Wildcrafting In Your Own Backyard & Planning The Foraging Trip Ahead Of Time
The basic definition of wildcrafting is to gather herbs, plants, and fungi from the wild for food or medicinal purposes and as I continue to expand my gardening skills, I needed to find a resource that assisted me in finding herbs and plants in my area.
- Foraging- means to pick as you go; to be on the move
- Wildcrafting- is to pick from the wild and return items harvested back to your base camp and area
I can remember when my son was in the Cub and Boy Scouts many years ago and had to earn a badge, and again when all three of my children had to make a leaf collection in the sixth grade for science class; we were out in the woods with books looking for this tree and keeping an eye out for that bush. So much time went into these excursions and I learned something from all these treks into the woods.
The leaf collections were fun because it gave me one on one time with each child for the day.
Now that I am finding a love and passion for gardening, I wanted to start foraging. I never realized how many weeds and wild plants are readily available, edible and best of all... FREE!
I was able to get this book a while ago -for free by using up my Google Opinion Rewards earnings and it has become one of my go-to reference books. The reason I like it so much is that it's customized to the area in which I live; and the author Lisa Rose has been a guest speaker at local events through the Will Forage For Food program. I have already contacted the website about upcoming events for 2018, to see what I can get involved in and attend; while it looks like some of the information is a little outdated, I am still hopeful they are active and will have some events.
Foraging Plans
The book lists so many great plants and herbs to forage in the area and with a little research through my local Cooperative Extension office I was able to get some information about what is indigenous to my area; and what are invasive to my state and county.
When Foraging Keep Your Scruples In Check
- Make sure to know your local laws, policies and regulations
- Always identify what you are looking for- keep a handy reference of images and descriptions (knowledge is power)
- Find clean areas to forage and wildcraft- ie. steer clear of roadsides which can have harmful exhaust fumes on the plants' leaves
- Don't take more than you need- Only take what you will be consuming
- Dress for foraging success- while romping through the woods and forests, keep in mind plants and trees with prickly branches. Hiking near water, make sure to have some waterproof gear and clothing
- Know the area in which you are planning to forage. Have a map. Sure your cell phone can be useful but if you are planning on going to an area you are unfamiliar with, you may also encounter bad cell tower reception.
- Have your supplies (baggies, containers, handi-wipes, gloves, trimmers/clippers, notebook/pen to keep track of which area had which plants) together
- Don't trespass- make sure to have home/land owners' permission or make sure the state/federal/local land you're on that foraging is allowed or if a permit is needed
- If you're heading out alone, let someone know where you will be and when you'll return
My first trip out later this spring will mainly be for getting feel for the land. I'll take my foraging book, list of plants I'm interested in and my supplies and see how many I can identify. I've already recruited Mr. Golden D (Yes his first name starts with a "D" too) to accompany me and help.
I wish my backyard wasn't so rocky, didn't have terrible soil, and got more sun!
Oh that's not good! I have very little back yard but I know a few people locally who have some property that are letting me roam around. So I'm fortunate and grateful for that.
Take heart! There are always some plants that love stony shady areas and you can make a beautiful garden there with a little strategic planning xx
Good luck on your foraging journeys! I've helped a friend forage before, but have had less lucky myself trying to research useful plants.
This coming yea will be a first for me so I'm curious how I'll do and what I'll find.
Thanks @goldendawne
I like hunting mushrooms. (morels)
Thanks for the heads up re: Google opinions.
Oh wow! Luckily I don't think there are rattlesnakes here, maybe some little harmless snakes but I generally stir clear of those little guys. I'm not fond of snakes at all.
For the google rewards, you answer some quick survey questions every so often and earn $$ points to use to pay for apps... but I go straight for the books; as I am a book nerd and library geek.
We had lots of "weeds" last year that I was identifying and NOT pulling (that much) last year. This year I have the books and the recipes to try some of these weeds that I have looked at year after year not knowing that they were high in vitamins and minerals. Fun times!!!
I am the same way! I am armed with reference and resource books, I have my backpack with notebook and baggies... I am so ready for this venture.
I keep looking out my back door towards the wooded area and creek behind our house and thinking... "hmm, I wonder what's out there for me to find!"
Congratulations! This post has been added to our growing directory of Steemit post for the Homesteading/Survival communities. If you haven't done so already, you can claim your badge along with the code to add to your posts to let the world know you have chosen to help others Survive, Thrive and be Prepared! Click here to get the code
Thank you for including me and my post!
I couldn't tell an oak from a maple leaf, polk from poison ivy. I am plant illiterate.
I use to be that way myself, but over the last few years I have become more health conscience, been expanding my own garden and wanting to have more knowledge of what is around me.
And trust me... if you are allergic to poison ivy... and touch it. YOU'LL NEVER forget what it looks like!
It might help to put the map and guide book in Ziploc bags too.
lol- Already got that one planned out. The areas I have picked out in my head are a tad swampy. Plus I tend to veer on the clumsy side of walking
Clumsy side of walking...goes well with galoshes. :)
And skinned knees-lol
I congratulate you with the women's day and I wish you the best, thanks for your hard work, keep steeming on. I included you in this post to support ''the feminine energy in steemit'', because I think it's very important for the whole community. ☺
Thank you!!! GREAT to have more members recognizing the INternational Women's Day
google opinion rewards is GREAT! i've gotten at least 4 digital books for free thru that program. do you read them all on your phone, or do you have something else?
I read the books on tablet, kindle or the laptop. I can't do the phone reading thing. Too harsh on my old eyes.
But yeah, I have gotten about a dozen books from them. Fermenting, gardening, herbs, essential oils- so much better than paying a minimum of $10 per book- all the ones I've purchased are reference and resource books.
all the ones i've purchased have been fiction!! ray bradbury, stephen king, and so on. i like my reference books in print, i can't help it.
do you read them on the laptop through the google books app? i've been meaning to look into how to make that work, but i never remember at the right moments >.< LOL
I open the google main page and just type in google library and the app page opens. Then I click on My Library
awesome, thanks!
Oh my very good point I'll have to post my dry land fish harvest this year or morrel mushrooms whatever you want to call them
I am waiting to hear back from my local extension cooperative office about morels. They are very popular here but I want an in-depth explanation on identifying them and where are potential locations to find them.