I am in the process of learning to recognize edible plants and learning how to use them. Last year in May, I did a beginners course that got me started. Learned a lot there. This season I have spent a lot of time outside picking edible stuff. I have learned a few new species since last year. I am feeling confident about a good number of species now, but still haven't found/recognized all of them. So I have a way to go. Last year I bought a pocket flora (book with all plants) to bring along on trips. I also use a facebook group where I post pictures when I am unsure about a species. I received good help there from some people I trust.
My next step is to get a university book (from the library) about botanics on starter level. I would like to learn more about plants and plant families in general, because I think that will help recognizing the edible plants. There was also a course in botanics available, but I found it quite expensive and a bit inconveniently situated. So I will try with self study first.
Since last year, I also try to learn to recognize trees. I am still not good at that. But now that the trees are getting leaves, it starts being easier, but I need to learn to study the whole tree, instead of only looking at the leaves. I have learned a couple of the trees now, but I still have a long way to go before I know all and become good at it. Some trees I only see in abroadistan at around Christmas times, when they don't have leaves, which makes it more difficult.
I am already pretty good at mushrooms and passed an exam on that. But I still haven't seen all species in real life. So I need to make an effort to find those. I am going on an organized trip soon where we will specifically look for one. I did another such trip last vinter and found a specie there.
Goals:
Learn all the edible plants that grow wild in Norway.
Learn all the trees that grow wild in Norway.
Learn more about botanics in general.
Become more certain about all mushrooms that I am supposed to recognize.
Steps:
Continue to go on many trips outside and look for edible species that I know in theory from my books.
Eat all the species that I have picked to long and get some impression of how they taste.
Study trees more often and look them up on the app on my phone.
Pick other plants that I wander about and look them up in my flora. I don't have capacity to do this with all plants, but can take a few each time.
Get a library book on botanics and read it.
Go on the organized mushroom trip (tuesday next week) and find Calocybe gambosa.
Study all mushroom species that I find during my trips outside. Try to name them.