Dhaka, Sept. 25 -- Standing barefoot among a patch of dandelions, Iris Phoebe Weaver eagerly explains the many ways the humble plant can be used in cooking and medicine.

"I picked a bunch of dandelion flowers yesterday and soaked them in vodka with orange peel and sugar to make a dandelion aperitif," Weaver said. "It will make a delightful mixed drink."

A seasoned herbalist and foraging instructor from Massachusetts, Weaver leads nature walks that help people reconnect with the environment. She says the growing interest in foraging benefits not only individuals but also communities and the environment.

"There is so much food around us," she said. "An abundance we often don't even realize."

Foraging predates agriculture, which emerged ...