We humans have been foragers for the majority of our time here on Earth. The eyes you are reading this with are forager’s eyes. Most humans can see reds and greens a lot better than many other mammals. Why? Our eyes have been fine-tuned over millions of years to judge the ripeness of fruits and even the calorie content of wild food. [1]
Why forage?
It’s a good question. Those of us living in industrial civilisation have the luxury of popping down to the shops. We having an incredible amount of choice about what we have for dinner. We don’t need to forage … or do we?
I’ve noticed that when people ask about the different courses I run and the topic of wild food foraging comes up, more often than not their (ancient, forager’s) eyes light up. They’ll say something like “I’ve always wanted to learn about stuff you can eat in the wild!” This is usually followed by a rueful “but I’m nervous about eating the wrong thing.”
It seems to me that the urge never leaves us, just the knowledge . . .
Nature connection
I believe that foraging still has a place in the modern world. We live in a society that is desperately disconnected from nature and foraging can be one of many ways to help rebuild that connection.
It gets us outside for a start. And then we engage our brain’s ability to learn and recognise patterns and shapes. We start to notice (even subconsciously) that damp woods will be good for wild garlic, the brambles in the sunny spots are often sweeter, and that nettles like enriched ground.
And when we slow down we might spot the other wildlife feeding on the same plants. “Look, that bullfinch is eating dandelion seeds.” “Those orange tip butterflies are laying eggs on the garlic mustard, just like last year.” “Check out at all those redwings scoffing rowan berries!”
To me, nature connection is one of the most important things about foraging.
Wellbeing
Walking and movement are obviously good for our physical health. There is now reams of evidence showing how good being in nature is for our mental health too [2].
Nutritious food for free
Wild food isn’t just free. A lot of it is super-nutritious and in many cases is a lot higher in vitamins and minerals than cultivated plants. We can get a great boost of nutrients by eating wild plants [3].
Resilience
Hopefully we’d never be in a situation where we needed to forage to survive. But if you did happen to be lost in the wilds, or if food was otherwise in short supply, knowing a bit about what you can eat is a valuable skill.
How to forage
There are a few common sense ground rules that help us forage safely and well. I think that most people intuitively know this stuff anyway, but it’s worth summarising. I like to break responsible foraging down into two main themes: Safety and Stewardship …
Safety
100% Positive identification
There’s no room for guessing when foraging. Check and double check, and if in doubt, don’t eat it! Use a good plant ID guide, or better still, get out there with an experienced botanist or mycologist (mushroom expert). Don’t rely on ‘point and ID’ apps. The technology is impressive but not infallible. It’s a good idea to learn to recognise some common poisonous plants too. If harvesting mushrooms, never mix up your samples.
Check the source
Think about possible contamination. Have your dandelion leaves been given an invisible dog wee dressing? Could this spot have been sprayed with chemicals? Is there a busy road nearby, with heavy metal pollution?
Harvest healthy plants
Again, common sense. I think we instinctively would go for plants that look fresh and appealing rather than manky-looking wilted specimens.
Harvest at the right time
Nettles are an example of a plant that is great for you, but harmful if you eat it at the wrong time. In the case of nettles, they develop tiny calcium carbonate crystals in the leaves as they get old. These can irritate the kidneys, but young, fresh leaves are fine. A lot of plants become more bitter or tough as they get older and again, perhaps instinctively we find that they look less appealing.
Try small amounts to start with
Just like any food you might buy from the shop, people can have allergic reactions to all sorts of things. If you are trying a particular plant for the first time, it’s best not to guzzle down a massive bowlful. Sample a small amount first and if you feel fine the next day then try some more. Certain mushrooms are known to be ok for some people, while other people may have reactions. Keep samples of whatever you’re eating just in case.
100% Positive identification …
Did I already say that?
Stewardship
You may be wondering, surely if everyone goes out foraging, won’t we clear out what’s left of our beleaguered countryside? It’s a valid concern and there are definitely cases when people take, say, all the mushrooms they find in an area of woodland. This is more common with commercial harvesting. But with a bit of respect and know-how, we can easily avoid these problems.
Leave plenty behind
For the most part, it’s a good idea to leave a lot more than you pick. Say you’re collecting bilberries (blaeberries here in Scotland). We want there to be plenty for the plant itself to be able to reproduce. We also want to leave a lot for the many animals that depend on wild plants. It’s also just good foraging manners to leave enough for other foragers.
There are exceptions though. It could be that you’re trying to get rid of the vigorous and invasive ground elder in your garden (good luck), so harvesting a lot isn’t such an issue.
Focus on common species
I prefer to focus on teaching common species. This way there’s less risk of over-harvesting. Plants like nettles and dandelion are super-abundant and gardeners who are making an effort to get rid of them still usually fail to do so. Even then, I like to make sure that some plants are left as they are important for wildlife.
Minimise trampling
Watch where you put your feet. In our eagerness to get at those juicy-looking blackberries, it can be easy to trample other plants in the process.
Foraging and the law
It’s illegal to:
Uproot a wild plant without the landowner’s permission
Harvest for commercial use without the landowner’s permission (picking stuff for your own use is fine)
Forage for plants or fungi in a National Nature Reserve (NNR) or a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Pick certain rarer plants which are protected by law.
Rewild!
It’s also good foraging etiquette to give something back. If you can, do something to help our besieged countryside. A few ideas:
Plant bumblebee-friendly plants in pots or create a wildlife garden
Support your local Wildlife Trust, Plantlife or other conservation charities.
Speak out to protect our wild places when under threat.
Stay safe, stay wild and happy foraging!
Dan
Further info
Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland
Trees for Life - Ecology of Fungi
Scottish Natural Heritage - Scottish Wild Mushroom Code
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5107980/ (Accessed 14th May 2020)
[2] https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/67/2/147/2900179 (Accessed 14th May 2020)
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4708629/ (Accessed 14th May 2020)
