Manitoba Writer Laura Reeves recently stopped by the Portage Regional Library to discuss her new book, Laura Reeves' Guide to Useful Plants from Acorns to Zoomsticks.

The book is on sale now at the library, as well as the Honeybee Health Store, and Reeves explains what can be found in the pages.

"I came to do a talk at the library to discuss my book, and let people know what different Manitoba plants can be used for anything from food, medicine, making shelter, fire, all sorts of things."

Reeves used to work at the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Reserve and now owns her own business. She explains what type of work she's doing now.

"I started my own business called Prairie Shore Botanicals. Through that I run workshops on wild edibles and wilderness skills, natural basketry, and I do private consults with people who want to know what wild plants are growing on their yard, and what they can be used for. I'll walk around there yard with them and let them know what they have, how to harvest it, how to prepare it, the best time to harvest it and those sort of things. It's a lot of fun and people really appreciate what's in their back yard more."

She adds it's really amazing at how many useful plants there are in Manitoba.