7 Tips for Respectful and Sustainable Wildcrafting

Nature and her resources do not exist solely for human consumption.

Despite popular belief and behavior, Nature and her resources do not exist solely for human consumption; her infinite generosity should not be taken for granted. Too often, we see greedy people taking advantage of her grace by over-harvesting plants until they become endagered, over-hunting animals until they become extinct, and consuming her raw materials until they are depleted from the Earth forever.

These are very serious environmental issues that we all face. Right now, though, we are specifically going to talk about that first one - plants (and fungi) - in more detail. The guidelines below do not only talk about how we can prevent species from becoming extinct, but also about respecting them and learning from their virtues while they’re still here.

1) Proper Identification

Don’t touch, taste, or eat anything if you don’t know what it is. Proper identification of plants and fungi is imperative! Knowing is different than assuming/guessing. Taking the time to accurately identify the plants/fungi will keep you from:

1) touching something that could cause an awfully itchy and painful skin rash;

2) eating something that could cause severe GI distress or even death; and/or

3) unnecessarily disrupting the ecosystem of that plant (especially if you’re harvesting a lot of it from one area).

Lookalikes are common with foraged/wildcrafted plants and fungi. Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) can come in many shapes and sizes. He’s a trickster that likes to sometimes hide only a couple leaves in the mix of many other non-poisonous leaves like virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) - which is a vine just like poison ivy, so that makes identification even more complicated. Or, sometimes, poison ivy - since it’s a vine - likes to climb trees and then pretend to be a branch on that tree!

This video shows how poison ivy can look like tree branches. Some of these branches are right at face height; so, if you’re not careful enough, you could end up with the nasty rash on your face! Watch until the end of the video to see the plant ally that could lessen the severity of and soothe the poison ivy rash.

Can you spot the poison ivy?

Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) amongst virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).

The red dot shows the poison ivy and the blue dot shows the virginia creeper.

Bottom line: know your plants/fungi before you touch them. Consult multiple field guides, websites, and seasoned foragers/wildcrafters to be sure.

2) Ask Permission

Don’t pluck anything from the Earth until you ask permission from the land owner AND the plant/fungus. It’s obvious to most humans why asking permission to harvest something from privately-owned land is necessary; what often gets missed is asking permission from the plant/fungus itself. Believe it or not, plants are sentient beings. They might not be seen as “sentient” through the lens of Western science and culture, but there are many peoples around the world that do see them as sentient - in their own way. The intuitive and connected forager will have an easy time listening for the answer after asking permission to harvest; but, if you aren’t quite on that level yet (and that’s ok!), here are a couple tips on how to listen to beings that don’t speak your language. After asking permission from the plant/fungus:

  • Really listen with your ears and your heart. Does your heart and gut feel at ease? Or do they feel uneasy and hesitant? If your inner self feels at peace, harvest with respect; if you have a sense of guilt or uncertainty, maybe you should leave the being alone this time around.

  • Pay attention to what’s happening around you. Is everything seemingly calm, quiet, and peaceful? Did an insect suddenly land on that being and seems like it won’t ever leave? If it all seems peaceful, harvest with respect; if there is interest in that plant/fungus from other living beings, maybe you should leave it alone this time around.

3) Be Grateful

Give thanks and gratitude for what you have plucked from the Earth. Always be sure to thank Nature for her generosity and let her know you will not take her creations for granted. This could be done in many different ways:

  • think about or speak your intentions for use of the plant/fungus;

  • say a prayer to your deity(ies) and/or to Nature;

  • send positive energy from your heart to Nature;

  • leave a physical gift of thanks (something biodegradable or of unadulterated natural materials, of course!);

  • plant the next generation of that species (or otherwise offset your environmental disturbance); and/or

  • perform a spiritual ceremony.

However you give thanks, be honest and genuine.

Aspen oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus populinus). Gratitude was given to Nature for this juicy treat in the form of positive energy, excitement, and a caring touch while harvesting. I’m fairly certain the walk (in reality, I was running) back to camp after finding these was full of statements like, “OMG - thank you so much! These are going to be so delicious and nutritious. Thank you thank you thank thank you!”

4) Wait Your Turn

If there is a creature (animal or insect) already using the plant/fungus, you should either wait until it’s finished and vacates the area, or find a different one to harvest. I guarantee you that you’re not the only one interested in using those raspberry leaves. Some creatures, like the white crab spider (Misumenoides formosipes), use those leaves as shelter from the rain, to hide from predators, nurseries for their babies, and to prey on smaller insects for food. These teeny creatures are an integral part of the ecosystem and rely on the plants/fungi we harvest. If we disregard their presence, we disrupt the ecosystem - every action has an influence (positive and/or negative) on the overall environment.

From top to bottom: red raspberry plant (Rubus idaeus); white crab spider (Misumenoides formosipes) underneath a raspberry leaf.

5) Be Conservation-conscious

Don’t pluck anything from the Earth if it is at-risk, rare, or endangered - even if it is abundant in your surroundings. The United Plant Savers has a regularly-updated list of plants that should not be harvested from the wild. Read it. Learn it. Keep checking back in with it. Many foragers tend to see a whole forest of ramps (Allium trioccum), for example, and think, “Wow - there are so many! I’m going to dig up a bunch of these for dinner and breakfast and making butter - the possibilities are endless!” Not so fast… did you check the list first? Ramps is actually on the at-risk list. (The main reasons they are at-risk is because of over-harvesting in years past AND because it takes one ramps seed 7 years to germinate. Incredible! There are many reasons why we should protect this plant specifically, but more on that topic can be read in a separate article, The Sustainability of Ramps.)

Just because they are abundant in your immediate area, does not mean they are abundant everywhere.

From top to bottom: bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis); white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum); ramps (Allium trioccum). All of these plants are listed on the United Plant Savers at-risk list and should not be harvested from the wild in large quantities.

6) Immediate Use

Don’t harvest anything that you don’t need right now. If you can’t think of a specific reason you will need that plant/fungus immediately, or in the near future (within a year), then leave it be. Simply observe it and appreciate it instead. Maybe draw a picture of it; photograph it; take notes about its behavior, environment, etc. Harvesting a plant simply because you read/heard about it, or want to have it around “just in case,” does not mean you should harvest it right now. Leave it for someone else (or some other creature) to enjoy! This does not mean you can’t take a fallen tree branch for which you don’t have an immediate use. Those are extra gifts from Nature - and sometimes it’s her way of telling you that you need that food or medicine in your life right now!

7) Share the Bounty

Be mindful of your fellow foragers and pollinators - leave some for others to enjoy! Many wildcrafters see a bed of jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and think, “It must be my lucky day - is my bag big enough for it all?!” Not so fast… did you ask yourself who else might need this plant medicine? What about other little creatures that need it for food or shelter or pollination? Just because the plant is not at-risk or endangered, doesn’t mean you should take everything you can see. Other than the reasons stated above (ecological impact, etc.), there’s one more important reason to use thought and respect while foraging: because you are a compassionate and caring human being! Why not share Nature’s generosity with the people and creatures that love those resources as much as you do?

On the top: A bed of jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). On the bottom: Can you spot the little creature using the jewelweed flower for rest and protection? (Hint: it’s on the underside of the flower on the far right).

*All photos are original and were captured by Alaina Vacha.

Next

The Sustainability of Ramps