Disclaimer: A Warning to New Foragers

First of all it should be obvious why a person new to forging should use EXTREME caution when using wild plants. Second I do not advise ANY ONE to take the information on this blog and use wild plants.

Again if you are new to foraging,
DO NOT USE MY BLOG AS A FINAL GUIDE FOR ACTION!

Societies that regulatory rely on wild edible plants have knowledge systems to maintain proper gathering and processing techniques. It is never as simple as identifying an edible plant and eating it. An individual has to consider

• The lands legal status, is it private property? Is foraging explicitly banned at the location?
• The history of land, such as chemical exposure
• The history of the plant, such as chemical exposure and bio-accumulation  
• Correctly identifying the species
• Correctly identifying the part(s) of the plant that are edible
• Knowledge of ripeness or ideal time for harvest
• Knowledge of processing or proper preparation
• Knowledge of storage
• Species rarity and abundance

These are only a few examples of thoughts that should be going through your head when considering a wild plant as a food source.

There are also implicit considerations when dealing with ecological knowledge such as

• The significance of ecological knowledge being shared. Many societies have rules on what knowledge is freely shared, with whom and when. These rules are meant to protect individuals from harm and to preserve knowledge systems.
• Or that the knowledge discussed on this blog is living knowledge and can not be maintained in written language only.

With all of that said remember to use as many sources as possible when researching wild edible plants and respect the knowledge of community elders.