11 Precautions and Tips for Safe Foraging

Edible wild food to forage for in the spring include cattail stalks, dandelion, chickweed, chives, nettles, wild lettuce, violet leaves, redbud flowers, mustard and rose family flowers, violets, strawberry, and gooseberries. It is a great time to dig burdock, dandelion, and wild parsnip roots.

There is a veritable feast out there! Herbalists believe that foods available seasonally provide nourishment appropriate to the body’s needs at the different times of year.

Experts recommend you introduce yourself to two or three new wild plants to eat a season, so as not to become overwhelmed. Start now!. The most important thing of all is to forage safely, both for your health and the environment. These guidelines will help:

This is a condensed version of a list by Deborah Lee reprinted in The Green Kitchen Handbook. A few good guidebooks for identifying plants are a must!

1. Know what you are picking. (Many edible plants have a poisonous look-alike.)

2. Be extremely careful when collecting mushrooms.

3. Know what part to pick.

4. If wild animals can eat the plant, it doesn’t mean it is safe for humans.

5. Avoid plants near industrialized farming or any area where commercial fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides may have been used.

6. Avoid foraging near main roads due to herbicide use by road crews.

7. Don’t over harvest any one plant or area.

8. Take only what you need.

9. Clean and sort through the plants in the woods.

10. Don’t overeat foraged plants as they can be strong medicinally.

Read more: Community, Eating for Health, Life, Nature & Wildlife

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Carol Ann O.

7:58AM PST on Jan 28, 2012

Wish I could have the knowledge of my grandfather. Picked and canned wild mushrooms fromm the woods for years and no one ever got sick.Only fed deliciously

send a green star

Gary C.

8:19PM PST on Jan 23, 2012

Good advice , Thankyou....

Michele W.

1:12PM PDT on Sep 10, 2011

Thank you

Ida J.

6:43AM PDT on Sep 10, 2011

thank you

Jennifer C.

12:34AM PDT on Sep 9, 2011

Good article. Thanks for sharing.

Ruth R.

6:15AM PDT on Aug 6, 2011

Good points.

rex t.

3:13AM PDT on Apr 25, 2011

I have foraged for years,wildness can take place in your own garden, feed the birds on the garden and gthey will bring seeds which will grow and you can share the great bounty, they are thanking you for your gifts to them.Otherwise woods around wooded land is good, look for chicken in the woods and puffballs but go with someone who knows what they are doing.Fresh Nettles stinging variety up till June take top young heads wash and plunge into boiling water make a onion and nettle soup, its easy aand feel so good

patti n.

2:32PM PDT on Apr 17, 2011

Way to dangerous for me. I will leave it to the market to provide for me

Gordana R.

7:39AM PDT on Mar 22, 2011

good article

Kip M.

6:28PM PST on Mar 1, 2011

two of my favorite things, walking and eating:-)