{"id":9954,"date":"2021-08-25T17:43:46","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T17:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=9954"},"modified":"2021-12-04T23:01:40","modified_gmt":"2021-12-04T23:01:40","slug":"how-to-forage-for-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-forage-for-food\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Forage For Food: A Simple Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Humans have been hunter-gatherers since the dawn of time, with the natural world being our breadbasket. It is still perfectly possible to forage for food and provide many of the elements we need in a healthier form than found in a grocery store. In this article, I will talk about how to forage for food, look at any \u201crules and regulations,\u201d <\/em>and any tools you may need to take with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you need permission to forage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Foraging on your own land is perfectly legal, and you don\u2019t need any permission to do that. However, be aware that there may be laws that prevent you from foraging for certain things on your land, such as protected birds, eggs, or rare plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, if you have the permission of the landowner, the same applies. Depending on where you live, you may need permission to forage on public land or in state parks or nature reserves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different states have different rules when it comes to foraging, so it\u2019s best to check at all levels, local, county, state and federal, and ensure the things you want to forage for and where you want to collect them is entirely legal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations<\/a> is a good place to look to prevent you from falling foul of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Start Foraging?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Talk with friends and neighbors and see if they go foraging for anything in particular. Take a look at foraging specific sites and social media groups to see what\u2019s going on and what treats may be in season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armed with some ideas about what you might like to find, locate some local spots that may make reasonable hunting grounds for your chosen bounty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t mean to drone on, but before you run out of the house and start raiding the hedgerows and forests for free food, ensure you know where you can legally forage and what you are permitted to take. Not all states are the same, so check it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll be looking at some of the best tools to take with you on your foraging adventures a little later on in the post; however, you will definitely benefit from an excellent foraging handbook or two, especially if you are planning on foraging for items such as wild mushrooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the best 5-star rated books on Amazon to give you some ideas about what you should get.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What Should I Bring to Forage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A few items will come in very handy to make your foraging easy and more successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I have included some of the essential items it\u2019s helpful to have, the list is by no means complete or extensive. It\u2019s possible to go to town on “kit”<\/em>; however, you will probably be foraging for a specific thing, so you won\u2019t need everything every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have provided a few links to some of my personal favorite tools. I always recommend buying quality equipment as you want it to last a lifetime and be reliable when you need it most.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese Digging Knife<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These are also called Hori-Hori<\/a> and are a fantastic piece of kit. It has two blades, one fine, one serrated, a comfortable grip, a two-pronged tip for digging, and a handy carry case that loops onto a belt. I\u2019ve tried a few brands, but this, for me, is the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baskets, Buckets and Bags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is handy to have a mesh bag or two with you as well. They can be scrunched up and take up very little space and weigh almost nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are foraging for mushrooms, you want your collection receptacle to have gaps where the spores can fall back onto the ground for sustainability. A fine mesh bag or a flatter, open basket can also be helpful and doubles up for collecting herbs, assisting with the drying element.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, a mesh bag or a bucket can hold some of the muddier roots that you may dig up, and if there\u2019s a little water in the bottom of your bucket, the rest of the plant won\u2019t wither so quickly on the way home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pruners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s tough to choose a particular brand or type of pruner, as they are a very personal tool, and their usefulness varies. They can be used extensively for snipping through roots, twigs, small branches, and stems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have the Felco brand, as they are easy to sharpen, and replacement springs are readily available. Like all good tools, treat them well, and they\u2019ll last forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gloves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your hands are going to see some rough work and encounter prickly thorny brambles and undoubtedly stinging nettles. It is a good idea to have a couple of pairs with you, some thick protective sturdy leather gloves<\/a> and a thinner pair for some of the more delicate elements of foraging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JEWELERS Loupe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A Jewelers Loupe<\/a> may seem an unnecessary item, however, when trying to identify your botanicals, this beats a plain old magnifying glass hands down, and the LEDs on the one in the link are incredibly useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brush<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Something with decent bristles that will be strong enough to brush most of the dirt from your root harvest but not damage them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mushroom Knife<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A special knife for harvesting mushrooms may seem unnecessary, but rest assured that it isn\u2019t. It has a special curved blade to prevent damaging the mushrooms when harvesting and a brush at the end to remove the majority of dirt from the stalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Folding Knife<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A good quality folding knife or something with a sheath can come in very handy. They will be helpful in a multitude of ways, for cutting the stalks of plants such as elderberry<\/a>, other berries<\/a>, or wild parsnip<\/a> and when enjoying some fresh-picked pawpaw<\/a> when you\u2019re out on the trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it Safe to Forage for Food?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are some points to bear in mind when beginning your foray into the world of foraging. The natural world is abundant with wonderful edibles, but for almost every edible, there is also a look-alike poisonous plant with chemicals that are toxic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go slowly with your foraging journey. You may be tempted to rush out and start munching your way through the undergrowth. Just one slipup could end very badly. Do your research well, as knowledge is power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By taking along a foraging book written by an expert with plenty of detailed photographs, you can help to avoid making any fatal mistakes and ensure you can identify what it is you\u2019re harvesting. You don\u2019t want to be testing your medical insurance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The internet is awash with “experts”<\/em> on all manner of subjects. Just is the case with wild food and medicines. Ensure that you source your information from reputable and recommended sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few things to bear in mind when contemplating the safety aspects of foraging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, and most importantly, don\u2019t be tempted to try anything you have not fully identified. If your find is new to you, it may not be poisonous, but it may also give you a reaction that could be avoided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you have identified your harvest as edible, try a small amount in the first instance and check for adverse reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take precautions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some things you harvest will be easily recognizable, but precautions still need to be taken. Wild ramps<\/a>, for example, can look a lot like Lily of the valley, which is poisonous if eaten. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mushrooms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When coming across a new mushroom species, it is better to be safe than sorry. Once identified as safe, still, try a small amount in the first instance and then build up to a proper-sized portion. You will appreciate the new wonder more by knowing that there won\u2019t be a bad reaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surroundings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Be aware of your surroundings. Look and listen to what might be happening in and around where you are thinking of foraging. Pollution from heavy industry, the fumes from the exhausts of cars and trucks can all find their way into what may look like something tasty, so avoid harvesting from the roadside, especially on busy thoroughfares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Animals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you manage to find yourself out in the wilds, you\u2019ll also need to be careful of having an encounter<\/a> with some of the local wildlife. It\u2019s lovely to see many animals, but others less so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is better to avoid snakes, skunks, feral hogs, bears, pumas, bobcats, panthers, mountain lions, coyotes, crocodiles, alligators, and wolves. Although it is rare to be attacked by a large animal, it can sometimes happen, but most deaths are caused from bites by venomous snakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Animal poop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Urine and animal droppings are most definitely something that can cause an upset tummy. Try to pick areas to forage that are a little off the beaten track and not the usual haunt of dog-walkers, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This won\u2019t eliminate the chance of animal droppings, but generally speaking, the things you forage are less likely to be “infected.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is safest not to eat anything until you have had an opportunity to wash it thoroughly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laws<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once again, a reminder to check you know the local laws concerning foraging. Ensure you understand precisely what is allowed and excluded in areas where it is permitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Identify Edible Plants?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to identify edible plants is by doing plenty of research. This can be done by looking online at videos, but it is always an excellent idea to have an actual guidebook to take with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This video is part of a series that shows you how to identify and process a large range of different foraged edibles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YevUz69iWvs<\/a>