Food for Free: 50th Anniversary Edition

Written by Richard Mabey

Narrated by Chris Courtney

This fully updated special edition of the classic complete guide to the edible species that grow around us includes a new foreword from the author and a plate section with identification guides for all major species.

Originally published in 1972, Richard Mabey’s classic foraging guide has never been out of print since. Food for Free is a complete guide to help you safely identify edible species that grow around us, together with detailed field identification notes and recipes.

In this stunning 50th anniversary edition, Richard Mabey’s updated text is accompanied by a wealth of practical information on identifying, collecting, cooking and preparing, as well as history and folklore. Informative illustrations of key species by expert botanical artists are included in a colour plate section. Beautifully written and produced in a new, readable format, Food for Free will inspire us to be more self-sufficient and make use of the natural resources around us to enhance our lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Sep 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9780008543129

Richard Mabey

Richard Mabey is widely hailed as Britain's fore-most nature writer. He is the author of the groundbreaking book on foraging in the countryside Food for Free and the editor of The Oxford Book of Nature Writing. He has narrated and produced popular BBC television and radio series, and has written for the Guardian, Granta, and other publications. He lives in Norfolk, England.

Reviews for Food for Free

[asnackate · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very interesting book, including recipes and ideas for how to use natural ingredients gathered from woods, fields and seashore. I've tested out the nettle soup, and it was delicious! However the sections on identifying plants are not very detailed, and the introduction recommends the use of a separate guide to identification. The book would also be improved by cross-referencing the list at the front, stating what foods are available in which month, with the entries on the relevant plants.