Food

Finding food in the forest (during summer and fall) is much easier than you may think. The forest is an open fridge for those who know what they are looking for! But it's important to keep in mind you are not going to live in the forest for ever. The search of food is more an activity to comfort yourself. A human can live about 3 weeks without food. But if you do find something to eat, that's great. It will give you a little bit more energy and it's good for the psychological well-being!

Mushrooms:

One thing you that you will find in our forest are mushrooms. There weather and climate in Quebec creates the perfect conditions for mushrooms. Yet out of hundreds of mushrooms you may find, only few are edible.

Let's get something clear, we are not professionals. It's impossible to remember all of the mushrooms present in Quebec's forests. But there is a small trick about edible mushrooms. The trick is, if you look under the mushroom hat, you will find either something that resembles a sponge or some straight lines starting at the mushroom's leg or base, call it like you want. In Quebec, all mushrooms that have a spongy hat ARE EDIBLE and can be eaten raw.

Here are some examples:

EDIBLE

EDIBLE

TOXIC

Mushrooms can be eaten raw, yet I recommend roasting them on a fire, like a kebab on a stick.

Precautions:
-Do not mix edible mushrooms with unknown mushrooms.
-Do not touch poisonous mushrooms.
-Do not eat or taste a mushroom if you are not sure it's edible.
-Never eat a mushroom with another mushroom growing on it. (Pictures below)  

 
Of course most mushrooms are not deadly, but in a survival situation, the stress you will get from stomach aches and other complications (dizziness, head ache) is not wanted. I suggest you don't eat mushrooms in doubt.

Berries 

There are plenty of berries in Quebec but only few are edible!

Berry picking would be a great way to get food, but only in the berry seasons. They are eaten raw and their leave can be used for infusions and tea.

Here are some edible berries that you will surely find.

Raspberries: Little red berries, they grow in watery areas, if you found some, you will not go starving because they live regrouped in big bushes.

Blueberries: Little blue berries, they grow in shady areas. Like Raspberries, it is possible to make tea of their leaves. Blueberry leaves are full of vitamins, which will help you regain strength and self-confidence. 

CAUTION: Blueberries are not to be mistaken with any other berry. They grow on a ground level, and are ALWAYS blue. The plant of Blueberry rarely reaches more than 2 feet in high. If the berry is black, or red, it might be another berry. Consuming berries you don't know may be dangerous and sometimes even FATAL. Be sure of the berry you are eating.   

 Trees

Trees can be an excellent source of food in the winter or when no other food is available. 

Pines: Pines are very common in our forests. They can be easily spotted and are a precious source of food. 

Pine sap is edible, it can be chewed on or drank mixed with hot water. To get some, simply break off a branch and suck on it. 

 

Fishing and Hunting

Unless you are a professional, I do not recommend fishing or hunting. Cooking meat in a survival situation is hard, almost impossible without tools.