The closest that many of us come to foraging for our own food is harvesting the garden or going to the grocery store. The extent of which might entail a long search for a mystery ingredient in a new recipe or ruthlessly seeking out your favorite food which the grocery store has conveniently decided to move across the store. Either way it is nothing like the search for food our ancestors went through on a regular basis to sustain themselves.
Fall is an excellent time to tap into your ancestral roots and forage in the forests and fields. There are many food items that can be found: berries, leaves, nuts, seaweed, and mushrooms. In addition it is an inexpensive way to have fun and add gourmet quality ingredients like chanterelles, truffles and hazelnuts to your meals.
Foraging is simple – start with a regional guide that has pictures and concise descriptions of edibles. A guide that specifies habitat, where to find a specific plant and season of harvest is very helpful especially for a novice.
Now that you have a guide and a general destination, it’s time to pack-up the family and have an adventure. Pack a bag with a few paper and Ziploc bags, sturdier containers (like Tupperware or mason jars), a pocket knife or pruners, an edible plant guide and a general plant guide (to help with identification).
If you or your children have food allergies you can still forage, however instead of consuming what you’ve found bring along paper and crayons and have them draw the plant or the creatures that might eat it.
Getting to Know You
When I was younger I had a friend who had a plum orchard and every summer they would send me home laden with tasty perfectly ripe plums. What is the moral of this story? – get to know you acquaintances and neighbors. Even one fruit or nut tree can leave its owner with an unmanageably large harvest and most are happy to give away their harvest than watch it slowly rot. It is a great way to share the bounty while connecting with your community.
You don’t have to travel far either, many neighborhoods and parks host fruit and nut trees. Always be respectful, ask private property owners before you harvest. If you look around you may start to notice that local public parks have a smattering of fruit and nut trees. Once you start looking around you may be surprised at just how many bountiful trees and shrubs are in your area.
Apples, pears, persimmons, quince, hazelnuts and black walnuts are all harvestable in fall so ask around.
Safety
Knowing what to look for takes time. If you are unsure about the identity of a plant or mushroom don’t eat it. Many species that are harmful boast it quite clearly with vibrant or unusual coloration however this isn’t a failsafe way to forage. In addition, state and local parks and nature centers do occasionally offer foraging classes so do a little research. Classes will give you basic know-how and confidence for future foraging. As long as you use common sense it is unlikely that you will come to harm.
Several years ago I was picking berries in a hedge for pie. Several days later an itchy rash appeared – poison oak. Be sure that everyone in your family can identify poison oak or ivy if they occur in your area.
It takes time to recognize plants, but once you’ve got it you’ll never pass by a thimbleberry or miner’s lettuce without a quick taste. So go experience the thrill of finding your own food - go be a Bounty Hunter!
