First I must say that I consider myself a beginner and student rather any sort of expert. Up until just a few years ago, my experience of gathering food and other materials from the wild was limited to forest blueberries and chanterelle. Also, I am not native to the place where I now live. I immigrated to Sweden twelve years ago, and it’s a vastly different place than the one I called home before. From arid desert to the Nordic forest, from the Pacific to the Baltic, from always sunny and warm to polar days and nights, from a cultural environment that is loud and colorful and highly extroverted to one that is quiet and restrained and deeply introverted. But it has been a glorious decade of learning, mostly through experience.
Being outdoors and foraging from nature is a big part of the Swedish identity. As soon as the first hint of spring arrives, we are taking our meals outside, even if we have to wrap ourselves in thick blankets! Each season has its classic foraged delights.
Nettle soup, Rosehip puree, Chanterelle toast, Birch water, Wild Garlic omelettes, Elderflower juice, Lingonberry jam… these are but a few of the many wild things that every Swedish person grows up with. But also Swedish people are traditionally very resourceful, making use of material from nature in all sorts of ways, from building shelters and fences to clothing and decor. They have gained all sorts of knowledge in an effort to survive here for as long as they have, particularly the farther north you go.
I do wish, however, that I’d sought out mentors or teachers who could have passed along even more practical knowledge of lesser known plants and animals. Beyond the usual foraged items mentioned above, many people are relatively dismissive of things like Red Clover and Yarrow, Chickweed and Sorrel, Purslane and Dandelion… just to name a few of the things I’ve learned about on my own rather than culturally.
The closest thing I’ve ever had to a teacher, other than the plants themselves, is my father who often took me fishing and taught me the joy of catching one’s dinner, but also the responsibility and respect involved. Before I was allowed to cast my line, I needed to understand that I should never cause any suffering to the animal, and if I did, then I should remedy it swiftly. Before I was allowed to keep my catch, I needed to understand that every part would be used, that it was dishonorable to throw any part away. Cheeks, throats, fins, scales, the bones left after the meal, they were all valuable. It was also my father who tended to the fruit trees and the vegetable gardens. There was always something ripening in our windowsills, always talk at the dinner table about what he’d grown or sometimes found out on the land. He was never one to boast, but there was a noticeable glow of pride in his countenance as we talked, like the kind of glow one has after achieving something they didn’t know they were capable of. It was his way of providing and taking care of us, I think. His way of teaching us that success is not always a societal win, it is also something as simple and foundational as connection. Connection to the place where you, and to the ones you love. When I think of my father, I cannot separate him from the land. He belongs to it as much as it belongs to him.
And though he never taught me specifically about foraging or wildcrafting as I practice it now, it is with his heart and attitude that I go on, and perhaps why I find such deep joy in it all too. The more time I spend in the natural world, the more alive and healthy I feel overall. Undoubtedly we need nature, and as I explore in a previous post, I believe that nature needs us too. For eons, we played a huge role in its health and well-being, and it is time to step into those roles again.
Okay, let’s dive into the topic of foraging! What is it, how to do it, and why even do it at all…
What is foraging?
To put it simply, foraging is the collection of materials from the natural environment. The materials collected can be used in all sorts of ways – food and drink, medicine, shelter, supplies, clothing and shoes, tools, art, practical items such as baskets and pottery, cleaning supplies, natural dyes and pigments, the list goes on.
Remember that, in a not so distant past, people did not walk into shops every time they needed something. They walked outside and found what they needed from nature, which they knew intimately in both practical and emotional ways. Traditional cultures that still live in close connection with nature don’t even have words for “foraging” or “wildness” in their languages. We only have these concepts now because we have separated ourselves to such a great extent.
What can be foraged?
Plant buds, flowers, leaves, roots, stems and seeds. Grasses and reeds. Fruits and berries of all kinds. Nuts and seeds of all kinds. Mushrooms. Lichens. Seaweeds. Fish and shellfish. Shells. Tree bark, needles, branches, inner wood, roots, resin and sap, birch water.
It would be easier to answer the question, what can NOT be foraged? Obviously nothing that could cause harm either to you or any part of the ecosystem. We will touch more on this below in the section on responsible harvesting.
Where can you forage?
Technically, you can find things to forage everywhere – meadows and mountains, swamps and seas, forests and fields, the small strip of protected nature in your neighborhood, a local park, the cracks in the sidewalk, on the side of the road, in hedgerows or anyplace where nature is allowed to be or where nature creeps in anyhow.
But legally, the laws around foraging will differ from country to country and city to city. Please make sure that you understand and follow the laws of your place before heading out.
Here in Sweden we operate according to allemansrätten – everyone’s right to roam the countryside, forage and even pitch a tent anywhere as long as you stay at least 70 meters away from private residences. The exceptions are that you cannot roam private gardens or forage protected species, both for obvious reasons.
But with freedom comes responsibility.
Responsible foraging
Our right to roam the land here means that we take responsibility for it too. Because we love the land, we never want to cause any harm. We want our grandchildren to have this joy as well.
Children here are taught sustainable – and safe – harvesting from a very young age. Why take more stinging nettles that you need? The idea is ludicrous. Take just the right amount, lagom. If you need more tomorrow, well then you can go back out for what you need. Personally, I always need an excuse for going back out! And I’ve noticed that my kids are naturally quite responsible, as if they understand their limitations inherently (okay, except when it comes to the wild blueberries, and then they are insatiable bottomless pits!)
Both personally and with all Wyld endeavors, I stick to the Honorable Harvest guidelines, as discussed in this post. They are not hard laws, but principles that guided my ancestors and become reinforced in the everyday routines of living, working and being.
Know the ways of the ones who take care of you, so that you may take care of them.
Introduce yourself. Be accountable as the one who comes asking for life.
Ask permission before taking. Abide by the answer.
Never take the first. Never take the last. Take only what you need.
Take only that which is given.
Never take more than half. Leave some for others. Harvest in a way that minimizes harm.
Use it respectfully. Never waste what you have taken. Share.
Give thanks for what you have been given.
Give a gift, in reciprocity for what you have taken.
Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever.
– very much influenced by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Safe foraging
It is critical that you know what you’re harvesting – and how you should harvest it. There are many ways to harm a plant if you lack knowledge. There are also plenty of poisonous and/or toxic plants out there, even deadly ones. Oftentimes, the toxic varieties look very similar to non-toxic varieties. This is not a reason to fear the natural world – you only fear it because you do not know it. It is, however, proof that we should respect it. You want to feel comfortable in nature, but never cocky.
If you’re a beginner, I recommend starting with just one thing. Let’s say that you’re interested in mushrooms. Maybe just start with chanterelle. Once you feel very comfortable with that, then you can move on to a different variety like oyster mushrooms or lion’s mane. Keep at it daily, and by the end of a year or two, you will be astonished at how much knowledge you’ve gained.
Or perhaps you want to learn about your local plot of land. Again, begin with one thing. Perhaps there are Juniper berries. Start there. Once you’re sure you can identify Juniper berries, avoiding any toxic berry look-a-likes, then move on to another species. Don’t just look up in bushes. Look down at the ground too. So many plants that we consider “weeds” are incredibly beneficial and safe. Once you’re comfortable in the visible world, then you can try exploring roots. Roots, however, require even more precaution as you can definitely cause a lot of damage if you don’t know what you’re doing.
If at any point while foraging you begin to feel lost, then it’s time to stop. When I hit these points, I become very quiet. I try to listen instead of acting. It is a time for learning not taking.
There are plenty of opportunities to learn from and connect with people who can teach you. Search for some courses in your area. Join a group that organizes meet-ups. There are online resources and plenty of fantastic books too. If you thought that foraging on your own was fun, then just wait until you experience it with others. There is nothing better. The communal act of being in nature together is incredibly human.
The other thing I’ll add is that you might want to be mindful about environmental and industrial pollution when you forage. Especially if you are going to consume the plant, or apply it to your skin. While technically you can forage even on the side of a busy highway, I would personally not. This is your call though! Personally I try to always forage from the wildest place possible, as deep into nature and as far from industrial activity as possible. But this is not always possible.
The Benefits of Foraging
Wild foods are nutritiously superior
In nearly every case, plants found in the wild contain more macro and micro nutrients, antioxidants and/or other phytonutrients than their domesticated counterparts.
There are many reasons for this, which include soil depletion, monocropping practices and the use of pesticides in farming, plus the fact that farmed foods never develop the same phytonutrients that wild foods must develop in order to survive natural threats. Here is some additional reading for the interested:
- Breeding the Nutrition Out of Our Food
- Eating ‘Wilder’ Foods for a Healthier Diet
- The Missing Link to Optimum Health
- A Foraged Feast: Nutritional Value of Wild Edible Food
But it’s just not food. This also applies to plants or other natural materials that are harvested and used in skincare applications, for medicinal purposes, etc.
Foraging is economical and practical
Foraged foods are free! Nuff said.
This means free, nutritious food. Free, effective medicine. Free supplies. Free decor and beauty.
Not only are they economical, but can also be very practical. Particularly for those who cannot afford healthier, organic food which often comes with a hefty price. Or for those who live in places where the access to healthy, organic food is limited. For example, when we go out to the countryside to stay our summer cabin, we have access to just one food market, and its selection of food is dismal. We are literally better off trying to find food in nature.
This is especially important for marginalized communities who are forced into places that perpetuate disease and poverty. If the people could reclaim and rewild the land, then they could feed themselves better, creating not only benefits to physical health but also psychological health.
And yet this basic human right has been taken away from people all over the world. Imagine the issues we could solve by recovering these rights and recovering the land. It would be revolutionary.
A sense of connection and belonging
Nature really misses us. We no longer have a relationship with plants and animals, and that’s the reason why they’re going away.
M. Kat Anderson in Tending the Wild
The more time we spend in nature, the more we come to know it and feel at home. The entire world is pulsating with life and wonder, with story and song. It is inviting us to sing our part back, to gather and belong.
For too long, we have viewed ourselves as negative “impact” rather than as positive caretakers who can manage resources in a way that is mutually beneficial to both us and the land. Now we have almost no connection to anything, not even the food we eat. Certainly not to the world we inhabit and depend on far more than we realize.
The deepest part of us longs for those songs, that connection, the freedom, the wonder.
Physical and mental health
Going out to forage gets your body moving, your blood pumping, and all of your senses attuned. This sensual knowledge and bodily connection cannot be understated. The more foraging and wildcrafting I do, the more I come to understand just how much knowledge is embedded, embodied, in my bones and in my blood. It’s as if my body knows things that even my brain cannot grasp.
Going out to forage is also calming. It offers new perspective. It’s strange who much it can energize me, yet it’s so peaceful. Just being in the natural world, communing with it. Whether I’m alone or with others, the conversations are more human, more truthful.
Not to mention how rewarding it all is! The sense of joy and wonder. The pride and sense of accomplishment of having gained new knowledge and new skills. The process is often slow, but it is rewarding on every level of my being.
Gaining a new language
“People can be intelligent with their lands, the languages being formed from the land and then people in turn singing up their land. The roots of intelligent are inter and legere, which means both “read” and “gather”–– people could gather plants and words from their lands. To gather, of course, itself means both “to collect” (for example, fruits) and “to understand.”
Jay Griffiths in Wild: An Elemental Journey
I highly recommend Jay Griffith’s book, Wild, to learn more about the connection between language and the land. Basically, to lose your connection to the land is to lose a language. When indigenous languages die out, we don’t just lose words. We lose ideas and ideals, ways of being and knowing. We lose things that could never be translated into the dominant language of empires and industry. This is no minor thing. To lose our language is to lose our mind, because when that intelligence is gone, what do we have? Only what we are fed to replace it.
But likewise, we can gain all of these things too. Together, in collaboration with the land and waters, plants and animals, we can enter into new (or old) ways of being and knowing again, and thus form new words, new languages, new intelligences, which could nurture every single life on this planet. What it requires is our time and attention.
Foraging is a fantastic starting place, because as Griffiths says, there is a connection between the physical act of gathering from the earth and gaining a deeper knowledge, which eventually becomes intuition, and then becomes language.
Are there other reasons why you love foraging? What are your favorite thing to forage? If you’re an experienced forager, who taught you about it, or how did you learn? And if you’ve never foraged before yet are interest, is there a particular thing that you’re most interested in?
I’d love to hear from you!
xx
