SouthFlorida.com | City Link Magazine

Picture this: It's the end of the world, all the gas pumps have dried up, the economy has crashed, all the restaurants and grocery stores have closed, and starving hordes roam the streets of South Florida in search of food or nonexistent help from FEMA. Sounds like fun, huh?

Well, should this doomsday scenario ever become reality, you can take satisfaction in knowing that you won't have to worry about having an empty belly. Instead, you will be secure with the knowledge of how to survive by foraging. The key to your survival? Feral plants, otherwise known as weeds, disobedient flora that don't need or desire the approval of agricultural engineers. Edible plants are plentiful year-round in our flora-friendly climate, and edible weeds in public spaces belong to everyone. So when the world goes belly-up, you'll be thankful for these so-called weeds -- you'll call them vegetables then.

Cooking these plants is beyond easy. Sauté some sliced onions and garlic. Add leaves. Salt to taste. Throw in a bit of soy sauce or hot sesame oil for more flavor. Although some people believe some of these plants have medicinal properties, I make no such claim. Please be sure you've identified a plant correctly before eating it. Test a small amount of any new food first, in case of unknown allergies. Be aware of a plant's conditions; if you think it may have been sprayed with chemicals or peed on by dogs, refrain from eating it.