THE WISDOM OF WILDCRAFTING

Wildcrafting is the harvest of plants from their natural habitat for food or medicine. It applies to uncultivated plants wherever they may be found, and is not necessarily limited to wilderness areas. When wildcrafting is done sustainably with proper respect, generally only the fruit, flowers or branches from plants are taken and the living plant is left.   If it is necessary to take the whole plant, seeds of the plant are placed in the empty hole from which the plant was taken. Care is taken to only remove a few plants, flowers, or branches, so plenty remains to continue its natural abundance.

Many of us probably began wildcrafting as children.  I remember eating red clover blossoms, violets, and wild grapes from the backyard as a very young girl.  My son LOVES eating anything he can pick himself.  He is fascinated in what plants are used to make medicine or serve as a tasty treat.  He likes the idea of being able to live in the woods and not having to go to the grocery store.  We are always on the lookout for our wild, gathered feast when hiking through the forest or driving through the countryside.  I believe these ancient propensities are found within all children and must be unlocked and nurtured.  


Harvesting Medicinal Plants Guide via http://www.motherearthnews.com  

Lets explore the many benefits of wildcrafted foods and medicines, just to motivate us to take action sooner than later.  Collecting wild food increases our connection to the Earth.  It requires us to learn more about the plants and other animals we share space with, a helpful and rare skill these days.  Surely, a worthwhile activity for our children.  We fall into the harmony (or discord) of our natural surroundings and become more conscious stewards of the Earth.  Also, it is free (usually).  You know exactly where your food is coming from and when it was harvested, as opposed to store bought food.  The health benefits are Huge and immediately apparent when you adopt a wild foods diet. 

It is very important to make sure where you harvest has not been contaminated by polluted water or dumping.  Many times people are shocked at the senseless contamination of large ecosystems near to their homes.  We must become empowered to help protect our natural surroundings through political action and otherwise.

MEDICINAL PLANT GATHERING GUIDE via http://www.motherearthliving.com 

I find my husband and myself wildcrafting dinner almost everyday now.  It is a relatively easy chore with a 6 month old slung to my hip and a curious 6 year old.  I am amazed at the abundance of nettles, edible flowers, sheep sorrel, wild onion, chickweed, rhubarb, and purslane in my little village.  I am sure you will be equally amazed when you start identifying huge nettle patches and stumble across fields of sorrel near you.

Here is a simple list of the different edible and medicinal greens, berries and flowers that can be found in the summer across the US.

nettles, purslane, lambs quarters, chickweed, lemon balm, horsetail, mullein, yarrow, blueberry, bilberry, wild strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, valerian, Hawthorn berries, dandelion (flowers, greens and roots), red clover, honey locust flowers (from tree),  blue violets, Saint Johns Wort flowers, elder flowers, blue and black elderberries, rose hips, thistle, evening primrose, plantain, shepherds purse. . .

Here is a wonderful recipe for Essiac tea.  The ingredients can be easily wildcrafted from in most eastern, midwest and northern states.
Original Essiac Tea Recipe via http://www.healthfreedom.info

Here is  a great tutorial on drying your wildcrafted finds:

RECIPE FOR ELDERBERRY SYRUP

INFORMATION ON COMMON BLUE VIOLET

COMMON SENSE HOMESTEADING - A WONDERFUL SITE WITH WILDCRAFTING INFORMATION