{"id":715,"date":"2014-04-23T08:34:25","date_gmt":"2014-04-23T08:34:25","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2015-06-14T01:10:28","modified_gmt":"2015-06-14T01:10:28","slug":"food-foraging-get-started-with-these-7-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pantryparatus.com\/articles\/food-foraging-get-started-with-these-7-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Foraging: Get Started with These 7 Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Food Foraging:\u00a0 <\/span><\/h1>\n

Get Started with These 7 Tips<\/span><\/h2>\n

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The treasure hunt for fresh, local food sources can literally be as “local” as your own yard.\u00a0 Dandelion jelly, puffball mushrooms, clover for your tea, and so the list continues.\u00a0 Delicious foods that pack a nutritious punch may be common “weeds” or might be found in a neighbor’s field or a local park.\u00a0 A treasure hunt indeed–there is a thrill to finding and identifying early springtime wild asparagus or an onion blossom (ooh, yummy “fritters”).\u00a0 Your mind races with all of the plans you have for the delicacy that only reveals itself for a brief season.\u00a0 This is food that requires living in the moment, and can serve as your trophy from a day out in the bright sunshine.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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Tip 1<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

There are some things you must know before you get started.\u00a0 First and foremost, you must know the land,<\/strong> know the owner and something about it.\u00a0 Has it been sprayed with any chemicals?\u00a0 One of my favorite foraged herbs (Mullein) is deliberately sprayed by our county because it is considered a noxious weed–this means that I can only forage it from my land or from that of a friend who verifies it safe.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Butterfly<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tip 2<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Secondly, only pick a few things you want to forage.<\/strong>\u00a0 Get a great guide like this one<\/a> and learn only a few items well.\u00a0 Once you decide what you want to try to forage, look up the food in alternate books and guides; sometimes the difference in artwork can help you clarify what it is that you are searching.\u00a0 Plan on no more than three foods to start this season, and every year you will add to your repertoire.\u00a0 This keeps foraging safe for you; you are not guessing or getting confused. \u00a0You can also use good books to learn the fakes and look-alikes.\u00a0 Some edible plants have poisonous counterfeits.\u00a0 Know them both by heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Backyard<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Tip 3<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thirdly, get talking!<\/strong>\u00a0 Someone in your area loves to forage, no matter how unlikely it seems for your neighborhood.\u00a0 I have found many kindred spirits at my Farmer’s Market and through the local food co-op, so these are great (and natural) places to strike up the conversation.\u00a0 \u00a0They’ll give you suggestions as to where to look, the effect recent weather has had on the crop, and anything else you should know.\u00a0 One piece of advice given to me when first moving to Montana was by two older women that I would guess to be in their late seventies: \u201cAlways wear bells on your clothes; it helps scare the bears away.\u201d\u00a0 Your newfound foraging friends may offer to take you along to show you a trick or two!\u00a0 If they do not offer, do not hesitate to ask; this might help you make positive plant identification and will ease any concerns you have about it. \u00a0If you live in a community with a cultural center for an immigrant population, this might be a starting place.\u00a0 I once took Russian language lessons from a Russian cultural center that taught everything from ballroom dancing to chess, to—mushroom hunting!<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Huckleberry<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tip 4<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

My fourth tip might be controversial to some, but follow me out.\u00a0\u00a0 If you are starting, skip the mushrooms <\/strong>altogether.\u00a0 There are about 10,000 known species of mushrooms out there–dizzying, isn’t it?\u00a0 Out of those, only approximately 1,000 species are edible (edible, not necessarily delicious).\u00a0 Mushroom hunting is a wonderful skill and a very rewarding one, but not for the beginner.\u00a0 There is a Russian saying: “There are Brave mushroom hunters and Old mushroom hunters, but not Brave, Old mushroom hunters.”\u00a0 Try something easier first, then spend this next winter attending your local mushroom hunting club to gear up for Spring when you have the expertise and companionship of Old mushroom hunters.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Morel<\/span><\/p>\n

photo credit: Chiot’s Run<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p>\n

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Did tip #4 make you mad?\u00a0 For those who understand that a world of opportunity lay at your feet with mushroom hunting,\u00a0 understand that the fear of poisoning is what keeps most people from ever attempting food foraging!\u00a0 By eliminating mushrooms altogether for the newbie, we have opened up a world of delicacies from the forest floor and eliminated the initial fears that would inhibit them from these delicious discoveries. We need to be careful with all foraged foods, but mushrooming is the one area I say should be reserved for hands-on instruction with a veteran.
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Tip 5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Make a day of it!<\/strong>\u00a0 Plan on hiking.\u00a0 Invite a friend.\u00a0 Take good maps, a change of clothes in the car, lunch and snacks, tell others where to find you.\u00a0 Carry a bucket or bag for the food you collect. \u00a0Let me recommend the Roo apron; it will keep your clothes clean, your cell phone handy for emergencies, and eliminates the need for a bucket when you traipse through the woods.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Make<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0photo credit: yvestown<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p>\n

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Tip 6<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wait until you get home to taste test.<\/strong>\u00a0 This is another safety tip.\u00a0 It might be exactly what you think it is, but if you personally have an allergic reaction, the side of a hill is not where to discover it.\u00a0 Just wait until you get home, cross examine the food item with your other books and resources, and then nibble.\u00a0 Wait a half hour.\u00a0 By then, you will know that you positively identified a nourishing food on your hike.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Fiddleheads<\/span><\/p>\n

photo credit: libraryman<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Tip 7<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Finally, experiment in the kitchen.\u00a0<\/strong> Your books will recommend the best way to eat a food item, and you can learn some great recipes through resources like this book<\/a>.\u00a0 Play, eat, and enjoy!<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Preserving<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Staying Safe, Sun-kissed, and Satisfied,<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaya<\/span><\/p>\n

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Proviso:\u00a0<\/strong> Nothing in this blog constitutes medical or legal advice.\u00a0 You should consult your own physician before making any dietary changes.\u00a0 Statements in this blog may or may not be congruent with current USDA or FDA guidance.<\/p>\n

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