We want to share the gift of nature connection with our fellow humans and provide a space where people feel safe enough to slow down, reflect, and be fully present. More than anything, we’re here to build community around our love for this land and share in the gratitude of the abundance that surrounds us. Just a few years ago, neither of us had ever even heard of honeybee therapy or hive aerosol therapy.
Read MoreFear of mushrooms seems quite commonplace, even in foraging circles. I frequently hear students in my classes say something along the lines of, “I would love to pick mushrooms, but I’m scared of accidentally poisoning myself!” This statement is sometimes directed towards plants or foraging in general, but it seems to come up much more often in relation to mushrooms specifically.
Read MoreI was honored to recently receive an invite to join a panel discussion on sustainable foraging at the Minnesota State Capitol. It's been a bit of a hot button issue as of late; in 2023, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) attempted to impose new foraging restrictions in state parks and other state-managed land. This venture failed due to grassroots organizing by a coalition of foragers, led largely by the Minnesota Mycological Society (MMS). As a result of this organizing, the state legislature passed a measure to create the Sustainable Foraging Task Force, which exists to gather data and information regarding foraging and develop recommendations for foraging guidelines.
Read MoreI really wish that foraging laws were more intuitive. I long for a foraging culture in the US that is more similar to that of Sweden, where people have “the right to roam in the countryside, forage and pitch a tent anywhere for up to two nights (as long as it's at least 230 feet from a home or farm).” Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll see anything like that around here anytime soon. However, foraging laws are changing, often for the better. I am part of an effort to give foragers a voice in the management of state land in Minnesota. Local county parks are changing their outdated ordinances to better reflect actual land use. Back in 2019 I wrote an article on foraging legality, and with all these changes, I think it’s time to provide an update!
Read MoreLearn about identifying plants by family and why that's useful for developing your foraging practice! This video covers the mustard family and specifically discusses garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana).
Read MoreLearn about wild edible herbs for your kitchen! These common plants are a great addition to many foods.
Read MoreI can still clearly recall my first couple experiences with juniper as a green and eager forager. I had been familiar with the plant since early childhood, frequently plucking the tips of the leaves and crushing them between my fingers to inhale the uplifting aroma. When I started a regular foraging practice at the age of 19, I read about using juniper berries and leaves as a seasoning and for medicinal purposes. Several months later I contracted a UTI and remembered reading that juniper functions as a urinary cleanser. I made tea from the leaves of a local tree, and with the help of cranberry juice, my UTI cleared up in a few days. It felt empowering to me at the time and greatly increased my appreciation for juniper.
I enjoyed the flavor and made a semi-regular practice of picking juniper berries and leaves for culinary and medicinal purposes. Herbal medicine books urged a light hand, noting that it can be toxic with frequent or heavy use. Many books mentioned a contraindication with kidney disease. Therefore I never used it frequently. It wasn’t until recently that I learned that these warnings are likely conflating a known toxic species of juniper (Juniperus sabina) with edible varieties. Furthermore, I was accustomed to indiscriminately picking any species of juniper, not realizing that certain species should be avoided. While I haven’t completely untangled the mystery regarding juniper toxicity, I have learned quite a bit and share it below to help end misinformation on the subject.
Read MoreOne of the most common questions I get asked as a professional foraging instructor is “How do you not kill yourself?” The implication here is that foraging is a dangerous activity and I could suddenly die by accidentally ingesting a poisonous species—a commonly held misbelief that I do my best to assuage.
However, that is not to ridicule or condemn people who hold that fear. I remember that I felt similarly when I first started foraging over twenty years ago. Back then, we didn’t have all the great resources we do now, and foraging guides (in my opinion) often over-emphasized the danger of mistaking an edible species for a similar-looking poisonous one. In fact, still to this day, many resources make foraging sound like a risky endeavor, suitable only for grizzled woodsfolk or expert botanists or mycologists with fancy degrees.
However, I’m here to tell you that’s not the case! And I firmly believe that learning poisonous species before or while learning edible and medicinal ones greatly increases your identification skills while reducing your anxieties.
Read MoreI remember when I first started foraging twenty years ago, I initially focused on plentiful and weedy wild greens. I think this is the case for many new foragers—we look at what’s around us and what’s familiar as a starting point. For many people, this includes plants like dandelion, plantain, chicory, dock, and garlic mustard. These are some of the wild edibles that formed the foundation of my foraging practice, but to be honest, I was not impressed. As a city kid who grew up eating a diet largely devoid of fresh vegetables, the bitter flavor and tough or stringy texture did not sit well with me. Fortunately, I was not deterred; I learned that the palatability could be greatly improved by being choosey about the timing of the harvest, the parts picked, the habitat, and the preparation methods.
Read MoreHackberries (Celtis occidentalis) are native to eastern & central US and Canada, and they are commonly planted in parks, yards, boulevards, and other urban areas. They have a tasty fruit, which is easiest to harvest during the winter months. Learn how to enjoy them in this video!
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