Concerning Wildcrafting

Hints & Tips 

Also some common sense, and not so common sense, rules

 

Make sure you have all the tools and equipment you need before you head out.

Get to know as much as you can about your area, the weather, climate, the plant and animal life etc. It is very important you have intimate understanding of the land you gather from.

Take the time to learn about the area/land you will be gathering from, in all seasons. Also, get to know the plants at different phases of their lifecycle.

Start with only a few plants and learn them well before you begin to study and gather more.

Make sure you have the permission or the permits that might be needed for collecting at the site.

Keep a journal (and/or a map) and make sure to carefully note where you gathered each plant. Refer to this to ensure you do not gather too much from the same place. This also makes sure you can find again where you gathered a certain plant.

Taking pictures of each strand of plants before you harvest, and each time you revisit, can help you to keep track of how your gathering is affecting it.

Make sure to study any poisonous plants in your area, so you can recognize them easily.

Make sure to study any endangered plants in your area, so you can recognize them easily

NEVER gather an endangered plant.

If there be ten, leave seven. If there be five, leave three. If there be three, leave two. If there be less than three, leave them be.

Never take the best plants, leave those to seed the next generation.

Double and triple check every plant you identify. Many dangerous plants look a lot like harmless or medicinal ones.

If you can return the gift by spreading seeds (you can also replace crowns and plant roots) from nearby or from same-type seeds from your garden, please do.

Make sure the area you wish to gather from is not sprayed or chemically treated in any way.

Do not gather from fragile ecosystems, such as places that are protected or in danger of dying out.

Gather from places that are soon to be bulldozed and destroyed etc. You can re-seed nearby if possible, or let the strands live on in your garden, rituals and herbal remedies.

Take from the largest strand you can find, this will have less effect on the area.

If you find evidence of wildlife grazing on the strand, try to gather from elsewhere, or take much less. Those who rely on the strand for food get preference over us.

If you have noticed a decline of the plant in your area, go elsewhere.

Do your research on any plant you wish to gather, so that you collect at the right time and gather the right part of a plant. Make sure you know how to handle the plants and transport them properly.

Try not to disturb the native soil anymore than you have to.

Try not to disturb any sites that you know have endangered plants or wildlife there.

Be careful and respectful of the plant.

It is best to ask permission and give a gift or offering of some sort.

Explain your purpose for harvesting and give thanks.

Pay attention to what you are doing; be careful.

Clean up after yourself, do not leave trash and fill in any holes you make.

Do not be wasteful of your harvest.

Related posts:

1. Gathering in the City