Wild grapes

by Carl Rooker
(Michigan)

Wild grapes are a good survival food. And I don't mean just the fruit of the vine.

The tender young leaves can be eaten, cooked or raw. Add sasafras leaves, some wild carrots (Quean Ann's Lace), wild onions or garlic and you have a salad.

The vines can be used for lashings, but they also pump a very large amount of water up into the upper parts of the plant. If the ground is moist, especially early in the year, if you cut the vine it will litterally pump water from the ground. Later in the year drain the upper parts of the vine for water. This is a somewhat slow process, but with patience you can get a lot of water.

(Caution; do not mistake the Canada Moon Seed for Grape vines. This plant is deadly. Know the difference before you try it.)