@themaxx69 I have had to spend around 10 years studying plants of this region. Micheal Moore put out some really good books on medicinal plants, Anne Orth Epple has a really good Plants of Arizona, There are also a few that cover specifically edible plants of the west. I found a few that I got from searching google. Some I have are old with black and white drawings. I use the scientific name from these and cross reference it with the field guide Just to be safe.
great video! very interesting and helpful. only complaint, your camera isn't the greatest so it was hard to see the plants to identify them well. are there any kinds of cacti you shouldn't eat and how do you identify them?
Couldn't some kind of small press be useful to carry if you know you'll find cacti or other watery plants in the area? Perhaps it could even double the amount of water you could extract with less effort.
@DerFeindr Although this works, It is better to add these to a vegetation still or a solar still to increase the volume of fluids. If in the desert try to go light. carrying too much weight can cause issues. You could dehydrate much faster. Any extra weight should be water. I have used this method (from the video) to soak a bandanna to help stay cool so I wouldn't use precious drinking water. It is a bit slimy but it works.
The yuca plant, in the military survial guild book its called mescal . I have cut the stalk part and eat it raw , tastes like cucumber, but if you wait a day it drys up like wood.... So what does the flower part tast like??
@exhunter223 Yucca is in the same family as the Mescal plant also called the Agave. Although in the same family they are both very different plants. The stalk of the Agave is very large and thick. The inside of the agave stalk has a sweet liquid inside the spongy core. It is safe to drink. I have learned that the seed pod of the agave are poisonous. This pod starts at the base of the flower pedal. Yucca (Yucca baccata) Agave family contain saponins that can be irritating to the digestive track.
@desertsurvivalist These saponins must be cooked out of the plant before consumption. I have personally eaten the Young stalk, and blooms, and fruits. The root as stated in some literature is edible but extremely difficult to eat because of the huge amount of tough fibers. The root does make a great soap but I prefer to use the leaves instead of the root. This way I do not have to destroy the entire plant. Agave can in fact cause severe contact dermatitis in some people.
@desertsurvivalist In early spring the stalk will begin to sprout. At this point the plant can be harvested and pit roasted. It is eaten much like artichoke hearts. The inner fibers make an excellent cord that is extremely strong. The sharp needle can be pulled off the end of the leaf with the fibers attached and used as a needle and tread. I have a pair of pants that I sewed up with it and after several washes they are still holding. There are several varieties of plants in the agave family.
Thanks for sharing this most informative survival tips.
I lived in AZ for a few years and never knew these plants where edible but I did learn to carry lots of water while on hikes, coming from the city I learned quick.
Arizona's deserts are teaming with life IF you take the time to notice it such as plants, birds and small creatures. Its a wonderful state and your video makes me want to plan a trip out to that part of the country again!
@Skating4Passion As long as they are green and have no milky sap they are fine. I have seen prickly pear with purple looking pads....I stay away from them. I have also seen some for what ever reason that have milky sap and I stay away from those as well. The one in the video is perfectly safe raw or cooked.
you have done this video very well, and you obviously not only know the edibility of these plants, but you know other uses as well. i congratulate you.
Mmmmm. I am feeling hugry already. Thanks alot for the video. It is very interresting. I wish they could sell prickly pears or something similar in the supermarket...
Cactus does have carbs which does classify it as a food. So if you need water it is best to "squeeze" the water out instead of dehydrating yourself as your body digests the cactus.
im doing a presentation for my plant eco class on semi-arid deserts
whats the name of the plant you are cutting at the start of the video? also, is this plant found in semi-arid deserts (utah, montana, great basin area)?
Sure! I was thinking of doing another in the future. I am always learning more about desert plants. I am constantly learning more uses of the plants I already know about. My goal on this one was to get most of them on this vid in the right season but it was still a little early in the year. I also hope to cover some medicinal plants. I wanted to even redo this one because there are a few things I left out.
when was this shot because my bud has a christmas cholla and its fruited and looks jsut liek yours but its november
mixturebeatz 3 months ago
Nice vid. Any recommendations on books on this subject? I've seen quite a few books on edible plants, but not many specifically for Arizona.
themaxx69 4 months ago
@themaxx69 I have had to spend around 10 years studying plants of this region. Micheal Moore put out some really good books on medicinal plants, Anne Orth Epple has a really good Plants of Arizona, There are also a few that cover specifically edible plants of the west. I found a few that I got from searching google. Some I have are old with black and white drawings. I use the scientific name from these and cross reference it with the field guide Just to be safe.
desertsurvivalist 4 months ago
That blue little lizzard has a hard on!!! WTF?
polylingue 6 months ago
great video! very interesting and helpful. only complaint, your camera isn't the greatest so it was hard to see the plants to identify them well. are there any kinds of cacti you shouldn't eat and how do you identify them?
juper0 7 months ago
great information. you do a fine job on your videos thanks for passing them along.
Tim
MTNMANTIM 7 months ago
Couldn't some kind of small press be useful to carry if you know you'll find cacti or other watery plants in the area? Perhaps it could even double the amount of water you could extract with less effort.
DerFeindr 9 months ago
@DerFeindr Although this works, It is better to add these to a vegetation still or a solar still to increase the volume of fluids. If in the desert try to go light. carrying too much weight can cause issues. You could dehydrate much faster. Any extra weight should be water. I have used this method (from the video) to soak a bandanna to help stay cool so I wouldn't use precious drinking water. It is a bit slimy but it works.
desertsurvivalist 9 months ago
The yuca plant, in the military survial guild book its called mescal . I have cut the stalk part and eat it raw , tastes like cucumber, but if you wait a day it drys up like wood.... So what does the flower part tast like??
exhunter223 10 months ago
@exhunter223 Yucca is in the same family as the Mescal plant also called the Agave. Although in the same family they are both very different plants. The stalk of the Agave is very large and thick. The inside of the agave stalk has a sweet liquid inside the spongy core. It is safe to drink. I have learned that the seed pod of the agave are poisonous. This pod starts at the base of the flower pedal. Yucca (Yucca baccata) Agave family contain saponins that can be irritating to the digestive track.
desertsurvivalist 10 months ago
@desertsurvivalist These saponins must be cooked out of the plant before consumption. I have personally eaten the Young stalk, and blooms, and fruits. The root as stated in some literature is edible but extremely difficult to eat because of the huge amount of tough fibers. The root does make a great soap but I prefer to use the leaves instead of the root. This way I do not have to destroy the entire plant. Agave can in fact cause severe contact dermatitis in some people.
desertsurvivalist 10 months ago
@desertsurvivalist In early spring the stalk will begin to sprout. At this point the plant can be harvested and pit roasted. It is eaten much like artichoke hearts. The inner fibers make an excellent cord that is extremely strong. The sharp needle can be pulled off the end of the leaf with the fibers attached and used as a needle and tread. I have a pair of pants that I sewed up with it and after several washes they are still holding. There are several varieties of plants in the agave family.
desertsurvivalist 10 months ago
@desertsurvivalist Keep in mind the plant I am demonstrating is Yucca baccata in this video.
desertsurvivalist 10 months ago
crash test dummies awesome
shawnio 1 year ago
what does the hedhog cactus taste like?
wheelori814 1 year ago
@wheelori814 It tastes like a slimy slightly bitter cucumber lol. Not too bad though.
desertsurvivalist 1 year ago
DO NOT touch a pear cactus that seems to have no pricklers when I was in Sedona , I learned the hard way.
HipieofBSA 1 year ago
could you use a flame on the christmas cholla insted of cutting?
313rossini 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing this most informative survival tips.
I lived in AZ for a few years and never knew these plants where edible but I did learn to carry lots of water while on hikes, coming from the city I learned quick.
Arizona's deserts are teaming with life IF you take the time to notice it such as plants, birds and small creatures. Its a wonderful state and your video makes me want to plan a trip out to that part of the country again!
boollib 1 year ago
are you sure the pads are edible?
Skating4Passion 1 year ago
@Skating4Passion As long as they are green and have no milky sap they are fine. I have seen prickly pear with purple looking pads....I stay away from them. I have also seen some for what ever reason that have milky sap and I stay away from those as well. The one in the video is perfectly safe raw or cooked.
desertsurvivalist 1 year ago
@Skating4Passion they sell them at the grocery store here in mexico
doctorcrapable 1 year ago
you have done this video very well, and you obviously not only know the edibility of these plants, but you know other uses as well. i congratulate you.
flomosk8er 1 year ago
0:52 giggity
rizlas2 1 year ago
GREAT VIDEOS!!!
Can you show us how to eat them or cook them, our ancestors survive with these plants!
Thanks
boysselle 2 years ago
Nice video. I recommend that you make some more videos about these native cacti.
DragonDudeMarril 2 years ago
how do you spell the christmas plant at 3:20?
camdaman9134 2 years ago
Christmas Cholla
desertsurvivalist 2 years ago
thankyou.
nitesurviver 2 years ago
who sings the cover song please?
nitesurviver 2 years ago
Crash Test Dummies....One of my faves!
desertsurvivalist 2 years ago
are all of these in las vegas as well?
mizdierbeatz 2 years ago
I am sure a few are. I will look some of them up to be sure.
desertsurvivalist 2 years ago
slimy thizgis material? what an awesome word
mizdierbeatz 2 years ago
Mmmmm. I am feeling hugry already. Thanks alot for the video. It is very interresting. I wish they could sell prickly pears or something similar in the supermarket...
cchj768 3 years ago
@cchj768 they do sell prickly pear cacti (Opuntia Ficus Indica) in supermarkets. You should be able to find them in any mexican supermarket near you.
mmmmmarcus 1 year ago
kinda of a waste sqeezing it.You waste allot in the bandana just by eating it wouldnt you maxamize the amount of water in the cactus?
japattk 3 years ago
Cactus does have carbs which does classify it as a food. So if you need water it is best to "squeeze" the water out instead of dehydrating yourself as your body digests the cactus.
desertsurvivalist 3 years ago
Superb video!
FriarTuck1961 3 years ago
im doing a presentation for my plant eco class on semi-arid deserts
whats the name of the plant you are cutting at the start of the video? also, is this plant found in semi-arid deserts (utah, montana, great basin area)?
zaroobaba 3 years ago
always a crowd pleaser!
liveoffland 3 years ago
i love ur vids they r so kool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pen1496 3 years ago
Can you make another one showing more edible plants?
MrGatoMan1 3 years ago
Sure! I was thinking of doing another in the future. I am always learning more about desert plants. I am constantly learning more uses of the plants I already know about. My goal on this one was to get most of them on this vid in the right season but it was still a little early in the year. I also hope to cover some medicinal plants. I wanted to even redo this one because there are a few things I left out.
desertsurvivalist 3 years ago
Awesome! Thank you!
MrGatoMan1 3 years ago
useful info
thanks
0FeLiCiTy0 3 years ago
Not bad John. I don't know much about desert plants and such as I live in the south. Informative. Keep videos coming.
charper3006 3 years ago
Ive always wanted to go the desert.
ArmyRanger10 3 years ago