Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants of Minnesota & Wisconsin

Average customer rating:

This book is phenomenal

Editor, Medical Herbalism journal

The Answer Book

A truly impressive compendium of information

Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants of Minnesota & Wisconsin
Matthew Alfs
Manufacturer: Old Theology Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Herbal Remedies | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Botany | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places

Trees of Wisconsin Field Guide (Our Nature Field Guides)

The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants

SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the Wild, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea

Accessories:

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device

Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 0961296437

Book Description

In this groundbreaking study, 100 different wild plants(including many common weeds)from the Minnesota-Wisconsin area are carefully monographed as to their edibility and/or healing potential. Forty-eight pages of plates containing 171 full-color photos are included to complement the detailed physical descriptions that are provided in the text, often showing the plant in several stages of growth or zooming in on particular features. In addition, several thousand references are made from over 800 bibliographic items (largely consisting of scientific and ethnobotanical studies) in order to buttress the extensive textual information on the edible and medicinal facets of the plants. Rounded out with a glossary, several appendices (including a guide to making herbal extracts at home and a detailed classification of the plants by physiological functions), and a 21-page comprehensive index, this first-of-its-kind study for the upper Midwestern states is sure to become a classic!

Customer Reviews:

This book is phenomenal.......2005-09-12

Concise and interesting. A wonderful link between the anecdotes of folklore and the juggernaut of scientific research. The photos make this book possible possible for use in the field, albeit a bit bulky for travel.

Editor, Medical Herbalism journal.......2003-03-09

Excellent, not limited to Minn and Wis. An excellent overview of 100 plants from the Prairies and forests of the upper midwest. In-depth review of historical uses balanced with the author's own clinical experience and practical how-to informaiton. Good safety data and recommendations. Most of these plants grow around me in Colorado, and everywhere in the 1500 miles to the authors home, so the book's title is too limited.

The Answer Book.......2002-07-19

I wouldn't say this is the one and only book you'll ever need. But it certainly is a GREAT addition to anyone's herbal library. It's relatively easy to use, because the plants are listed in alphabetical order by their common names. The food qualities and health benefits of the plants are thorough and informative, as well as their habitat and visual description. Points of interest are easy to find and there is a listing of plants that are good for certain illnesses. Plus short descriptions of how to use and prepare them.

This book is very scientific and seems to cover it all in an up-to-date fashion. But if you're not familiar with terms in botany and biology you'll find this book a little difficult to understand. It has a good glossary but a dictionary is still handy at times.
None the less the book has true to life color photos, which are the best I've seen for wild plant identification. Considerably this just may be the answer book for this topic. It's defiantly worth the price, if you desire to take wild herb collecting seriously.

A truly impressive compendium of information.......2001-12-13

A disclaimer at the beginning of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Of Minnesota & Wisconsin warns that some wild plants are toxic or even deadly; though the author Matthew Alfs has made every effort to completely describe safe ways to recognize, harvest, and prepare edible wild plants, they cannot be held liable for any adverse effects. With that sober caution in mind, Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants Of Minnesota & Wisconsin is a truly impressive compendium of information and lore about the art of foraging. A beautiful section of color photographs aptly illustrates the many species of edible plants discussed and described herein. User-friendly introductions to using wild plants for food and health benefits are written in clear, concise text easily accessible to the lay reader. A glossary, exhaustive list of references and comprehensive index round out this superbly presented and very highly recommended guide.

Amazon.com

It is the age of specialization, which is a good thing if you're traveling to Pacific Mexico. Let's say you're heading off to Mazatlán or Guadalajara, Oaxaca or Acapulco, you no longer need to lug along every detail on every town, city, and hotel in Mexico. Just the pertinent particulars will do, and that's what Bruce Whipperman delivers in his Lowell Thomas Award-winning Pacific Mexico Handbook.

Stretching over 1,000 miles along the Pacific coast from Mazatlán in Sinaloa down to Bahias de Huatulco in Oaxaca, the choices of tropical, palm-lined lagoons and soft sandy beaches seem without end yet easily accessible, thanks to Mexico's Highway 200 on the Pacific coast and a plethora of airplane access. Yet not each beach resort town is the same in character and opportunities. One of the great services rendered by Whipperman's handbook, before you ever set foot on Mexican soil, is the concise yet evocative description of the distinguishing personalities of the many towns and cities along the water. Especially useful if you're venturing south for the first time, Whipperman's introductions help you plan your itinerary to suit your mood and style. Of course he backs his narrative up with all the facts one might need, the hotels and restaurants, means of transportation and nightlife, shopping, sports, sights, and beaches. But he fleshes these guidebook details out with his sensitive and scholarly attention to the people, history and culture, the land and sea, the vegetation and the animals to be seen and experienced. All the options are spelled out, from the hedonistic immersion in resort relaxation to a glossary of helpful Spanish if you choose to explore further afield. --Stephanie Gold

Book Description

From the Tropic of Cancer all the way to Oaxaca's palmy southern shore, the Pacific coast of Mexico offers numerous opportunities for adventure and discovery. The sixth edition of Moon Handbooks Pacific Mexico, by acclaimed Mexican travel specialist Bruce Whipperman, provides all the essentials for discovering this dynamic region. Looking for more than the standard itinerary? Take a jungle river trip to Tovara Spring in San Blas; go for a swim in a crystal spring-fed pool in Agua Fria; or enjoy the Guelaguetza folk dance festival in Oaxaca. Completely updated and revised, Moon Handbooks Pacific Mexico covers not only Acalpulco, Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, and Mazatlan but also interesting, out-of-the way destinations, such as the Nayarit coastal towns of Bucerias, Punta Mita and Sayulita. Packed with the most current information on sights, recreational activities, accommodations, and regional cuisine, as well as custom maps, color photographs, fascinating sidebars, and a complete coverage of the region's political and cultural history, Moon Handbooks Pacific Mexico is an essential guide for the traveler's next trip to Mexico.

Customer Reviews:

No more Moon for me.......2003-01-03

I just returned (Dec 2002) from a trip to Mexico using this publication. This was my third trip with a Moon Handbook. I was not to happy with the one to Baja, I found the one for Costa Rica filled with inaccurate information but this one was the worst.

I found the maps to be mostly useless, directions to places not very helpful, several recommendations absolutely pointless. Even though this book was published OCT 2001, MANY times I was left with the impression that the author NEVER was on-site or has not revisited since the first edition. This guidebook seemed unfocused, information arranged not practical, and descriptions are exaggerated and/or misleading. Case in point - the town of Playa Azul. The town is given almost 4 pages and a rather poetic description is used to make it sound like a pretty cool place. As it turns out the town itself is very run down, many houses are bad repair, most hotels are dirty hole-in-the-walls and the seafood palapa restaurants are in a shape that most travelers that are just a little worried about cleanliness s/would not eat there. Playa Azul is for Mexican budget travelers and offers nothing that could not be had any other place around there.
Barra Vieja would be another example of where the book is off the mark. After reading Mr. Whipperman's description, I was not prepared to drive along a 4 line highway most of the way, past a very nice golf facility and all the construction that was going on there.
.... and this are just two of my grippes about this book.

Despite the book, I had a great time. I saw a very beautiful side of Mexico. I would recommend a trip to Pacific Mexico to anyone. I am going back there in March. I will look for a travel guide I feel more aligned with and whose recommendation I can trust.

Essential for a Mexican road trip.......2002-09-13

I used this book extensively this past summer for an epic driving trip into Mexico that took me almost to Manzanillo. I found the book extremely useful for discovering those off the beaten path sidetrips. I also used Fodor's but found this book a notch above in terms of helpful recomendations.Since the bulk of the 3+ weeks was spent in Puerto Vallarta(actually Mismaloya) the book proved to be a good guide for excursions into the surrounding states of Nayarit and Colima. For the most part the details given were accurate but with any travel book there are problems with current information as things are usually in flux in the tourist trade. I suppose that is why they can come out with new editions every year. Some of the information when missing can be a letdown, for example one day we went out for an adventure in the hopes of seeing the turtle rescue attempts in a not so nearby bay only to find out it was not exactly natures right time. There were other let downs such as the time we wet out to Mexicalitlan ," House of the Mexicans", where the ancient Aztecs/Mexica supposedly set out from Aztlan to establish Tenochitlan where the eagle would be found on top of a nopal devouring a snake. The description calls it a "scenic little island town." If you consider peering into the open doors of the living rooms of the locals I guess it was scenic! For my part I found it to be a waste of a drive. The museum was closed also which brings to a point one should consider whenever driving to a destination in Mexico. Do not arrive during the tradional siesta time or one will have to wait until 4 or 5 in the afternoon to enjoy the local musem etc! By contrast unexpected pleasant surprises can result by the books ommision of information as in the opportunity to see the hatching of baby crocodiles at the end of the jungle cruise on La Tovara near San Blas. All in all the guide is very, very useful to plan out a trip and see things and experience different parts of Mexican culture. The short histories, hotel recomendations, restaurant guides etc are pretty accurate and invaluable in planning a trip within a trip. There is diversity in recomendations for the earthy camper or the posh five star luxury hotel traveler. I would recommend this book for any traveler along the lovely Pacific Mexican trail.

Useless!.......2002-08-08

Want my book? It is useless. This book is full of information, none of it practical. You can't find ANYTHING you are looking for in it. NO hostels are listed. They don't even highlight any of the amazing festivals that are held here in Mexico. Believe me, I am living here in Mexcio, and I am going to go buy the Lonely Planet. I wanted something more specific to my region, but this is NOT it. This book is written like the author took one pathway through the region, and wrote along the way. So unless you are following the exact same route, the information is SO useless.

Fantastic for the Independent Traveller.......2001-01-23

My friend and I used this book, and a wrinkled photocopy of a map, as our only guides on a bicycle trip from Mazatlan to Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. This is the rare travel book with an authorial voice that enhances the information rather than distracts. Mr. Whipperman obviously has a deep love of the region (especially Oaxaca and Indigenous regions of Guerrero)and a love for the kind of travelling that makes travel worthwhile. Laudable detail on the places you end up, rather than seek out, and the tasty bits of history he includes make you glad you did.

As complete as there is!.......2000-02-18

We've been going to PV and points south for years. I've been amused looking in Mexico tourist guides for their laughable coverage (if there is any) of Playa Careyes, Tomatlan, El Tuito. Usually, there's nothing. This book covers it all! Granted, there are many restaurants and shops in PV that aren't included, but PV is easy to figure out. It's once you get on the highway that you need the book.

Enjoy.

Book Description

Every summer, the swallows leave San Juan Capistrano and fly far away, to a peaceful green island -- but they always come back in the spring, on St. Joseph's Day. Juan loves las golondrinas, and so does his friend, Julian, the gardener at the mission.

This year, Juan plants a garden in his own yard. There's nothing he wants more than for the swallows to nest there. And on St. Joseph's Day, his dream comes true.

Leo Politi is the beloved author and illustrator of Pedro, The Angel of Olvera Street, among many other books for children. Song of the Swallows won the Caldecott Medal in 1950.

Customer Reviews:

"When the swallows come back to Capistrano...".......2007-03-20

The Song of the Swallows commemorates Saint Joseph's Day, which is the day when the swallows, or las golondrinas, return to their sanctuary at the Mission of San Juan Capistrano. This particular story bears significance to me because I can remember constructing a cardboard replica of the Mission as a school project; it was one of the first important assignments, second came a plaster model of the state of California, I had ever done. And there is no doubt that this was definitely a creative way to learn about history.

The story is about a young boy, Juan, who meets a gardener and bell-ringer at the Mission, Julian, and asks questions about Capistrano. He tells Juan the story of the swallows and how they always come to Capistrano during the warm spring and summer months, and how the Mission is a significant part of California and Native American history. Most importantly, the story emphasizes the kindness to nature and animals.

Leo Politi wrote and illustrated the book. And the unique aspect of his narrative is how he tells the story in English, but there is also a little bit of Spanish. The story is further enriched when Politi complements the book with a colorful array of drawings and the words to two of the songs about the swallows.

Overall, The Song of the Swallows reveals that a part of history does indeed exist in the stories that are told. And for Juan, he happened to find it just down the road from where he lived. Cleverly, Politi may have been suggesting that in any city or town, the history of the past is closer than you think.

An Important Story in California History.......2006-11-26

The first time I ever heard of Leo Politi, it was not in reference to the author, but instead to the school that was named after him. Then one day, I was walking through a Los Angeles Unified School District office, when a painting from another Politi book stopped me dead in my tracks. I couldn't explain it, but it was the most simple and yet whimsical thing I had ever seen. The painting was of Moy Moy, the title character in a book about Chinese New Year in Los Angeles's China Town.

Politi loved Los Angeles, and it makes no difference that picture books this old definitely feature a style of writing that would be frowned upon today, Politi's stories come from the heart. Song of the Swallows, to me, is an important story, because though one reviewer referred to its minor detours into political incorrectness, I feel that those were the true feelings of that time, and it is important for children to understand that people's attitudes change over time.

I believe that Politi's Song of the Swallows is one of the most compelling reads for fourth grade students who must learn about the mission system, as it is told from the eyes of a child. It was awarded a Caldecott Medal in 1950, and it is clear to me why it is still in print in paperback form today. It captures a brilliant little piece of California history. For those that sing or play the piano, there is even a song about "Las Golondrinas" to learn.

After reading this book, children are begging to go to the Mission San Juan Capistrano on that special day to see if the swallows really come. If you ever happen to visit on any given March 19th, you will see that they really do.

A Gentle Gem.......2006-04-07

This gentle story is illustrated by the author, the inimitable Leo Polit, with deceptively simple yet masterful paintings. Politi's kind and wise vision of the world is a gift that our children need now more than ever. It is a shame that so many of his books, which should be classics, are out of print. His depictions of children, their families, the animals and all the gifts of the earth are uplifting and magical.

Beautiful pictures.......2005-12-07

Song of the Swallows is the story of a young boy named Juan and his elderly friend Julian. Both characters love to walk around the old Spanish Mission church were the swallows come to nest every spring. Juan loves to watch the birds raise their young and teach them to fly. One day the swallows leave to take their annual flight south, but as always they will return on Saint Joseph's Day. Juan is downhearted that his small friends have left but decides that he will make a garden in front of his house. Maybe the some of the swallows will want to next there next spring. The following months are lonely but Juan remains hopeful and finally the swallows return to the Mission...and two come to nest in Juan's little garden.
The pictures in Song of the Swallows are simple and childlike. The simplicity of the drawings only adds to the beauty of the story. Since the story centers on a young boy, the pictures portray a dreamlike quality that give the readers a feeling of looking back on a childhood memory. The soft colors that the author uses give the story a timeless quality.

Sing sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong.......2004-03-08

Sweet as honey on the vine. I may be completely wrong in saying this, but I do believe this is the first Caldecott Award winning book to incorporate both English and Spanish phrases in its text. Taking a sweet story and extending it into a tale of patience and perseverance, author Leo Politi wrote a wonderful intergenerational tale.

The story follows Juan, a young boy living in the California town of Capistrano, and Julian, an elderly man who works at the nearby mission. Juan and Julian get along peachy keen. In a "Secret Garden" like turn of events, Juan notices the sparrows in the garden. Julian teaches the boy their ways and how they leave every fall, only to return on Saint Joseph's Day. How do the birds know to come back that day? Says Julian, "That I do not know". Juan watches with sadness as the birds leave exactly as Julian said they would, but prepares a small garden at his own house in the hopes of attracting a sparrow family of his own. When, on a late Saint Joseph's Day, the birds do come back, Juan is delighted to find two of them perched in front of his home as happy as can be.

My initial glance at this book was one of disappointment. At first I found the pictures toneless and flat. On a second look, however, I realized how nicely they compliment the story. Sometimes the illustrations are painted in mild greys and pinks around the borders of the pages. Other times, they are grand colorful two-page spreads displaying everything from a bird's eye view of Juan running into the Mission's enormous gardens to an aerial shot of the countryside as the sparrows wind their way south for the winter. The illustrations of the sparrows themselves are especially nice. It is clear that Politi took care to render them realistically and with affection. I was especially taken with the shots of the two sleeping sparrows cuddled close to one another under a mild pink moon.

Most picture books of this age retain something mildly offensive about them. It's not their fault, necessarily. They just convey messages we deem irresponsible today. In this case, the book is mostly politically incorrect-free. A single exception could be Julian's loving description of the missionaries of California. According to him they used, "to take care of sick Indians" as well as bringing them "many of the things they needed in their daily life". Frankly, I think the Indians were doing just fine without the supposedly nice missionaries, but this is Julian's story. I'm sure he believes what he is saying, and I'm quite certain that author Politi does as well. This section is brief, and has little to do with the rest of the book. If you find yourself overwhelmingly offended by it, it's the easiest thing in the world to simply skip these pages when reading to the tiny tots.

Customer Reviews:

The Missions: California Heritage.......2001-03-21

Excellent resource geared for a childs level of reading and research. We have several of these books (as I believe it is a series with all of the missions) and they are written in depth, but perfect for our children.

this book was published in 1988, not 1911........1999-02-24

this is a wonderful book for 4th graders who are working on their Mission report. Thanks.

Mission San Juan Capistrano: A Place of Peace

Average customer rating:

Get to KNOW Mission San Juan

Mission San Juan Capistrano: A Place of Peace
Kathleen Walker
Manufacturer: Arizona Highways Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Tourist Destinations & Museums | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1893860655

Book Description

This book is the story of California's Mission San Juan Capistrano, the people who built it, the people served by it, and the tens of thousands of people who visit it each year.

Author Kathleen Walker and photographer Marc Muench celebrate the soul of this mission and relate in words and pictures the mission's place in history, art, and architecture. The missions of the Southwest all showcase their own sense of spirit and place and time. In MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO you'll find stories and myths from history, alongside observations of people at work in the mission today.

Customer Reviews:

Get to KNOW Mission San Juan.......2002-08-15

This book gives you a present day, and historical look at the Mission. It captures so much of the spirit. It is beautifully photographed, each picture being a treasure in itself. It is wonderfully illustrated - the artist certainly understands the Mission, and it is so well written. The author paints a picture of the old and new in an amazing way. The whole book is a work of art in itself.

Book Description

Between the years of 1680 and 1793, thirty-six missions were founded in Texas. Five of these were built along the San Antonio River, Yanaguana. Alaong with the presidio, the missions were designed to serve as temporary outposts for "Christianizing" the Indian and making him a Spanish citizen.

Average customer rating:

California Missions: A Pictorial Tour

Manufacturer: Scenic Art
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000FXUZ2K

Product Description

Pictures & text about 21 Catholic missions & order of founding between 1769 & 1823 in California when Spanish King Carlos III authorized development to discourage Russian influence that never really materialized (Friendly Russians at Fort Ross helped with founding of last small mission at Sonoma by providing useful articles.).

Archaeological investigation of the San Juan dam, 41 BX 266, Bexar County, Texas (Archaeological survey report)

Average customer rating:

Archaeological investigation of the San Juan dam, 41 BX 266, Bexar County, Texas (Archaeological survey report)
David B Hafernik
Manufacturer: Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas at San Antonio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Capistrano nights;: Tales of a California mission town,

Average customer rating:

Capistrano nights;: Tales of a California mission town,
Charles Francis Saunders
Manufacturer: R.M. McBride & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00085IROS

Average customer rating:

The Capistrano story: Selected writings
B Smith
Manufacturer: A to Z Printing Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007FY8RY

Chinigchinich: A revised and annotated version of Alfred Robinson's translation of Father GeroÌÂnimo Boscana's historical account of the belief, usages, ... Tribe (Classics in California Anthropology)

Average customer rating:

Chinigchinich: A revised and annotated version of Alfred Robinson's translation of Father GeroÌÂnimo Boscana's historical account of the belief, usages, ... Tribe (Classics in California Anthropology)
GeroÌÂnimo Boscana
Manufacturer: Malki Museum Press, Morongo Indian Reservation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006X1MFS

Book Description

Yates's depictions, characterized by his juxtaposition of archetypal images with subversive political slogans, have made their way into Newsweek, CNN and the New York Times, appearing on the shirts of protestors the world over. In this collection of recent work, Yates perfects semiotic capitulation.

"John could make millions designing commercial magazine ads but instead aims his skills at unmasking and destroying those very mechanisms used to keep society obedient and asleep."-Jello Biafra

John Yates has designed cover art for artists ranging from Green Day to The Dead Kennedys to Mumia Abu--Jamal. His work has appeared in the socio-political graphics magazine Punchline, and has exhibited globally. This is his third collection published by AK Press. He lives in the Bay Area.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books