It is the latest publication of Alexandra Azevedo veterinary and environmental activist. This author regularly writes popular articles of opinion, and organizes various practical activities where she highlighting the theme of food.
The new guide on silvestes fruit in Portugal by Alexandra Azevedo arises because "our industrial and urbanized society deeply moved us from the most intimate contact with nature, so the practice of wild foods recollection is practically extinct. These practical guides are directed especially to those seeking a more natural diet and to recover ancestral knowledge, compile useful information in the light of current scientific knowledge, to combine the tradition of food innovation, so editing of these works are the result of a route over the last years of research and especially of many dining experiences. "
The ethnobotanist also believes that there is "a significant diversity of plants that according to archaeological and historical data were used since ancient times. For its exceptional nutritional qualities and abundance, acorns, fruit of the species of the genus Quercus was one of the food which was the basis of feeding of early human populations in our territory, however its culinary uses are unknown to most people now, so it is worth reflecting a bit about how we got into this situation, seeking to better understand where we come from and where we go. Our native forest is very threatened and an aid to recovery will be needed, so in this guide also give additional information for propagation by seed of some species.
This latest work comes after the publication of another practical guide entitled "edible weeds" that also resulted from extensive research on plants, since the researcher states that "the conventional wisdom contains a long list of species used wild plants for food, or in place, or addition of vegetable plants, or as a condiment, and for medicinal purposes. There are gaps in the available literature on the uses of edible weeds directly by their leaves, flowers, stems or shoots, this practical guide seeks to address. "
