I taught a foraging walk last Saturday with my friend Joe the Forager (the guy who runs Eattheplanet.org) and I have to say we work great as a team.
Joe is awesome with botanical terminology, history of plants, knowing native varieties versus introduced varieties, and showing you the physical traits of each plant and how to identify them correctly.
I’m awesome at giving Joe sh*t and talking about all the recipes I make, as well as eating things I’ve never tasted before so you don’t have to (and being honest if it’s so gross I need to spit it out.)
Joe fully admits that he doesn’t do as much hands-on practical application stuff with the plants. He’s more of a book learning and science type of guy. And I fully admit that I forget the botanical terminology more often than I remember it, but I can explain in detail how to make and take a tincture or how to cook chicken of the woods nuggets.
It’s great to work as a team! I hope my style isn’t off-putting to anyone, but I usually get a feel for which people in the audience appreciate my brutal honesty and humor. I like seeing people get as excited as I am when we come across a new plant I haven’t seen or tasted before.
It’s not that I haven’t got book knowledge or botanical terminology in my knowledge base… I just tend to have more of a photographic memory for plants. I also really enjoy tasting or smelling a plant to get to know it better. Though Joe likes to show people how to identify a plant by scent too.
As a forager, it’s important to have strong senses. I have a very strong, honed sense of smell and it has served me well for my entire adult life. It’s also served me very well as an Incense Crafter. And my sense of taste, related to smell, is equally important. If something smells nice but tastes bitter (as can be the case with some mushrooms) I’ll want to give my identification another glance and get a second opinion on it, just to be safe.
But it also helps my memory to recognize a plant or mushroom when I know what I usually do with it. I can find chickweed and without even touching it know exactly how it will taste when I turn it into pesto. I can harvest some turkey tail with my bare hands and whether I smell it or not, I instantly remember the flavor of the tincture on my tongue.
Remembering the taste of a delicious wild plant is a powerful tool for identification. That’s why I believe firsthand experience is essential for truly understanding the world of foraging. While books and videos are great starting points, nothing replaces the sensory connection of touching, smelling, and tasting a plant.
I’m developing an online learning program that culminates in an in-person foraging retreat. This program will teach you to identify and prepare wild foods, create herbal remedies, reduce stress through nature immersion, and embrace a sustainable, nutrient-rich lifestyle. I’m still in the planning stages but eager to share this experience. If you’re interested in joining me, please sign up to be notified about my Wild Within Training Program and Retreat.
In the meantime, tell me… what do you want to learn about most when it comes to foraging or herbal medicine?
You can find me on YouTube HERE or check out Joe’s YouTube channel HERE.