West Virginia is home to over 500 edible plants, 50 animals, and several edible insects. Many wild plants, such as ramps, dandelions, nettles, and other greens, can be eaten. Safe mushrooms like morels and puffballs grow in the area, though some mushrooms are poisonous. Wild fruits, berries (like strawberries and blackberries), and nuts (like black walnuts and hickory nuts) are also common.

Wild honey was once collected from trees, but wild honeybees are now rare. Maple sap is still used to make syrup and sugar. Some wild plants can be made into flour, tea, or condiments.

Wild animals have long been part of the local diet. While animals like the passenger pigeon are now extinct, others—such as fish, deer, rabbit, and wild turkey—are still hunted and eaten today.