The Weed Forager's Handbook

A Guide to Edible and Medicinal Weeds in Australia

Second Edition By: Adam Grubb, Annie Raser-Rowland

A practical and eye-opening field guide to the most common and useful edible weeds in Australia.

An astonishing number of the plants we call 'weeds' are either edible or medicinal, and have deep and sometimes bizarre connections to human history. But how do you distinguish a tasty sandwich-filler from its dangerous look-alike? Which weeds are among the most nutritious vegetables ever tested? And how do you cook with delicious nettles without fear of being stung? + Full description

Discover the answers to these questions and more in The Weed Forager’s Handbook, a field guide to the most common and useful edible weeds in Australia. This second edition includes additional weed profiles (22 in total plus 14 short profiles), updated research, extra facts and new photos.

Step into the world of our least-admired botanical companions, peel back the layers of prejudice and forever change where you go looking for lunch!

"In other words, if you eat, then this book is an essential companion."
– from the Foreword by Costa Georgiadis

"For the gardener tired of joyless weeding, Adam and Annie open our eyes to the fact that the problem can indeed be the solution."
– David Holmgren, co-originator of the permaculture concept

- Short description

Details

Paperback | October 2025 | $ 29.99
ISBN: 9781486320165 | 192 pages | 175 x 130 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour photographs, Illustrations

Features

Details the edibility and medicinal notes of 22 weeds, plus another 14 short weed profiles.
Features remarkable tales from history and folklore, as well as delicious and easy recipes.
Includes full-colour photos and botanical illustrations.
Practical field guide format.

Foreword
Preface to the second edition
About the authors
Acknowledgements

1. Introduction: On the appreciation of weeds
2. Our top edible weeds
3. Other weeds of note
4. Weedy recipes
5. Weeds in the garden

Further resources
Index

Authors

Adam Grubb designs and builds landscapes with his business Very Edible Gardens. He can often be spotted foraging through the parks and creek lines of Melbourne, sometimes with classes of people around him.

Annie Raser-Rowland is a horticulturalist and general natural-world enthusiast. She currently gardens, forages and stalks the landscapes of Fremantle, Western Australia.