Travel with me to long ago, when everyone ate wild plants. You're a young child, perhaps 3 or 4 years old, certainly no more than 7. Your grandmother (or grandfather or aunt or parent, it doesn't really matter) takes your tiny hand and leads you to a plant and tells you to eat it. She tells you its name but the name isn't really important. You learn the faces of the flowers like the faces of friends. The tips of your fingers remember the texture of each leaf. Your eyes learn to recognize each different shade of green. She reminds you not to pick too much, to respectfully leave some for the four-legged and two-legged ones of the forest and meadow, for the little insects such as bees and for other people who might come along hungry and in need. She warns you back from the patch of poison ivy nearby and teaches you a little rhyme to help you remember what it looks like. On the way home you fall and scrape your knee. She shows you the leaves of a plant to chew and place on your hurt and it feels better right away. She shows you more things a little at a time over many years, teaching you the plants, teaching you respect for the earth and showing you how to use the plants the best way and with as little waste as possible.
This is wildcrafting.
Wildcrafting goes way beyond the simple concept of foraging. It is the respectful, responsible use of wild plants for food, crafts and as herbs. It involves care for the earth and emphasizes safety and ethics. It is based on an ancient tradition which involves passing knowledge from one person to the next in a spirit of community. I am a heritage wildcrafter. I began learning from my grandfather, Rheuben Green, as a small child and later continued my wildcrafting education with my mentor, Jackie Dill, of Oklahoma Wildcrafting. The knowledge of wild plants through my blog, classes and Facebook page is offered in the spirit of wildcrafting and with the hope you will use this knowledge to care for your family in a way which respects others and honors the earth. Many of the old ways have been lost and not everyone has a grandmother, a wise woman of the family, to teach them what respect means. I'm very lucky to have Jackie as my mentor and so I've asked her if I may share with you her guidelines for safety and ethics and she has given permission. The next two blog posts will be guest posts from her. Listen to the wisdom of the grandmothers.
Safety Post
Ethics Post
This is wildcrafting.
Wildcrafting goes way beyond the simple concept of foraging. It is the respectful, responsible use of wild plants for food, crafts and as herbs. It involves care for the earth and emphasizes safety and ethics. It is based on an ancient tradition which involves passing knowledge from one person to the next in a spirit of community. I am a heritage wildcrafter. I began learning from my grandfather, Rheuben Green, as a small child and later continued my wildcrafting education with my mentor, Jackie Dill, of Oklahoma Wildcrafting. The knowledge of wild plants through my blog, classes and Facebook page is offered in the spirit of wildcrafting and with the hope you will use this knowledge to care for your family in a way which respects others and honors the earth. Many of the old ways have been lost and not everyone has a grandmother, a wise woman of the family, to teach them what respect means. I'm very lucky to have Jackie as my mentor and so I've asked her if I may share with you her guidelines for safety and ethics and she has given permission. The next two blog posts will be guest posts from her. Listen to the wisdom of the grandmothers.
Safety Post
Ethics Post
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