It's Only Slow Food Until You Try to Eat It

Misadventures of a Suburban Hunter-Gatherer

By: Bill Heavey

Narrated by: Bill Heavey

A longtime contributor to Field and Stream, Bill Heavey knew more than a little about hunting and fishing when he embarked on an ambitious project a few years ago to see how far he could get eating wild. But Heavey knew next to nothing about gardening or foraging, and he lives in northern Virginia, close to Washington, D.C. The rural wilds, this was not. Is it any surprise that his tasty triumphs were equaled by his hilarious misadventures?

With just the right dose of self-deprecation, Heavey tells the story of his quest, beginning locally and moving out from there. He digs up the ground behind his house and plants an elaborate garden only to be driven to squirrel murder (and a cover-up). He experiences abundance mania in the perch run on the Potomac, and again when he spots perfect wild mushrooms in Arlington National Cemetery. He forages for wild watercress, berries, and pawpaws within the beltway, and hunts crayfish in Louisiana and caribou on the Alaskan tundra.

With teachers that include Paula, a grizzled local so popular among DC fishers that she’s been called the Pablo Escobar of herring; Hue, a Bronze Star ex-military survival instructor and foraging expert; Michelle, a single mother unself-consciously devoted to eating local, and Jody, a weathered Cajun fisherman, Bill learns how to catch and cook frogs, prepare cattail pancakes, make salads out of garden weeds and bake a pie with foraged wild cherries.

To the delight of his readers and to his young daughter’s despair, Heavey also suffers serious blood loss, humiliation, and meals that are best described as edible. Entertaining and informative, this is Bill Heavey at his best...and worst.

©2013 Bill Heavey (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Really enjoyed this book

Can't say enough about bills books they are great for the outdoorsman. I highly recommend all of his books

Long time fan.

I’ve enjoyed Heavey’s magazine writings for many years. Now that I’ve finally started on his books, I’m also enjoying this format (Audible) that allows me to enjoy Bill’s stories outside their native habitat (my bathroom library).

SO MUCH MORE

I found this to be very educational and entertaining and I am the reader with the most negative thoughts and feelings
about killing, and hunting any living critter, there could be. But I did enjoy the descriptions of the various locations Bill Heavey traveled to, from the bayous of Louisiana to the Artic Village in northern Alaska. What trips, and his ease with the new people he encounters in the various locals.

Not bad

I didn’t pay attention to the subtitle of this book. And found it much slower and very different than the other books I’ve listened to of Bill Heavey. With that being said still a great book of stories.

Content Matters

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve listened to quite a few of his works and love his writing style. After listening to multiple Epic Fantasy series with top notch narration this book’s narration (I believe the author himself) left me a little flat. Had to walk away a couple times. In the end, his narration style, like his writing style, won me over with its sincerity, humor, and at times vulnerability.

truly captivating.

bill is an amazing story teller. Not only do you feel like you're along side him, but you feel like you know him.

1 Man’s Adventure In Living Outside Of His Comfort Zone

Now.. I’d like to start off by saying that, if the gentleman (Bill Heavey) is a well regard man who’s thought of as a hilarious/funny article writer to magazines & such, well then.. The humor apparently isn’t geared towards my “particular” taste in the genre of comedy. However, I did find certain articles of his insightful & thought provoking to an extent. For his example his experience with the San Fransisco “foodie crowd” which was at the time of his writing, a scavenger/forager vibe to it. Now a days that would be under the umbrella of Homesteading. I also did enjoy his time spent with his friend (?) Jody down in the bayous of Louisiana as he saw for himself how vast & expansive the swamps & basins can be. All in all I enjoyed the book for what it was, 1 man’s take & experience in learning & surviving off the land in different ways.

Not what I thought, but still loved it.

I immediately purchased and downloaded this book after finishing Heavey's If You Didn't Bring Jerky, What Did I Just Eat? That compilation of short stories instantly rose to my favorite reads. I was expecting more of the same with this book, however this was more of a connected journey with his foraging/foodie practices. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting.

The ending has a weight that can not be measured.

I loved this book. it is very different than another compilation of Bill's work. this pulls back the veil and let's you see a different side. The ending weighs on my mind as I prepare to feed my family, and I relate to the text.

Beautiful read about hunting and gathering.

The author brings long lost hunting and gathering skills and diverse communities who still relies on such skills alive. Great listen!