Foraging For Wild Edibles

At one time, the elders in my family had the knowledge of wild plant foraging. According to family lore, my great-grandparents were able to go out into the woods and bring back a variety of plants and mushrooms that could be used for food, medicines, and even made into wine. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, this knowledge was not passed down through family members. And so, I tend to rely on books and classes to fill in the missing information. 

Foraging can include gathering wild plants, berries, and mushrooms. And along the coastal region, can also include the gathering of clams, mussels, and seaweed. There are several books and websites that can help with identification (it's recommended to check with at least two sources when identifying in the interest of your own health and safety). It's also a good idea to check local and State laws before gathering. Be mindful not to take more than you need, and exercise caution in regard to lookalike plants, and whether or not the area you're foraging has been treated with any kinds of pesticides or sprays. Obviously, it is NOT SAFE to forage edibles from those areas. There are also classes available in the San Francisco Bay Area, where you can learn about the local plants, mushrooms, berries, as well as foraging for clams, mussels, and seaweed.

We have some excellent books available here at San Jose Public Library about foraging for wild plants and mushrooms.

Booklist: 

Foraging as A Way of Life

California Foraging

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America

Backyard Foraging

The Forager's Feast

Forage, Harvest, Feast

The Bay Area Forager

Wild Mushrooms

The Forager's Handbook

Final Thoughts: 

1. I remember gathering dandelions with my Mom and eating them in a salad mix with olive oil and balsamic dressing. We gathered them in our backyard, which we were to verify that it was pesticide free. We would also gather wild mushrooms and rhubarb.
2. A lot of wild grown plants that have been deemed as "weeds" are actually beneficial medicines, which have been used and highly valued around the world by many traditional Indigenous cultures.
3. A quick reminder to take part in "no mow" May, as the wildflowers and plants serve as pollinators for bees, birds, butterflies, and a vast variety of insect life which is crucial to our ecosystem. I love walking past a garden and watching the bees hovering over the flowers.
4. Check out these dandelion recipes!
5. This type of knowledge is valuable to have and to pass down throughout the generations in your family. It also connects you in a relationship to the earth and the natural world...a connection that is all too easy to lose in this modern world.