I Started Foraging, Here’s What I Learned

I’m about 2/3 through my six month foraging and herbal apprenticeship and it has been quite a beautiful journey! I’ve learned more about identifying plants, harvesting, and botanical preparations.

3 Fruits of Foraging

Yarrow!

1) Nature is nourishing! I live in Minnesota and I was pleasantly surprised to realize how many plants are edible. Garlic mustard can be made into a wonderful pesto. In addition, I learned so many plants are medicinal! Very ordinary plants, often considered weeds have properties to support emotional, spiritual, and physical health. In one of my classes I learned that Yarrow for example, can be made into a poultice and applied to a cut or a scrape.

2) Connect to the flow of nature. As I’ve been out and about foraging, it has required me to pay attention to what’s flowering, fruiting, seeding, etc. I notice nature more, especially how it changes. This sometimes evokes a sense of awe, wonder, and appreciation—seeing the crab apple blossoms open and then fall to the ground.

Bee balm! Leaves and flowers can be eaten or made into teas and tinctures.

3) Feel a part of nature. This is both inspiring and humbling. As I’m collecting leaves, plants, and flowers from wild places it becomes more apparent how dependent on the natural world I am. When foraging, I don’t get mad at the birds for eating the berries or deer for nibbling on flowers, we are sharing these things.

This has truly been a life changing experience for me. Not only is foraging very practical it also often evokes a sense of gratitude for the natural world.

Also, if you do go foraging, only eat something you are 110% confident in the identity.