ABOUT ME
Hi. My name is Mark Zimmer and I created a pamphlet for some of the edible wild plants found in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. I spend my summers in the BWCA trying to rely on nature as much as possible to help me thrive in the woods. Many people I passed by asked me about what I ate since I was there for so long. I told them about some of the plants I would eat and this seemed to intrigue many of them. How a simple pamphlet could help them I thought to myself. Not only would people be able to learn about the edibility of plants, they could eat healthier in the process. During my travels I studied the abundance of most edible wild plants in the BWCAW. I tried my best to include easily recognizable plants that are abundant in all regions of the BWCAW. My goal is for you to easily identify at least 75% of the plants in my pamphlet during your stay in the north woods. Hopefully, you can find them all. I also realized that people have no idea who I am and what credentials I have so I decided to design this website to accompany my pamphlet. Well, here's my story.
In 2012, I came across a situation where I decided I had to re-evaluate my life and which direction I wanted my life to go. For some reason I heard a calling from nature. I was amazed by how I was feeling since I had become fairly accustomed to the city lifestyle. I listened to what nature was telling me and decided to head to Ely, MN where my mom had a house. I spent about 2 months there while learning about some of the plants and animals in the area. Most days I would travel through the Boundary Waters and stay at campsites in the Superior National Forest since no overnight permit is required. I normally would only stay a couple nights and return back to mom's place to sleep. Days were full of many obstacles I was not prepared for as I realized I was merely a toddler in regards to my relationship with nature. I battled a few rough storms but ultimately I always knew I had a home close by. I taught myself the fundamentals of basic survival although I really didn't understand much of anything looking back on it now. As winter approached I thought it best to return to my home town. I spent the winter thinking about my return to the woods and was excited for spring to arrive.
Spring eventually came and it was my time to head into the woods. Over the winter my mom's house sold and I no longer had a home base to return to. I was not going to let that deter me from having the summer I dreamed of all winter long. I waited til June to head off to the woods so it was comfortably warm. I was going to enter the woods alone with no agenda. All I knew was that I heard a call from nature and knew I needed to listen. I purchased a permit to enter the Boundary Waters. I don't remember the exact date. Well, the day came for me to leave home and so I did. I had my mom drop me off at the entry point and we said our good-byes. I knew she was extremely worried but did my best to make her understand my position. That was it. I was alone and out to discover. What it was I had to discover, I had no idea.
In 2012, I came across a situation where I decided I had to re-evaluate my life and which direction I wanted my life to go. For some reason I heard a calling from nature. I was amazed by how I was feeling since I had become fairly accustomed to the city lifestyle. I listened to what nature was telling me and decided to head to Ely, MN where my mom had a house. I spent about 2 months there while learning about some of the plants and animals in the area. Most days I would travel through the Boundary Waters and stay at campsites in the Superior National Forest since no overnight permit is required. I normally would only stay a couple nights and return back to mom's place to sleep. Days were full of many obstacles I was not prepared for as I realized I was merely a toddler in regards to my relationship with nature. I battled a few rough storms but ultimately I always knew I had a home close by. I taught myself the fundamentals of basic survival although I really didn't understand much of anything looking back on it now. As winter approached I thought it best to return to my home town. I spent the winter thinking about my return to the woods and was excited for spring to arrive.
Spring eventually came and it was my time to head into the woods. Over the winter my mom's house sold and I no longer had a home base to return to. I was not going to let that deter me from having the summer I dreamed of all winter long. I waited til June to head off to the woods so it was comfortably warm. I was going to enter the woods alone with no agenda. All I knew was that I heard a call from nature and knew I needed to listen. I purchased a permit to enter the Boundary Waters. I don't remember the exact date. Well, the day came for me to leave home and so I did. I had my mom drop me off at the entry point and we said our good-byes. I knew she was extremely worried but did my best to make her understand my position. That was it. I was alone and out to discover. What it was I had to discover, I had no idea.
Year 1 - stayed about 9 weeks in the woods
There I was, just me and my kayak. I carried with me 2 backpacks. One larger for my gear, one smaller for my food. I knew I would have to rely on nature for much of my food but really was clueless on how things would turn out. My gear bag was very heavy, so was my food bag. My kayak sucked to carry. Things were not going to be easy.
I started my journey on the Kawishiwi River west of Lake One mid June. I had one long portage to do from my entry point, then easy sailing from there. The woods were busier than I thought they would be but I didn't have to tough of a time finding a campsite. I stayed there for a couple nights, then decided to continue on. I headed back east towards Lake One, stayed for a few nights, then kept going. I kept a steady pace, typically changing campsites every 2 or 3 days. At times I would move daily, other times maybe staying a fourth night. Either way, I had no idea what I was really doing, just learning everything as I went.
After a couple of weeks I started to find a rhythm. I knew what chores I had and what I needed to accomplish at each new site I arrived at. Gathering wood being the most essential since I had no back up fuel source. Fire making was not always as easy as I assumed it would be. Keeping a relatively constant temperature to cook on proved more difficult than imagined. I needed to learn so much more. So I did. I experimented with the different types of wood around and figured out what burned better, faster, or hotter. Which woods stayed dry under the bark which helped me start fires after days of rain. Being that I ate mostly fish my first year, my fire making skills vastly improved. There were days though where I would consume more out of my food bag than planned, knowing this could ultimately make me very hungry before my resupply date. I didn't prepare enough. I didn't know which plants were edible and which ones weren't. I knew some, but not even close to what I felt I should. I decided that during the winter I would study the plants of the area.
I spent a little more than 2 months fumbling my way through. Some days were good, some were not, but even a bad day in the woods beats all of the noise and drama of the city. Of course in Minnesota we have some quite brutal winters and as much as I enjoy the outdoors, I am not willing to spend the winters outside. Fall came and it was time for me to return to town to do some studying.
Winter came and went. It was a long winter but invaluable since I spent many hours researching the many edible species of plants in northern Minnesota. I wanted to do everything I could to make my next adventure as easy as possible. The snow came and stayed all winter, never giving us much of a break between snow falls. The winter seemed like it was never going to end and I was itching to get back into the woods. Finally it was time for me to return. Having purchased many new items during winter, I was as prepared as I was ever going to be.
There I was, just me and my kayak. I carried with me 2 backpacks. One larger for my gear, one smaller for my food. I knew I would have to rely on nature for much of my food but really was clueless on how things would turn out. My gear bag was very heavy, so was my food bag. My kayak sucked to carry. Things were not going to be easy.
I started my journey on the Kawishiwi River west of Lake One mid June. I had one long portage to do from my entry point, then easy sailing from there. The woods were busier than I thought they would be but I didn't have to tough of a time finding a campsite. I stayed there for a couple nights, then decided to continue on. I headed back east towards Lake One, stayed for a few nights, then kept going. I kept a steady pace, typically changing campsites every 2 or 3 days. At times I would move daily, other times maybe staying a fourth night. Either way, I had no idea what I was really doing, just learning everything as I went.
After a couple of weeks I started to find a rhythm. I knew what chores I had and what I needed to accomplish at each new site I arrived at. Gathering wood being the most essential since I had no back up fuel source. Fire making was not always as easy as I assumed it would be. Keeping a relatively constant temperature to cook on proved more difficult than imagined. I needed to learn so much more. So I did. I experimented with the different types of wood around and figured out what burned better, faster, or hotter. Which woods stayed dry under the bark which helped me start fires after days of rain. Being that I ate mostly fish my first year, my fire making skills vastly improved. There were days though where I would consume more out of my food bag than planned, knowing this could ultimately make me very hungry before my resupply date. I didn't prepare enough. I didn't know which plants were edible and which ones weren't. I knew some, but not even close to what I felt I should. I decided that during the winter I would study the plants of the area.
I spent a little more than 2 months fumbling my way through. Some days were good, some were not, but even a bad day in the woods beats all of the noise and drama of the city. Of course in Minnesota we have some quite brutal winters and as much as I enjoy the outdoors, I am not willing to spend the winters outside. Fall came and it was time for me to return to town to do some studying.
Winter came and went. It was a long winter but invaluable since I spent many hours researching the many edible species of plants in northern Minnesota. I wanted to do everything I could to make my next adventure as easy as possible. The snow came and stayed all winter, never giving us much of a break between snow falls. The winter seemed like it was never going to end and I was itching to get back into the woods. Finally it was time for me to return. Having purchased many new items during winter, I was as prepared as I was ever going to be.
Year 2 - stayed about 22 weeks in the woods
Again, I had 2 backpacks and my kayak. Double portaging at its finest. Not that I mind it. The pleasantries of the woods comes along with many challenges, carrying all of your gear being one of them. On May 7, 2014 I returned into the BWCA. I entered on Lake One, one of the busiest entry points. Well, there was still ice in both directions so needless to say, I was the only person there. Being unable to travel much, I camped my first night along shore about 200 ft. from the entry point. The next day more ice disappeared and I was able to head west down the Kawishiwi River and reached the first campsite. Each day I was able to move further along. Nothing was growing yet at this point so I relied heavily on fish and my food bag.
I was excited to start my mostly natural diet. My food bag consisted of granola bars, mini Slim Jim's, thin noodles, tuna packets, wild rice, pancake mix, some oatmeal, fish breading, and Crisco. I also had with a blend of spices that I like, honey, and maple syrup for added flavor for my meals.
My gear bag this past year was slightly lighter than last year. I had purchased a smaller, lighter 2 person tent to replace my old green A-frame 3 person. A saving of like 5 pounds. I also reduced weight by retiring my 40 degree sleeping bag and bought a down 10 degree quilt. The quilt uses less down feathers since there is none underneath you, like my sleeping bag had. The down underneath you squishes anyway and doesn't do much. I added weight since I upgraded my hatchet to a Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet from a cheap, tiny one I used last year. I also brought with a tarp for my hammock I sewed together which ended up weighing about 3 pounds. Most of my other items were the same.
Again, I had 2 backpacks and my kayak. Double portaging at its finest. Not that I mind it. The pleasantries of the woods comes along with many challenges, carrying all of your gear being one of them. On May 7, 2014 I returned into the BWCA. I entered on Lake One, one of the busiest entry points. Well, there was still ice in both directions so needless to say, I was the only person there. Being unable to travel much, I camped my first night along shore about 200 ft. from the entry point. The next day more ice disappeared and I was able to head west down the Kawishiwi River and reached the first campsite. Each day I was able to move further along. Nothing was growing yet at this point so I relied heavily on fish and my food bag.
I was excited to start my mostly natural diet. My food bag consisted of granola bars, mini Slim Jim's, thin noodles, tuna packets, wild rice, pancake mix, some oatmeal, fish breading, and Crisco. I also had with a blend of spices that I like, honey, and maple syrup for added flavor for my meals.
My gear bag this past year was slightly lighter than last year. I had purchased a smaller, lighter 2 person tent to replace my old green A-frame 3 person. A saving of like 5 pounds. I also reduced weight by retiring my 40 degree sleeping bag and bought a down 10 degree quilt. The quilt uses less down feathers since there is none underneath you, like my sleeping bag had. The down underneath you squishes anyway and doesn't do much. I added weight since I upgraded my hatchet to a Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet from a cheap, tiny one I used last year. I also brought with a tarp for my hammock I sewed together which ended up weighing about 3 pounds. Most of my other items were the same.
Soon enough the plants began to emerge and the forest started turning green again. The trees were starting to bud and the birds were chirping. With the temperatures still cold, the water made for some awesome drinking. Early in the spring there's still not many choices of plants to eat but you can dig up roots or tubers of some. The Canada Mayflowers began to appear, along with dandelions and plantain. Bluebead Lilies also presented themselves. Roses were blooming. Soon after the strawberries ripened. Things were getting easier by the day.
Spring came and went and summer brought the emergence of more berries. Blueberries and raspberries can be found anywhere but the real choice picking is found where fires have blazed through in recent years. Fireweed is very abundant at these locations as well. Berries season is the best. I like to pick raspberries and put them in a plastic bag. Put the bag in the food bag and hang overnight. In the morning the berries will have leaked quite a bit of juice out so make sure the plastic bag has no holes. Squeeze the berries a couple of times to release some more juice. Pour the juice into water bottle. It is pretty darn good. The berries remaining find themselves added to pancakes or just eaten raw. Although the berries are booming, some of the earlier plants have started to become tough and bitter. Boiling the plants helps reduce some bitterness but the plants loses many of their vitamins. I typically eat them raw all season.
Another benefit of being in the BWCAW is fishing. Plants compliment meals of fish very nicely but every once in a while some other flavors are nice to have. Sweet Gale is a powerful spice that is somewhat peppery and native to the area. Sweet Gale grows along shorelines and is all over the place. The leaves are added to meals or the nutlets that form later in the season work well too. Remember though, they are potent. I also use wintergreen as a spice. It takes a long time to remove the flavor from the leaves but the reward is worth the wait. I also eat the leaves raw as they still have the wintergreen flavor. I've read different things about wintergreen leaves but have never had any ill effects from them.
As summer comes to an end the berries become more scarce. Trees, however, can become a useful source of food. Early fall is about the time when hazelnuts and chokecherries ripen. Serviceberries can be found in many locations too. Serviceberries are more user friendly since the seeds are tiny and you can eat the whole berry. Smooth sumac makes some flavorful sumac-ade. The trickiest part in the fall is getting to the fruits and berries before the animals and birds do. Eventually though, as most good things do, my summer came to an end and I returned to town determined to share my experiences and help others understand the edibility of the plants of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Spring came and went and summer brought the emergence of more berries. Blueberries and raspberries can be found anywhere but the real choice picking is found where fires have blazed through in recent years. Fireweed is very abundant at these locations as well. Berries season is the best. I like to pick raspberries and put them in a plastic bag. Put the bag in the food bag and hang overnight. In the morning the berries will have leaked quite a bit of juice out so make sure the plastic bag has no holes. Squeeze the berries a couple of times to release some more juice. Pour the juice into water bottle. It is pretty darn good. The berries remaining find themselves added to pancakes or just eaten raw. Although the berries are booming, some of the earlier plants have started to become tough and bitter. Boiling the plants helps reduce some bitterness but the plants loses many of their vitamins. I typically eat them raw all season.
Another benefit of being in the BWCAW is fishing. Plants compliment meals of fish very nicely but every once in a while some other flavors are nice to have. Sweet Gale is a powerful spice that is somewhat peppery and native to the area. Sweet Gale grows along shorelines and is all over the place. The leaves are added to meals or the nutlets that form later in the season work well too. Remember though, they are potent. I also use wintergreen as a spice. It takes a long time to remove the flavor from the leaves but the reward is worth the wait. I also eat the leaves raw as they still have the wintergreen flavor. I've read different things about wintergreen leaves but have never had any ill effects from them.
As summer comes to an end the berries become more scarce. Trees, however, can become a useful source of food. Early fall is about the time when hazelnuts and chokecherries ripen. Serviceberries can be found in many locations too. Serviceberries are more user friendly since the seeds are tiny and you can eat the whole berry. Smooth sumac makes some flavorful sumac-ade. The trickiest part in the fall is getting to the fruits and berries before the animals and birds do. Eventually though, as most good things do, my summer came to an end and I returned to town determined to share my experiences and help others understand the edibility of the plants of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Year 3 - stayed 80some days
Work slowed down finally the beginning of June and I was able to get back to the woods by the 8th. I decided this was the year to transition from a tent to a hammock. I achieved this by leaving the tent at home. It's cozy being in a tent and sometimes hanging from the hammock can be a little frightening during storms. I removed the tent, sleeping pad, old hammock tarp, and my sleeping bag liner. I added an underquilt for the hammock and got 2 new tarps for it. After becoming comfortable in the hammock, I no longer have any desire to switch back to a tent.
I brought with the same supplies as last year as far as food goes. It was already June and the plants were around. Fishing has gotten easier over the years and I caught lots of great fish. I spent more time fishing for lake trout since I was never extremely successful catching them years past. I had lots of success this year. Typically I will pull a deep jointed shad rap, but sometimes I will drop a spoon into the depths and see what I can pull up.
Summer came and went. The days became shorter. The time seemed to go very fast. I wish I would have left earlier and stayed later but things happen. Again, for the winter, I returned to the city.
I brought with the same supplies as last year as far as food goes. It was already June and the plants were around. Fishing has gotten easier over the years and I caught lots of great fish. I spent more time fishing for lake trout since I was never extremely successful catching them years past. I had lots of success this year. Typically I will pull a deep jointed shad rap, but sometimes I will drop a spoon into the depths and see what I can pull up.
Summer came and went. The days became shorter. The time seemed to go very fast. I wish I would have left earlier and stayed later but things happen. Again, for the winter, I returned to the city.
Year 4 - stayed roughly 4 1/2 months
After being alone for as long as I was the previous years, I wasn't exactly sure how long I was going to stay in the woods for. It becomes extremely lonely for me after a short time. That is, without a doubt, my biggest challenge each year. I did a little math and figured if I stayed til a little after September I would have spent over 1 year total of the last 3 years in the Boundary Waters. So that is what I did.
I brought with the same gear as last year. A hammock, quilts, tarp, hatchet, some clothes, toiletries, fishing pole and gear, solar chargers, camera, and a few other things. Food was also about the same. I found a good deal on Clif bars so I had lots of them. Noodles, wild rice, soup, pancake mix, some Belvita breakfast bars, tuna packets, cheese flavoring, honey, and maple syrup. All the fruits and vegetables I eat are supplied to me by the land.
May 2nd was the day I went home this year. It was fairly decent temperature wise and the lakes were all open water by then. There still was snow and some ice on the north side of some shorelines where the sun didn't hit. It got chillier around fishing opener and I did get snowed on but not much accumulation occurred. I sort of planned on staying at a campsite for 2 nights this year so I could take more time to enjoy certain areas. It's not what happened. The first few weeks were cold enough that I wanted to stay mobile to stay warm. After that I became accustomed to the mobility and continued to move campsites nearly every day all summer long. There were some days when I needed a break and stayed for 2 nights or if I had company I would stay at one site a little longer. Although I traveled as often as I did, I would not travel as far as I did the previous years so I still considered myself to be slowing down.
I brought with the same gear as last year. A hammock, quilts, tarp, hatchet, some clothes, toiletries, fishing pole and gear, solar chargers, camera, and a few other things. Food was also about the same. I found a good deal on Clif bars so I had lots of them. Noodles, wild rice, soup, pancake mix, some Belvita breakfast bars, tuna packets, cheese flavoring, honey, and maple syrup. All the fruits and vegetables I eat are supplied to me by the land.
May 2nd was the day I went home this year. It was fairly decent temperature wise and the lakes were all open water by then. There still was snow and some ice on the north side of some shorelines where the sun didn't hit. It got chillier around fishing opener and I did get snowed on but not much accumulation occurred. I sort of planned on staying at a campsite for 2 nights this year so I could take more time to enjoy certain areas. It's not what happened. The first few weeks were cold enough that I wanted to stay mobile to stay warm. After that I became accustomed to the mobility and continued to move campsites nearly every day all summer long. There were some days when I needed a break and stayed for 2 nights or if I had company I would stay at one site a little longer. Although I traveled as often as I did, I would not travel as far as I did the previous years so I still considered myself to be slowing down.
I put lots of miles on the kayak again and met some very nice people this year. Even short conversations are important to me since most things I talk to have no idea what I'm saying...animals, trees, rocks, etc. I believe there is value when thoughts are spoken and not just thought. Maybe I just get crazy. Regardless, thank you to all of you who took the time to have a conversation.
The plants and berries this year were good. Plenty of everything to go around for all to enjoy. The fishing was great for me all summer long. I don't eat many bass I catch. I mainly eat walleye and trout, then every so often a pike. It depends on the lake. I also caught a few brook trout this year which I haven't done in past years.
Eventually summer past and it was time to head back to the city. Things couldn't have been better for me over these past 4 years when I look back. I learned to much about nature and myself. I confronted some problems which I was able to overcome. I never suffered any major injuries. Life is amazing.
The plants and berries this year were good. Plenty of everything to go around for all to enjoy. The fishing was great for me all summer long. I don't eat many bass I catch. I mainly eat walleye and trout, then every so often a pike. It depends on the lake. I also caught a few brook trout this year which I haven't done in past years.
Eventually summer past and it was time to head back to the city. Things couldn't have been better for me over these past 4 years when I look back. I learned to much about nature and myself. I confronted some problems which I was able to overcome. I never suffered any major injuries. Life is amazing.
Year 5 - stayed 4 months total throughout the summer
April 15 was my entry date in 2017. It was a cold few weeks with a couple days staying below freezing temperatures. No plants available at this point so I chose to paddle the border. Pike fishing is open year round on certain border lakes. I caught a nice one which kept me fed for 3 days. I decided it best for me to stay at the same campsite while it was colder so I built a rock wind block around the fire grate. When I left camp I disassembled my rock shelter. I see a lot of fire grates that are completely surrounded by large rocks. Fire needs air flow to burn. Cooking is way easier when the fire grates are not surrounded with rocks. All one really needs is 2 or 3 medium sized rocks on even the windiest of days for an effective fire. I never makes large fires. I've found that keeping a smaller, easily controlled fire is the best way to cook. I will even make two small fires in the fire grate instead of one large fire.
Now after spending most of my time over the last five years in the BWCA, I think of it as home. I work different places in the winter as needed so I can sustain my simple life during the summer, never staying in one place for too long. Of course, everyone enjoys a vacation from their home. Even though I love the BWCA, there is much more to explore so after 2 months this Spring I decided a cross country vacation would be nice. Off I went on a 2 month motorized journey from Minnesota to Colorado, then thru Wyoming and Montana, crossed upper Idaho to Washington. Most areas of the country out west are breathtakingly beautiful but ultimately I think we all get a bit homesick. After Washington state I turned around and decided to go home. I spent some of August thru part of October back in the BWCA where I was able to enjoy all of the amazing fall colors and peace of mind of being home.
Year 6 - 2018 - Stayed almost 5 months in the BWCA this year
May 5 is when I was finally able to paddle into the BWCA this year. I entered on Fall Lake the day after ice off. Spring was beautiful and wet. Lots of rain. The berries this year were amazing and they lasted a long time. I was able to collect strawberries, juneberries, blueberries, dewberries, and raspberries all at the same time this year making some of the best pancakes I've ever had.
Over the years I also noticed that a nice camera would be beneficial. I found a Sony with a nice zoom that I can charge with my solar chargers. Surprisingly, most cameras still use throwaway batteries. I try to make all my devices USB rechargeable or use rechargeable batteries. I do bring with quite a few electronics. A cell phone, GoPro, camera, backup phone, pocket radio, headlamp, flashlight, and a SPOT GPS beacon. Most of these items use different batteries but it is what it is. I think I did fairly well with the camera. Here is a video of a bunch of animals I was fortunate enough to record. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HlZ0QrHCHc.
Over the years I also noticed that a nice camera would be beneficial. I found a Sony with a nice zoom that I can charge with my solar chargers. Surprisingly, most cameras still use throwaway batteries. I try to make all my devices USB rechargeable or use rechargeable batteries. I do bring with quite a few electronics. A cell phone, GoPro, camera, backup phone, pocket radio, headlamp, flashlight, and a SPOT GPS beacon. Most of these items use different batteries but it is what it is. I think I did fairly well with the camera. Here is a video of a bunch of animals I was fortunate enough to record. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HlZ0QrHCHc.