FC have opened a physical and digital book of condolence for supporters and members of the public to sign.

The physical book is at the club’s stadium, in the Anfield Road Stand reception area until Sunday evening.

An avid video gamer, Jota also owned an eSports team and regularly streamed on Twitch.

UK