Foraging For Beginners. Craig Jones

supermarket to buy groceries. Even if it took an hour-long ride to get there or simply a walk around the block, it is still not going to be classified as foraging. Oh, don't forget going to the farmer's market, that's not foraging either.

      Around us, trees, grasses, forests, and various plants exist. Surely our predecessors have narrowed that down to a few choices of leaves as herbs or salads. But out there, we still have many undiscovered edible plants. There are still greens hidden in the wild that are up for the taking. That's what a forager does–discover these undiscovered edible plants.

      Imagine you're on a hike and lose your compass or can't find your way home. How will you survive? Of course, you may hunt for animals, but what if you have no tools for hunting and you do not know how to do that? What's your solution going to be? To forage. The trees and grasses won't skedaddle once they see you coming. So your best bet would be to survive on these until help comes or you decide to be Tarzan.

How Foraging Came To Be

      Foraging is not a new fad that is being explored in movies just in case the world system collapses. No, it's been existing since the beginning of time. We can trace foraging back to the hunter-gatherer societies.

      They were a nomadic society that moved as the seasons changed, eating whatever food they could find and allowing the wild to provide for them. They remained well-fed and healthy. What this means is that just because you're not eating the typical canned, prepackaged foods doesn't mean you won't be healthy. So don't be afraid to explore the wild.

      Natural food is healthy and good for the body. but you'd need to know what to look out for, and that's what this book is about.

Benefits of Foraging

      The forager's lifestyle is not an easy one, but it's immensely profitable. No one's going to ship the wild food to your doorstep but going out and getting these foods yourself can have many benefits.

      Let's explore them.

      1 Foraging is doubly beneficial because you're hiking and finding food at the same time. You're unwittingly exercising.

      2 Nothing saves cost like free food and the food of the wild is as free as it gets.

      3 It affords a connection with the world. We've built houses that have kept us in, and most people are reluctant to explore the natural world. They feel safer in cities. But going out of our comfort zone allows us to experience the world differently. We learn the unique workings of nature.

      4 Today, there are many theories about what causes illnesses. Processed foods have a giant question mark on them because of the processes that get them to that state. Imagine cutting out most of these, which will automatically increase your likelihood of remaining healthy for a long time.

      5 The joy of discovery. Finding new things is fun. No wonder kids love to explore. It's about rediscovering that child-like wonder and using that to explore the world.

      6 Not only does foraging improve physical health, it also improves our mental health. Being around nature's green, breathing in fresh clean air is therapy.

      7 Without debate, foraged foods are highly nutritious and unaffected by processing like store-bought foods.

      8 Foraging can also lead to the discovery of different unique tasting foods and flavors that are undiscovered anywhere else.

      9 Assuming you get lost or stuck in the wild or the world ends and there are no more ready-made foods, the foragers and their kin may very well survive for longer. This skill can save your life and that of your family. Nature provides sustenance and you can find it.

      10 Flowing from the point above, medicinal herbs exist in the wild like the burdock root. Knowing these beneficial roots and plants can save a life, if it ever comes to that.

Hazards of Foraging

      Foraging may have many benefits, but dangers also exist. Some problems one may encounter are:

      1 Poisoning oneself: This occurs when a person eats a poisonous plant or handles a toxic plant. Therefore, take extra care. Some poisonous plants can cause dizziness, nausea, seizures, and even death. So, though foraging may be fun, it is not a light affair.

      2 Destroying the environment: The excitement of foraging may make us forget that the environment thrives on the preservation of these wild plants. Stomping through the wild and destroying plants or harvesting more than necessary or taking the only plant in an area is essentially destroying the environment. Wild animals need some of these plants to survive more than we do. So, we should take care when foraging to carry only what is necessary and leave the rest for other foragers and wild animals.

      3 Going against the law: Foraging is a delightful activity but shouldn't contravene any laws. It's easy to trespass or forage on prohibited grounds if one is not careful. This can lead to an arrest or worse, a conviction. So, you need to be sure that where you're foraging is safe ground.

      4 Dealing with unusual foods: Depending on the person you are, this may be a welcome challenge. Others will steer clear of the unusual. Wild foods, as with all foods, have their preparation process, and this may involve days or weeks to get the product edible. Do not despair, patience is key when dealing with all things wild.

Chapter 2

      Types of Equipment to Use for Foraging

      Before you get all excited and start outdoors, let’s talk about your foraging gear. What to wear, what to carry, what to use; we will extensively discuss these.

      For our purposes, we’ll divide these types of equipment into four kinds, protective gear for you, tools to assist you with harvesting plants, storage for different plants, and the miscellaneous.