Local Foraging in La Jolla and Pacific Beach
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis)
Origin: Amazon
strained juiced makes really
good jelly with sugar and pectin.
Pommegranate (Punica granatum) Origin: Middle East
Rose hips (Rosa canina)
Origin: Eurasia
Strawberry guava
(Psidium cattleyanum)
Origin:South America
Elder berries
(Sambucus caerulea)
Origin:Mexico
Yucca blossoms
(Yucca spec.)
Origin: American Southwest
Natal plums or Noemnoem
(Carissa macrocarpa)
Origin:South Africa
Dragon tree fruit
(Dracaena draco)
Origin: Canary Islands
Olives (need to be brined)
(Elea europea)
Origin: Mediterranean
Yellow figs
(Ficus carica)
origin: Eurasia
Purple figs
(Ficus carica)
Origin: Eurasia
Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) Origin: Mediterranean
Nochtli, prickly pear fig,
Tuna
(Opuntia ficus indica) Origin: Central America
young leaves also edible as nopales.
Rosemary
(Salvia rosmarinus)
Origin: Mediterrean
very good in bread, stews etc.
Strawberry
(Fragaria spec.)
Origin: America Eurasia
Queen palm
(Syagrus spec.)
Origin: South America
Mexican apple, Sleep Sapote, Cochitzapotl (Casimiroa edulis) origin: mexico)
Macademia nuts (Macdemia spec.) Origin: Australia
Banana
(Musa spec)
burro and manzanita varieties Origin: Papua New Guinea
Flowers are edible cooked or
fried.
Apple
(Malus domestica) Origin: Eurasia
Papaya
(Carica papaya) Origin: Central America
Avocado
(Persea americana) Origin: Central America
Kumquat
(Citrus japonica) origin: China
Sugar cane
(Saccharum opfficinarum) Origin: Papua New Gunea
Torrey pine nuts
(Pinus torreyana)
all over campus (local, endemic)
Yellow Guava (Psidium guayava) Origin: South America
Mango
(Mangiferra indica) small but sweet, they are right at the edge of their range in San Diego Origin: India
African fern tree (Podocarpus grecilor) do not eat too many, better cooked, Origin: Aethiopia
Bottle brush tree nectar (Calistemmon spec.)
you can harvest the copious nectar by simply slapping the flowers again the pal of your hand and licking your hand.
Origin: Australia
Mulberry
(Morus spec.)
silk worm larvae are also edible
Origin: East Asia
Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis)
Origin: Mediterranean
Firethorn
(Pyracanthus spec.)
Origin: Mediterranean
Indian Hawhtorn
(Raphiolepsis indica)
Origin: India
Loquoat
(Eriobotrya japonica)
Origin: China
Hottentot fig (ice plants fruit)
(Carpobrotus edulis)
Origin: South Africa
Carob
(Ceratonia siliqua)
Origin: Mediterrean
pods can be dried and ground into powder
can be used to substitute
cocoa powder.
Nasturtium
(Tropaeolum majus)
Origin: Centr & South America
flowers are nice and spicy
tasty in salads
Kaffir lime leaves
(Citrus hysteria)
Origin: South East Asia
leaves are excellent in Thai
curries and other dishes,
rind of limes used in curries
California coffee berry
California Buckthorn
(Frangula californica)
Origin: West Coast USA
rather bitter berries, seeds can be roasted for coffee substitute.
Mexican bread fruit
Phylodendron
Fruit salad fruit
(Monstera deliciosa)
Origin: Central America
Pomelo
(Citrus maxima)
Origin: East Asia
Grapefruit
(Citrus X paradisi)
Origin: Carribean
Natural hybrid between
Pomelo and sweet orange
Valencia Orange
(Citrus X sinensis)
Origin: North America
Natural hybrid between
Pomelo and mandarin
Sweet Lime
(Citrus limetta)
Origin: East Asia
Mandarins
(Citrus reticulata)
Origin: East Asia
Sweet Fennel, wild anise
(Foeniculum vulgare)
Origin: Middle East
Invasive, escaped cultivation.
Calendula, pot marigold
(Calendula officials)
Origin: Mediterranean
Petals are tasty. and pretty in salads or soups
Sun flower
(Helianthus spec.)
Origin: North America
Stinging Nettle
(Urtica dioica)
Origin: North America
Sedge
(Cyperus)
Origin: North Africa
Cross berry
(Grewia occidentalis)
Origin: South Eastern Africa
Lambsquarter
(Chenopodium album)
Origin: Europe & Asia
Carolina cherry
(Prunus Carolinians)
Origin: North America
Wild Mustard
(Sinapis arvensis)
Origin: Europe
Brussel sprouts
(Brassica oleacea)
Origin: Europe
Bamboo shoots, golden
bamboo
(Phyllostachys aurea)
Origin: East Asia
pealed and boiled shoots taste like asparagus.
Artichoke
(Cynara cardunculus)
Origin: Mediterranean
Salt loving agaric
(Agaricus bernardii)
Origin: local
Oak loving bolete
(Xerocomellus dryophilus)
Origin: local
Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus gilbertsonii),
Origin: local
only the young ones are tasty (sautéed with butter, salt and pepper) served with a home made bagel
Honey mushrooms
(Armillaria melee)
local, served on baguette
Flowers
Column 1: Leptospermum, California poppy, Rosemary, Wild Lily, acacia, Protea (South African), Cyclamen, African daisy, Apple, Mango
Column 2: Cherry, Mimosa acacia, Agapanthus, Rudbeckia, Cistus rock rose, Calandrina (Chile), Aloe 1, Arbutus undo,azalea, Camelia, Viola
Column 3: peach, Pride of Madeira, Crocosmia, Caistemon, Jade plant, Lantana, Gentian, Tibuchina, Tebebuya, Centaurea
Column 4: Aloe, spiny, iris, Aloe, Albizia, had plant, Sea Lavender, India Hawthorne, Popy, Cactus
Column 5: Kangaroo paw, Fresia, Kawakami pear, Cape Honey suckle, Strelizia, Aloe, Poppy, Marygold,Erythrina (corral tree), Natal plum
Column 6: Nasturtium, Ceanothus, purple hibiscus, Aeonium “Zwartkopf”, Polygala, Blue iris, Iceplant, Iris, Fresia
Column 7: Yucca, pitcher plant (aristolochia), Wisteria, red bud (cerise occidentals), Camelia japonica with lemons, Geranium,Camelia, Jasmine, Phlomis (Jerusalem Sage)
Column 8: Rose , Calla Lily, Lily of the Nile, Sage with lemons, Daisy, Tradescantia, Solandra, white daisy, Lantana
Column 9: Brugmansia, Foxglove red, Digitalis white, snapdragon, Bauhinia, Periwinkle, Scarlet trumpet vine, day lily
Column 10: daisy, legume, white azalea, sage, red snap dragon, narcissus, aloe
Tools & Technology
Bow drill
friction fire
Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) drill on madrone base
Friction Fire with
yucca sticks
(Yucca filamentosa)
Origin: American Southwest
Pottery
Mount soledad clay
punch bowl decorated with rope made from New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax)
fully dried, and example of cup made from the same clay after it was fired in an open fire.
