Ah, the tastes of summer. Sweet strawberries, fresh corn and juicy peaches… or should that be steamed fireweed, pan-fried puffballs and a dollop of soapberry ice cream?

Not all ingredients in your favourite dishes need to necessarily come from the grocery store. Your local natural environment may be bursting with berries, loaded with leaves and ripe with roots that are not only edible, but delectable. Many of these plants grow near rivers, meadows and forests all across Canada.

Even city dwellers might find a tasty wild frond or two in their own front-yard flower gardens. Certain plants we dismiss as pests – like lamb’s quarters, burdock and Canada thistle – can actually be consumed. The dandelion, a misery to many homeowners, can be devoured from top to bottom. (Hate weeding? Start eating!)

It’s estimated that a billion people around the world munch on produce no one ever planted. Want to be one of them? Whether you’re craving cattails or hankering for huckleberries, here are five points to keep in mind.