#foraging guide

Today we’re gonna talk about Purslane! (portulaca oleracea) (shown in image below)

Locally for me, this yummy little weed grows aplenty in my horse pastures. Good, not just for cooking and salads, but for your craft as well. This succulent is one of my favorite weeds of summer...

Please note: this is not a fully fleshed complete guide to foraging. I may add more later but for now this is a collection of little tips I personally use. I am not responsible for any rashes, poisonings, cases of mistaken identity, gastric distress, or any other injuries or illnesses incurred as a result of your foraging.

foraging is not only about gathering food and medicine from your environment- it also is a wonderful way to develop a deeper relationship to the land you are on. Foraging is about give and take.

As I am in northeastern North America living on stolen Anishnaabe First Nation territory, part of my practice as a forager and maker of plant medicine is to educate myself on the gathering etiquette and processing techniques of those who stewarded this land for so long. I strongly suggest the same for all foragers on Turtle Island.

do not take the entire plant if you can help it, unless that plant is an invasive species dominating the area, or you’re foraging roots. Pick single, undamaged leaves with a healthy green colour from the base of the plant. Avoid browned or yellowed leaves, any white or brown or rust coloured coatings, and insect-damaged parts. avoid plants from the side of the road. Check to see if anyone has laid eggs or made a home on that leaf before picking, and if there is, leave that plant be.

Pick from healthy populations- leave eight plants for the animals, to repopulate, and for other harvesters, and the ninth is yours to gather.

get to know your area, moreso than just where you can find what. Who lived here, and what wild foods and medicine did they gather or propagate? Look for information on indigenous people as well as later settlers as you can often find naturalized populations of plants that were useful to both groups.

get to know your neighbours- trees, shrubs, ‘weeds’, vines, mosses, grasses, native species, insects, birds, animals, etc. Notice who tends to live in close community with whom, and what terrain they prefer. Eventually you will be able to roughly evaluate what species occur in a given area as well as what’s in season (particularly fruits) based on the landscape and inhabitants. A key skill in mushroom foraging is getting to know the tree profile of the area you’re foraging in- this is equally useful when foraging for plants. look at the soil- is it rocky, sandy, gravelly, moist, spongy, compacted clay, grassy meadow, thin soil atop granite or limestone, etc? This is a clue that tells you about who might live there.

take along a garbage bag and thick gloves every once in a while and clean up the litter in the area. Be careful of hazardous waste (dumped batteries or lighters etc, needles, glass, etc) and leave those for the better-equipped. Dispose of the trash responsibly- recycle what you can and thoroughly wash your hands after. sing or talk to the plants. Tell them what you’re going to use them for, thank them for their life and for the food/medicine they are giving up for you. They are also living beings with diverse experiences, and have much to communicate with us. You are taking part of its body. Show gratitude.

in the fall when seeds begin to develop, gather and spread the seeds of the plants you gathered earlier in the year as you walk along. Also make sure to spread the seeds of native species.

when foraging, don’t rush it. Walk slowly and notice as much as possible. you can always, always see something cool when you go slow.

Keep a bag on you with a map, water, tweezers, some food, bandages, rash ointment, a knife, lighter or matches, and possibly a solar power bank and phone charger in it when you go to places that are far from inhabited areas. Let someone close to you know where you’re going when you head out. Strike fast- some plants go out of season in a matter of days, particularly flowers. Nature doesn’t wait. Pay attention to what blooms and fruits when, and eventually you’ll get a good idea of what is in season at any given time. For example- where I am, the juneberries and linden blossoms are in season at the same time. Red clover and cleavers are ready when the fireflies first come out.

High temperatures, dry air and strong sun tend to shorten the lifespan of flowers, and cool, cloudy or rainy weather will extend blooming time for most plants.

Gather in dry weather if you can if you intend to store the harvest. First thing in the morning after the dew dries is optimal.

Wear long pants and bring bug spray. Pull your socks over your shoes before heading out. Always always always do a tick check- in my area, almost one third of ticks are infected with Lyme, and there is a serious shortage of doctors and medical appointments. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound (or more these days) of cure. It is easier to spot them on light coloured clothing and with the help of a flashlight.