Foraging

Foraging is the harvesting of wild organic material, such as plants and fungi, for food, souvenirs, or other purposes.

Still today, some communities in the world live as hunter-gatherers, and even in high-income countries, foraged berries and mushrooms remain as a part of the local cuisine.

Foraging is regulated in most countries. Assume it is prohibited until you know to what extent it is allowed.

Fruit and berries

Most biomes have some kind of fruits and vegetables. Many fruits and berries are edible, some are poisonous. There is no general rule to know which are edible, so learn to know the ones you are going to pick.

Regulation for berry-picking varies. Some suburban communities have abandoned fruit trees which can be harvested with the owner's consent; don't take risks, though. Others who do pick may have consent even if you have not, and social norms (e.g. on how much to pick) can be convoluted.

In the Nordic countries, picking most wild berries is allowed according to the right to access. Berries that have been taken care of and those in gardens and yards, or otherwise near private houses, are off limits though. Out of politeness and respect, don't pick near people or where locals would obviously pick them. Picking is also restricted in some protected areas, and picking for later consumption or for sale is not necessarily allowed.

Edible berries in temperate climate

Bilberries and blueberries grow in temperate forest regions of North America, Europe and Asia.
Lingonberries
Cloudberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Strawberries
Cranberries
Elderberries

Wood

Trees hold high economic and ecological value, so cutting down trees, whether it be for a campfire, shelter or decoration, is usually prohibited, or at least very restricted. Even in a no man's land or with the landowner's permission, woodcutting requires informed judgment on how to minimize damage to the forest as a whole. Taking branches from the tree can cause fungal infections (risk varying by species and circumstances), likewise destroying the economic value.

Gathering of dead twigs on the ground is usually allowed, except in protected areas, but where they are a scarce resource locals depend on, you should probably leave them alone.

Flowers

Wild flowers are usually picked for decoration, though they can have ceremonial purposes, and some are edible, too.

In temperate climate, the most diverse flowerbeds are usually found in livestock grazing grounds.

However, in many areas, wildflowers are highly protected, and collection requires a permit.

Fungi

Fungi can be great food – many species are very tasty, and in many parts of the world you can get them for free if you collect them yourself. On the other hand, their reputation for being poisonous is justified, too – quite a few are, and some of them can be deadly. There are no general means to distinguish these from edible ones, and rules you may have learned in one place of the world may not apply elsewhere. Never eat any mushroom you do not know well enough – and this includes knowing whether there are poisonous fungi that look similar, and how to distinguish the edible ones from the poisonous ones. When travelling, make sure you also know any local doppelgangers (e.g., the death cap and destroying angels of Europe and North America are unknown in Southeast Asia).

There are also caveats for edible mushrooms. Most mushrooms are easily spoiled, so they have to be handled promptly and carefully. The first time you eat a specific mushroom species, eat only little, as not every edible species suits everybody. Most mushrooms aren't edible (or at least not tasty) until they are cooked. Some mushrooms are poisonous until treated in some specific way, often by cooking in abundant water which is then discarded, repeatedly for some species.

The best way to learn to pick mushrooms is to have a local expert show you. There are also guidebooks. Learn to recognize only a couple of mushroom species at a time; forget about the other ones until you are confident in these, and then – perhaps next year – study a couple more. Some edible mushrooms are quite safe, as they, with some care, are easily distinguished from dangerous ones; others should not be picked until you are an expert, some perhaps not even then.

If you get ill after eating mushrooms it may be important to be able to tell your doctor about your mushroom dish. Some of the poisonous mushrooms do not give any early warning signs, so this applies also a few days afterwards.

Sea vegetables

Edible sea vegetation - seaweed, sea lettuce, nori or kelp - tends to be rich in minerals and vitamins and is considered delicacy in Asian countries. However this trend is spreading globally and edible seaweed can be found literally anywhere along the coast. Foraging takes place in the intertidal zone, typically at rocky shores. It is advisable to join a local guide to get familiar with edible seaweed species. Care must be taken around slippery rocks to prevent an injury. Sea vegetables can be consumed raw, cooked or dried.

Animals

Foraging includes the collection of butterflies and other small animals as decorative souvenirs, and animals such as clams, insects and larvae for eating. Do not harm endangered species. Also, common ones may be protected in places like national parks. Harvesting of reptile and bird eggs is typically illegal.

Pursuing larger or more mobile animals is described as hunting. See animal ethics for some other concerns.

Equipment

A basket is the classic vessel for berry and mushroom picking. A plastic bucket can also be practical.
Knife
Berry-picking rake
Mushroom knife (has a brush on the other end)

Stay safe

See poisonous plants and pests.

Foraged food can be infested with pathogens. For some pathogens washing it is enough; others require cooking. Also, water used for washing can be contaminated (see Water).

Respect

In most countries, foraging is restricted, if not prohibited. In nature reserves, the leave-no-trace principle might be enforced. The Nordic right to access is permissive, but not all foraging is allowed even there.