Social and environmental benefits of food foraging

Megan Wilson

lantern staff

The end of the school year is rapidly approaching and so is the busyness of the classes. It is easy for us to lose sight of ourselves as students prepare for tests and finals and begin the quick transition into summer.

One of my favorite hobbies includes wild food and medicinal foraging. Anything from wild Vidalia to goldenrod tea. Long have we forgotten our connectivity to the universe and everything around us. It is also important to take a basket with you. Tarp also comes in handy in case you are harvesting berries, so they do not break on hard ground or concrete when they fall. Always do research before ingesting something that you are unsure about as many things closely resemble another. Being able to carefully identify flora and fauna in their biomes is especially important.

Various parts of plants can be used for medicinal purposes. A lot of them look eerily like another and an unsure, misguided misstep or ingestion of one that is poisonous can have detrimental effects. It is imperative to differentiate between berries you can eat and berries you must avoid.

A lot of the medicinal properties of plants have been forgotten or seldom researched by the public.
It is important not to overharvest when foraging to leave some for other people, it is also important to know public and restricted areas. Some places want you to pick their flora, and others want it left alone.

Being respectful to the environment and its biodiversity is very crucial to a healthy ecosystem. A general rule of thumb is to never take more than you need and leave a place better than you found it.

Many places have open community gardens during the summer. To get started, look for credible websites online or books at your local library and many groups are very resourceful.
It is a fun thing to do during the spring and summer months. Gather your friends and family or go alone. Nature is scientifically restorative as it can increase your serotonin levels, relaxing you so you are ready to have an enjoyable time.