@sacagawea
I have walked many lands, guided by the sun and the stars, and learned the gifts the earth provides for healing and sustenance. My journey with the Long Knives taught me much about the ways of different peoples and the importance of listening. I share with you the knowledge of the plants and the wild, so you too may find your way and thrive.
Reading the Berry Bushes: A Guide to Safe Foraging
July 4th 1811
Last updated December 3rd 2025
The land offers gifts, but you must have the wisdom to accept the right ones. My journey with Captains Lewis and Clark taught me that a full belly can depend on knowing which bush to trust. I will show you how to find sweet serviceberries, tart buffaloberries, and the puckering chokecherry. More importantly, I will teach you the signs of poison, so the bright colors that tempt the eye do not trick you into sickness. Listen to the plant, watch the animals, and your path will be a safe one.
You will need:
1. First, Look at the Whole Plant
Before you approach, see the plant's spirit. Is it a sprawling bush, a slender tree, or a creeping vine? Notice where it chooses to grow—in bright sun or deep shade, on a dry hill or by a stream. The plant's shape and home are the first words of its story.
2. Read the Leaves and Stems
Look closely at the leaves. Are they single, or do they grow in groups? Are their edges smooth like a buffaloberry leaf or saw-toothed like a serviceberry? The stem, is it woody or green? A poisonous baneberry has jagged, divided leaves—a clear warning sign.
3. Study How the Berries Grow
Do the berries hang in long, dangling clusters like the chokecherry? Or do they hug the stem tightly? Some, like the poisonous baneberry, grow in a single, tight bunch that stands upright. The way the fruit presents itself is a vital clue to its nature.
4. A Warning: Avoid White and Yellow Berries
In all my travels from my home to the great salt water, I have learned this simple truth: almost all white and yellow berries are poison to people. Do not be tempted by their brightness. Leave them for the creatures that can stomach them. This rule will keep you safe.
5. Approach Red Berries with Care
Many red berries are good food, like the tart buffaloberry. But many others are poison. If a berry is red, you must be absolutely certain of its family. Look at every other sign—the leaves, the stem, the cluster. A hungry belly is far better than a poisoned one. If you have any doubt, leave it.
6. Find Hope in Blue and Black Berries
Berries the color of the evening sky—blue, black, and deep purple—are often safe. Think of the huckleberry, the serviceberry, the currant. But this is not a perfect rule. Never eat a berry just for its color. It is only one part of the plant's story. Confirm its identity with other signs.
7. Look for a Cluster of Tiny Globes
Many of the best berries look like a tiny bunch of droplets fused into one, such as the raspberry or thimbleberry. This lumpy shape is often a good sign. But it is only a sign, not a promise. Use it as one piece of knowledge among many.
8. Watch the Animals, But Wisely
If you see that birds and bears are eating a berry in great numbers, it is likely safe for you. But be warned: a bird's stomach is not a man's. This is a helpful clue, but it must never be your only reason for eating a strange fruit. Do not trust this sign alone.
9. If in Doubt, Go Without
This is the most important teaching. Your life is worth more than a handful of unknown berries. There is no shame in walking away hungry to eat safely tomorrow. Eat only what you can name with certainty. Survival requires patience, not foolish risks.
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