As forest foraging becomes more popular, and eating “wildcrafted” foods at upscale restaurants becomes more chic, responsible harvesting becomes even more important. Foraging in the woods for family and friends is far different from commercial harvesting of wild foods. The latter is rarely sustainable, even if done on a large-scale farm. Wild ginseng is an example of how over-harvesting has led to harsh laws and severe fines. Commercial ginseng farmers are highly regulated and must follow strict guidelines to get their products to market. Wild ginseng cannot reproduce quickly in Canadian soil, and so, should not be disturbed at all.
My personal practice is to teach people how to forage for their own family and friends, and the emphasis is on not only sustainability, but encourages regrowth and enhancement of areas for increased yields. If these standards are not possible, it is best to leave those edibles alone. So many other foods are available, you won’t miss the wild leeks or fiddle heads!
If you plan to go foraging, consider the property. Do you own it, does it belong to a friend or co-op, or is it public land? Is foraging allowed, do you need a permit or written permission. or is foraging forbidden? If it is land owned by a friend, how many others will be wildcrafting in the same season, and will they want the same plants?
Knowing the answers to these questions will arm you with vital information. Now, let’s say the land is privately owned, you have permission, and there will be only a couple more people picking plants (I’m SO into alliteration!)
Let’s go over the ground rules (yes, it’s a pun!)
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Only pick species that will reproduce in abundance in that area. Look around. How many are you finding now? If they are sparse, wait a week or two to see if you are too early to harvest the crop. Maybe more plants will shoot up. If not, leave them alone. (Oh, I’m on a roll!)
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The general rule is to take 1/3 of a plant, and not more than 1/3 of the crop, up to what you will actually consume before it goes bad. I recommend you take less.
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Make sure you know the species you are harvesting. Are there toxic look-alikes? For example, wild carrot looks like hemlock. Yes, THAT hemlock! You can get quite ill from hemlock. Never eat anything in the woods; always wait until you get home. Or they could be a look-alike that is sensitive and rare. Taking it could disturb its ability to reproduce.
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Harvest from the centre of the woodlot out. The closer you are to roads and buildings, the greater your chance of eating toxins like weed killers. Ask the landowner if they use any toxic chemicals on their property. Never harvest from a roadside that is maintained by a government agency.
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Understand the life cycle of the plant, and its preferred ecosystem. If you harvest at the wrong time, you could disrupt the life cycle of the species.
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Unless you are specifically looking for roots, leave them. Cut only what you need. Some plants need to be torn, some cut with scissors. Do your research first!
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Use clean tools. Carry a container of hydrogen peroxide and clean cloth wipes. You want to prevent diseases from spreading throughout the forest. (My favourite tools are Fiskars. Lifetime warranty! No, I don’t get paid for the endorsement.)
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Go wild harvesting invasive species! Garlic mustard, watercress, blackberry, and many other plants will come back year after year, no matter how many you take away, so do the other plants a favour and remove what you can. Harvesting them helps preserve the preferred ecosystem. Blackberries are one of my favourites to put into scones. Yum!
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Walk gently and carry a big stick. The stick is for moving branches aside, and for carefully clearing debris away when looking for ground species. It’s also good for balance, and as a tool for safety!
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Know the laws. It is not illegal to pick trillium (bet you didn’t know that!), but we don’t recommend it. However, it IS illegal to pick or dig up wild ginseng, small white lady’s-slipper, swamp rose mallow, wild hyacinth, and wood-poppy, among others. A list of threatened or endangered plant species can be found at https://www.ontario.ca/page/species-risk-ontario#section-7
Nature should act the same after you leave as if you had never gone into the woods.
If you choose to buy your herbs and edibles instead of foraging, make sure the sources are environmentally responsible and local. Hang around farmers’ markets, frequent roadside stands, and get to know family-run businesses.
Thanks for loving us!
