Dinner in the wild

Rebecca Lerner's adventures as an urban forager aren't for the weak-willed. When she takes on a weeklong wild-food challenge in Dandelion Hunter: Foraging the Urban Wilderness (Lyons Press; $16.95), Lerner vows to eat only what she can forage within the Portland, Ore., metro area. No meltdown trips to the store, no Dumpster diving and no homegrown garden food allowed. Despite initial failure, Lerner hones her techniques with the help of some savvy squirrels and a host of colorful characters. In a funny, informative and inspiring way, Lerner shares how her quest ultimately leads to greater connectedness with the natural world.