Foraging, why it is a holistic practice.
Why would we want to eat weeds?
Especially when we can run out to the grocery store, or better yet, get groceries or meals sent right to our door? In the western world, many of us don't have a lack of access to food.
Foraging or harvesting weeds sounds like… dirty work.
Diversity
While we can go to a grocery store and see a plethora of fresh foods, many of those vegetables have actually been bred, cultivated, and hybridized over a long period of time from the same species. And while they may appear different, they are actually very similar plants with very similar nutrient values. These foods like cabbages, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, etc.
So with this, about 12 different plant species make up over 90% of people's plant food intake. Which is pretty wild (or cultivated and small) when you stop and think about it.
It's even more mind-blowing when there is an estimated amount of 300,000 edible plant species on the planet. This amount of course varies on where you live / your environment, however there is a high chance that your environment will have more than 12 edible species and that is still a big jump from 12 cultivated and bred species.
Unique nutrients and phytoconstituents
When we limit the species and varieties that we eat, we are also losing the diversity of nutrients and phytoconstituents. These offer unique nutritional and medicinal benefits that you may not have gotten otherwise.
Many of these edible plants have had a relationship with humans and have been a part of our diets for a lot longer than not. If anything, they have helped us to adapt and grow. Our bodies have receptors to be able to utilize and use these phytonutrients and it would make a lot of sense to keep incorporating them into our diets.
Photo by Brad Brown, Upside Brown Production services
Deepening our presence and understanding.
A lot of the time when we are learning about what is on the land for harvesting, we are slowing down. We are present with our direct surroundings, we are taking time to notice what is next to us as opposed to the world at large. Which can actually be really great for our nervous system that can get overwhelmed by the amount of tasks, to-do lists, and information that is available to take in through social media, the news, and other areas of information.
Not only does this deepen our presence but it also deepens our connection with the land. Maybe we can start to see plants that grow together, maybe we can see plants perhaps acting in the same way, maybe we can notice certain insects going to certain ones and not others. Getting curious about all of these relationships and systems, and asking why, can really open our eyes as to how connected everything is and how our impact on one can affect another.
This might get you excited, and it should! Before you go out and harvest here are some things that you want to keep in mind before you go.
Chicken of the woods, Photo by Brad Brown, Upside Brown Production Services
Proper identification/ safety
There are a lot of plants out there. Many of those plants have look-alikes that are toxic or poisonous. Make sure that you are harvesting the plant that you want to be harvesting. Ways to do this can be taking a picture of the parts of the plant that are showing. This could be the leaves, stems, stem shape, and flowers and even noting what it is growing on (is it growing in a water area, off of wood, from the earth). Even note the smell. Once you have this, cross-reference it with a few sources (minimum). While you may be able to get some on plant id apps, make sure you are cross-referencing this with other sources. There are some great books available. Make sure you know your poisonous plants.
Go on a nature/ plant id walk with a group that is being put on in your area. Learning from people out in nature is a great way to learn your plants. It is also a great way to ask questions and discuss things (that an app just won't bring up)
Safety goes more than just the identification of the right plant. It also involves the environments that you are harvesting in and our awareness of it. Not only do you want to have proper hiking etiquette if you are going out in a new area (such as proper clothing, maps, enough food and water for the amount of time gone, someone knows where you are or what area you will be in), but you also want to be aware of the landscape or the area that you are in. What animals have been spotted in the areas, is it hunting season, what type of areas are you going to be harvesting from? Has the area or neighboring areas been sprayed?
You wouldn't want to forage from an environment that is close to busy roadways, that are close to industries with possible runoff or areas that have been sprayed with anything poisonous. You also want to harvest from an area that the plant you are looking for is thriving. You don't want your harvesting to affect the land negatively. Make sure you are harvesting plants that are very abundant.
Harvesting St. Johns Wort. Photo by Brad Brown, Upside Brown Production Services
Harvesting ethically, with care & respect.
Make sure you know what land you are on. Do not wander onto any just any land. You want to make sure that you have permission to be on the land. Know the rules and regulations when it comes to what types of land you are on. This means, is it crown land, a conservation area, private, etc. These rules and regulations can be different in every town, municipalities, states so make sure you check with your area.
When we harvest, we want to harvest with care and reciprocity so that in future years, these plants and people are still able to have a relationship. This means harvesting in sustainable ways. This means taking care of the plants and letting the plants take care of us. This means not taking the first plant that you see and leaving the last. Taking only what you need. Harvest the plant in a way that is least harmful to the environment.
Happy foraging
