Wild Wednesday

Here at Misty Meadows, Wednesday’s are all about being… Wild! Re-wilding. Wildcrafting. Exploring the wilds of our homestead.

Today we’re going to talk about “Wildcrafting”.

Wildcrafting is the act of gathering herbs, flowers, plants and fungi from… Yep, you guessed it – the wild!

Why buy product, at a huge price markup, not knowing where it came from or how it was treated (ethically & chemically), when you can gather it for free?!

A few things to consider when wildcrafting:

• Make sure you know your area and obtain permits or landowner permission if needed.
• Carry a map & compass, and let someone know where you are going.
• Watch out for wildlife.  Some can pose danger. Carry protection.
• Dress appropriately. Carry food and water and a personal first aid kit.
• Choose plants that are at least (if not more) 100 feet of the road.  Roadsides not only are contaminated by vehicle emotions, herbicides are often sprayed to keep down weeds.
• Be able to identify what you are looking for …150%!! Two plants may look similar – one is safe to consume, the other is poisonous! Be careful!!  My favorite go-to book is Peterson Field Guides – Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs. I carry it with me all the time because you never know when you might have the opportunity to forage or wildcraft. Find a resource you’re comfortable with, study it and bring it along on your adventures.
• It takes time for a plant to regenerate, so be respectful and only take what you need. A good estimation is no more than 20% of a plant (buds, flowers, leaves, stems…). Also, remember some plants need their seeds to generate next year’s crop, so be respectful and leave some behind.
• And finally – If you pack it in, pack it out!

Next week we’ll share our newest wildcraft project – Infusions and Tinctures.

Do you wildcraft your medicinals?  Please share a tip in the comments. 

 

 

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Content and Photos by Misty Meadows Homestead and S.Lago © All Rights Reserved

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