Long before humankind developed agriculture, gathering food from the natural landscape provided sustenance. And to a limited degree, it still can, even here in the Bay Area.

Edible plants are around us just about everywhere, if we know where to look and how to recognize them, says Mia Andler, co-author of The Bay Area Forager.

Because they have focused on common plant species that are widely found in our area, the authors are fairly confident that overharvesting should not become a problem. But they still urge readers to be sensitive to that concern.