HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Introduction to Foraging
and Wildcrafting
Photographs and text by Juliet Blankespoor

Picking red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Chestnut School of
Herbal Medicine
www.ChestnutHerbs.com
Health Disclaimer
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to provide useful and accurate information, you are responsible to research and verify information
before relying on it. We are trained herbalists and not licensed or registered healthcare practitioners.
We cannot diagnose health conditions, nor prescribe medicines legally; we are not medical doctors.
However, we will recommend or suggest medicinal herbs for various health complaints, as we believe
in the safety and efficacy of botanical medicine.

The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult
your medical care provider before using herbal medicine, particularly if you have a known medical
condition or if you are pregnant or nursing.

You are responsible for your own health. As with conventional medicine, herbal medicine is vast and
complex, and must be used responsibly. People react differently to different remedies. Some herbs are
contraindicated with certain pharmaceutical drugs. Further, some helpful herbs may be confused with
harmful and/or deadly substances.

There are many plants and mushrooms that can make you sick, or are deadly poisonous. Be 100%
positive of your identification before you harvest any plant or mushroom. Additionally, sometimes a
new food, even properly identified, can cause an unusual reaction – ranging from gastric intolerance
to a full-blown allergy. It is your responsibility to make sure you are harvesting the correct plant
or mushroom and it is your choice to try any new food. We cannot be responsible for incorrect
identification or reactions to plants or fungi.

You are responsible for your own choices. This includes but is not limited to the ingestion, application,
or other use of alcohol or any poisonous, toxic, or allergenic substance. In the event that you are
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The School cannot predict how a remedy will work for you. Always refer to your medical care provider
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 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

I love witnessing the joy and pride that emanate from anyone digging an edible root or harvesting
wild edible greens for the first time. It may seem like these are simple tasks to master, but learning
how to forage is a major game changer for any human. These skills are our birthright, but sadly most
of us didn’t grow up learning them. Gathering medicine and food from the wild connects us to the
natural world, our ancestral heritage, and our wild-animal selves. Being involved in our sustenance and
healing is boldly empowering and ties us to an ancient appreciation of simple living and the changing
of the seasons.

By gathering our own medicines carefully and conscientiously, we can be assured that our medicines
are fresh, of high quality, and harvested in a sustainable fashion.

When we are more personally involved with our herbal medicines (by growing or gathering them
ourselves), we also greatly reduce the environmental impact of packaging and transportation.

Harvesting chickweed's tender tops (Stellaria media)

 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Foraging Guidelines
FORAGING GUIDELINE 1: Be absolutely
positive of your identification before you
harvest and ingest any wild food or medicine.
If in doubt, do NOT harvest! Consult your local
extension agent, master gardener, or trusted
herbalist if you need help with identification. If
someone else shows you a plant, do your own
homework and make sure that they are right
before you harvest! Spend time with plants over
the seasons—double-checking both photographs
and written descriptions—before you make your
move. Learn the poisonous species in your region.

Chant to self: Combination of characteristics for

proper identification. This is crucial. Identifying
plants requires that you look at a combination
of specific traits (rather than one or two traits
alone), essentially differentiating your plant from
Harvesting burdock (Arctium minus)
the herd.

I’ve learned from teaching wild foods classes “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with
over the years that the beginners are often the your feet.” ­—Thich Nhat Hanh
ones who are appropriately cautious, whereas
the folks who know a little more can get bold,
lose their caution, and make the wrong move. a genus—are used for food or medicine. Do not
Remember: one wrong move can end up being assume that all members of a genus are used
your last move! There are over a thousand species interchangeably! For example, various species of
of poisonous plants in the world, some of which hibiscus have edible flowers or leaves, and some
are so poisonous that one or two bites are enough are used medicinally, but they aren’t all considered
to kill an adult. edible and medicinal. Hibiscus sabdariffa is the
only species of hibiscus that produces a fleshy
Be especially careful with plants in families that red calyx and is the only medicinal hibiscus in
contain deadly poisonous members, such as the commerce. Since it is a large and varied genus, it
carrot (Apiaceae), buttercup (Ranunculaceae), is important to examine each species individually
pea (Fabaceae), spurge (Euphorbiaceae), for its traditional usage. In other words, we can’t
nightshade (Solanaceae), and lily (Liliaceae) generalize as a whole about the group’s edible and
families, and remember that there are poisonous medicinal uses.
plants in dozens of plant families, so this list is by
no means comprehensive. In contrast, some plants come from genera in
which all species can be used interchangeably,
Also make sure you know which species—within and learning these will be helpful for foraging.
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Harvesting hawthorn (Crataegus sp.) blooms

The species will vary in medicinal strength and colloquially called “pine” that do not belong to
nuances, but there is enough commonality to the genus at all—and do not necessarily share
group them together as medicines. For example, medicinal qualities. Be careful to avoid this
some willow (Salix spp.) species are higher in beginner’s mistake!
tannins (and taste and act like strong astrin- Here are a few common genera whose species can
gents), and others are higher in salicylic acid and be used interchangeably:
will be more anti-inflammatory and anodyne
in nature. Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is another • Rose (Rosa spp.)
example: some species are more resinous in • Blackberry (various Rubus spp.)
flavor and aroma and will be correspondingly • Raspberry (various Rubus spp.)
warming, whereas others are more astringent and
• Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
will be more drying. Their energetics are slightly
different, but many of their overarching qual- • Pine (Pinus spp.)
ities are similar: anti-inflammatory agents for • Willow (Salix spp.)
the urinary and upper respiratory tract, diuretic,
• Blueberry (various Vaccinium spp.)
and anticatarrhal (decongestant). Just remember
that these herbs are the exception. Begin with the • Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
premise that species within a genus are not inter- If you’re interested in learning more about plant
changeable, and then see if there is an exception identification, we recommend taking a class in
to the rule. your area on the local flora. These are typically
Just be sure to identify these plants by the offered through community centers, community
scientific name of their genera rather than colleges, adult education offerings, and herbal
relying on common names. To clarify the point, schools. Your local extension agent or Master
all trees in the Pinus (pine) genus can be used Gardeners organization may be another helpful
interchangeably, but there are many plants resource.
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Chickweed harvest (Stellaria media)

Here are some resources for helping with plant Finally, I highly recommend getting to know the
identification: most poisonous plants in your area. It’s beyond
the scope of the class to provide a comprehensive
Here’s a good overview on scientific names, list of poisonous plants, but here are a few you’ll
including their history, synonyms and common want to learn because they are lethal.
names for some plant families.

USDA Plant Database You can search by

common name or scientific name for plants. The SOME POISONOUS PLANTS TO LEARN
database shows photos of the plant, its current BEFORE YOU START FORAGING
range and sometimes illustrations.
Water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)
Go Botany: Simple Plant Key for New England
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
The Chestnut School’s link page has some great
resources on the subject, listed under botany and Oleander (Nerium oleander) (if you live in a
warm climate)
wild foods.
Foxglove, or digitalis (Digitalis purpurea) (looks
List of plant identification websites
a lot like comfrey or mullein)
Illustrated glossary of floral terms
This is not a comprehensive list of poisonous
Illustrated glossary of vegetative terms (leaves) plants. The list will vary depending on your
bioregion. Consult local field guides or extension
Facebook group for help identifying plants offices.
Forty-five minute video: Botany in a Day Tuto- Here’s a Really Silly Video Driving the Point
rial with Thomas J. Elpel Home!
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

FORAGING GUIDELINE 2: Harvest in more disease and predation. Invasive plants

clean locations. Avoid harvesting near roads, don’t provide the same nourishment in the food
foundations of buildings, electric lines, rail- chain because many insects have not coevolved
roads, floodplains of polluted rivers and fields with them. That said, many non-native “weeds”
that may be sprayed with herbicide. stick close to humans, thriving in cities, gardens,
fields, and the like. They don’t go into sensitive
Plants can absorb and bioaccumulate toxins, ecosystems, like woodland forests or wetlands.
including heavy metals, which means that Most of the wild plants featured in this course fit
contaminated plants can have higher levels of into that category.
toxins than the surrounding soil. Always harvest
at least 30 feet from the road (and only harvest Population size: Know your local population
near smaller, less-traveled byways), and make size and the range of the particular species you are
sure you are not harvesting in an area with envi- courting. Is the local population large enough and
ronmental toxicity or herbicides and pesticides. close enough to other members of its species to
Even hay fields that appear to be untended can be consider harvesting? For example, is the range of
sprayed with herbicides. Avoid the foundations species along the whole East Coast, or is it limited
of buildings, because these are often sprayed with to your bioregion? You can consult field guides
pesticides and may be contaminated with lead and organizations such as the United Plant Savers
paint scrapings (near older homes). Railroads (resources listed at the end of this lesson) and
and power lines are typically sprayed heavily with state and federal listings of endangered species
herbicides. If a river is polluted, then the flood- to learn about at-risk plants in your area. Gather
plain and the plants growing in it are likely to be only plants that are abundant, and never harvest
polluted as well. endangered or rare plant species unless you are
involved in a structured plant rescue.
If you don’t have a clean place to gather, look
around for organic community gardens or your In my practice, I favor plant species with a sizable
neighborhood’s organic growers and ask to population—preferably widespread over a large
harvest their weeds in exchange for some medi-
cine or apple pie. People are usually quite happy
with this type of arrangement.

FORAGING GUIDELINE 3: Only forage

for abundant plants with a large population
and favor harvesting plants that are non-native.

Native/non-native: One of the first things I

consider when choosing which plants to forage is
whether a plant is native and tied into local food
webs or is an escapee from other lands. Non-natives
displace native species by competing with them
for natural resources. These opportunistic plants
haven’t evolved locally with the same checks and
balances that native plants have experienced, and
so they often flourish.

Non-natives often flourish despite local stressors

as compared to native plants, which experience Harvesting sarsparilla (Smilax sp.)
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Certain plants I do not harvest from the wild,

and I teach my students the same. Here are some
rare plants from North America that I recom-
mend to never harvest from the wild:

Don’t harvest these plants from the wild!

• Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius, Araliaceae)

• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis,

Ranunculaceae)

• False unicorn root (Chamaelirium luteum,

Melanthiaceae)

• Unicorn root (Aletris farinosa, Nartheciaceae)

• Sundew (Drosera spp., Droseraceae)

• Lady’s slipper (Cypripedium spp., Orchidaceae)

• Trillium (Trillium spp., Trilliaceae)

Harvesting sarsparilla root (Smilax sp.) FORAGING GUIDELINE 4: Be aware

of the optimal time to harvest and the most
geographical area—and avoid using rare or less
regenerative practices.
populous species. I won’t harvest rare plants from
the wild at all, and I implore you to do the same. Timing: Observe the reproductive cycles of the
Along these lines, you can start by avoiding the plants you harvest to ensure regeneration. For
harvest of woodland medicinals and instead favor example, it is generally best to harvest roots from
the weedy medicines of field and pasture. perennial herbs after a plant has already flow-
ered and seeded. Knowing how a plant changes
I continually reassess the ethical harvest of certain
throughout the seasons also helps you know
plants depending on how their populations are
when to harvest food and medicine for optimal
faring. I have seen certain herbs become less
flavor and medicinal strength. Many wild greens
abundant during the last two decades of wild-
become chewy or bitter or both as the season
crafting in the southern Appalachians. Many rare
progresses. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
woodland medicinals, native to North America,
is a prime example of an edible with leaves
are now cultivated in the woods in a sustainable
that become exceedingly bitter as the season
fashion. I highly recommend supporting wood-
progresses. Some fruits, such as autumn olive
land growers of rare medicinals or growing the
(Elaeagnus umbellata), become sweeter after the
herbs yourself. The medicinal understory of the
first frost. We generally harvest roots when plants
forest is a valuable asset and can be managed for
are dormant, or mostly dormant—for instance,
regenerative harvest. The intact forest, with all of
in the fall, winter, or spring.
its useful gifts of timber, food, fiber, biodiversity,
beauty, water retention, carbon sequestering, Regeneration: Know how each plant grows,
hammock hanging, and wildlife habitat, is an and observe its form and habits. For example,
additional advantage to woodland cultivation of when harvesting bark, I harvest a whole limb
native medicinal flora. and use all the bark and twigs rather than taking
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

bark off the main trunk, which exposes the tree plants to reproduce. If you’re harvesting leaves
to pathogens by creating a wound with a large from a woody plant, pull the leaves off the stem
surface area. When gathering roots, I often take and leave the twigs and branches to form new
a side root if the plant is growing clonally (if it leaves in subsequent years. These regenerative
spreads by sending out runners) or replant the practices don’t necessarily need to be followed for
root crown with enough plant matter to support invasive weeds with global distribution.
regrowth. If you are replanting a root crown or
Other Considerations
portion of a root system, take care to cut back
some of the aboveground stems to compensate Preparation: Tinctures, as opposed to tea,
for the root loss. In addition, make sure there are concentrate the medicine of plants, so you need
some buds present in the root system and replant to gather less of a plant. If you are working with a
them pointing upward and at the same depth as less abundant plant, consider this form of medi-
they were growing when you first harvested the cine to stretch what you have so you don’t need
plant. Always refill your holes and leave an area to harvest as much.
more beautiful than when you came.
Legal and neighborly considerations: Always
When harvesting leaves and stems, try to take just ask for permission from the landowner if
a couple of shoots off each plant so the remaining harvesting on private land. If you want to harvest
plant may still photosynthesize and reproduce. on governmental land, you can check with the
Spread your harvest out over a larger area, and managing agency for regulations and permits.
be sure to leave plenty of flowers and fruit for the Be aware of the different classifications of land
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

FORAGING GUIDELINE 5: Harvest the

correct part of the plant that is traditionally
used for food and/or medicine.

Note that just because one part of a plant is edible

or medicinal does not mean that the rest of the
plant can be used interchangeably. For instance,
some plants possess both edible and poisonous
parts. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
is a good example—it has medicinal flowers and
flower buds, but its fruits are poisonous. Simi-
larly, ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has a
medicinal root, whereas its berries are toxic. There
are many plants that fall into this category, so do
your homework before using any new-to-you
wild food or herb.
Elder flower harvest (Sambucus nigra var. canadensis)
Various parts of the same plant can also have
different medicinal properties or potencies.
management. In the United States, national Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), for example,
parks are often visited for their natural beauty has medicinal leaves and roots. But where the
and are not generally logged or leased for grazing leaves are bitter and strongly diuretic, the root
cattle. The US national forests are often managed (also bitter) acts as one of our best liver tonics
for resources and may be clear-cut and grazed by and blood cleansers. The leaves and roots have
cattle. You can often obtain permits to gather some shared medicinal qualities, but they are
wild plants for personal use from the US Forest different enough that it’s important to note their
Service. Check with your local office. respective actions. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Gratitude and respect: Even when you gather is another example—the leaves, which are mild
plentiful (possibly pesky) plants, attune to a code and mucilaginous, are customarily used as a
of ethics. You’re interacting with living, breathing food plant. The root bark, on the other hand, is
beings, after all. Take only what you need, leave highly concentrated in spicy essential oils and is
beauty in your wake (leave no trace), and bring preferred for medicinal preparations.
an offering to make before you go—a song, For other wild foods and herbs, refer to a reliable
some water, your hair, a handful of grain. An foraging field guide. We’ve made some sugges-
offering invites a feeling of gratitude, reciprocity, tions in the Further Learning section.
and reverence. If you’re more science-minded,
perhaps you’ll take a moment to breathe inten-
FORAGING GUIDELINE 6: Pay attention
tionally, meditating on the reciprocity of plant-
to tradition when preparing herbs and wild
human gas exchange, cellular respiration, and
foods.
photosynthesis. You might feel silly at first, but
allow yourself the opportunity to be surprised. Preparing food and medicine according to tradi-
This is how we participate in the ancient plant- tion is more than a nod to custom; it’s using the
human dance of mutual connection, communi- time-tested knowledge of our forebears to safely
cation, reciprocity, and care. consume wild plants. Often, a plant or mushroom
needs to be prepared in a specific way to make it
digestible or even edible. Take poke, or pokeweed
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Immature flowering shoot of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) at the perfect stage for harvesting

(Phytolacca americana), as an example. The young tea, while others (leaves and flowers) only need
leaves of poke, which are used to make a tradi- to infuse in hot water.
tional Appalachian dish known as poke sallet,
Proper preparation is one of the most crucial
must be harvested at the right time (the shoots
ways to ensure you’re getting the most out of
in very early spring) and prepared a certain way
your food and medicine—and using it safely. Be
(leached in boiling water three times) before they
sure to research preparation suggestions for any
are edible. Other parts of the plant are very toxic.
new wild food or medicine you’re planning to try.
This is NOT A BEGINNER PLANT, and we
We’re fortunate to have pioneering ancestors who
don’t cover it in our courses because of potential
experimented with plants out of necessity—and
toxicity!
we can avoid many tummy aches (and worse)
Another important herbal tradition is the by following their traditional prescriptions. For
extraction of minerals from plants using water further recommendations for gathering, cooking,
(tea) or vinegar. Both are wonderful solvents and preparing herbs, sign up for our Online
for drawing out the nutritive qualities of herbs Foraging Course.
like chickweed (Stellaria media), stinging nettles
(Urtica dioica), burdock (Arctium lappa, A. minus),
and violet (Violet spp.). Alcohol extractions (tinc-
tures) aren’t able to accomplish this, as minerals “In every walk with nature one receives
are not soluble in alcohol. Along these lines, far more than he seeks.” – John Muir
consider how certain parts of herbs (roots, seeds,
and bark) must be simmered to make a potent
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Further Learning
United Plant Savers' Species At-Risk Lists • Slippery elm—Ulmus rubra
United Plant Savers (UpS) is a nonprofit orga- • Sundew—Drosera spp.
nization with a mission to protect native medic- • Trillium, beth root—Trillium spp.
inal plants of the United States and Canada and
• True unicorn—Aletris farinosa
their native habitat while ensuring an abundant,
renewable supply of medicinal plants for genera- • Venus flytrap—Dionaea muscipula
tions to come. • Virginia snakeroot—Aristolochia serpentaria
Here is a description from UpS regarding their • Wild yam—Dioscorea villosa, D. spp.
“at risk” and “to watch” designations: “For the
benefit of the plant communities, wild animals,
harvesters, farmers, consumers, manufacturers,
“To Watch” List
retailers and practitioners, we offer this list of wild • Arnica—Arnica spp.
medicinal plants which we feel are currently most • Butterfly weed—Asclepias tuberosa
sensitive to the impact of human activities. Our
• Cascara sagrada—Frangula purshiana
intent is to assure the increasing abundance of
(Rhamnus purshiana)
the medicinal plants that are currently in decline
due to expanding popularity and shrinking • Chaparro—Castela emoryi
habitat and range. UpS is not asking for a mora- • Elephant tree—Bursera microphylla
torium on the use of these herbs. Rather, we are • Gentian—Gentiana spp.
initiating programs designed to preserve these
important wild medicinal plants.” • Goldthread—Coptis spp.
• Kava kava—Piper methysticum (Hawaii only)
• Lobelia—Lobelia spp.
“At Risk” List • Maidenhair fern—Adiantum pendatum
• American ginseng—Panax quinquefolius • Mayapple—Podophyllum peltatum
• Black cohosh—Actaea racemosa • Oregon grape—Mahonia spp.
• Bloodroot—Sanguinaria canadensis • Partridge berry—Mitchella repens
• Blue cohosh—Caulophyllum thalictroides • Pink root—Spigelia marilandica
• Echinacea—Echinacea spp. • Pipsissewa—Chimaphila umbellata
• Eyebright—Euphrasia spp. • Ramps—Allium tricoccum (recently added)
• False unicorn root—Chamaelirium luteum • Spikenard—Aralia racemosa, A. californica
• Goldenseal—Hydrastis canadensis • Stone root—Collinsonia canadensis
• Lady’s slipper orchid—Cypripedium spp. • Stream orchid—Epipactis gigantea
• Lomatium—Lomatium dissectum • Turkey corn—Dicentra canadensis
• Osha—Ligusticum porteri, L. spp. • White sage—Salvia apiana
• Peyote—Lophophora williamsii • Wild indigo—Baptisia tinctoria
• Sandalwood—Santalum spp. (Hawaii only) • Yerba mansa—Anemopsis californica
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum officinale)

Books on Wild Foods You can purchase her book and access her blog
via Botanical Arts Press.
Here are a few of our favorite wild foods books.
2. The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Iden-
1. Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide & Wild
tifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible
Food Cookbook by Dina Falconi, illustrated by
Wild Plants (Forager’s Harvest Press, 2006)
Wendy Hollender (Botanical Arts Press, 2013)
and Nature's Garden: A Guide to Identifying,
We treasure this book for its beautiful illustra- Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants
tions and delicious recipes. It’s easily our most (Forager’s Harvest Press, 2010) by Samuel Thayer
reached-for wild foods cookbook. The book is
divided into two main parts: botanical drawings Thayer’s books are hands-down the best resources
paired with key identification tips, followed by on wild foods, being enjoyable to read and very
a bounty of herbal, wild food recipes. Many of informational. These two are companion guides,
the recipes are flexible to work for a variety of each featuring unique plants. Thayer shares
diets—gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, raw— detailed material on plant identification (accom-
and Dina includes an array of master recipes that panied by color photos) and food preparation,
can be adapted to different plants throughout the along with entertaining anecdotes. His books
seasons. There’s also a brief medicinal discussion apply widely in the United States and Canada
of each herb as well as some nutritional tidbits. and include many plants found elsewhere in
Many of the featured plants are common in the the temperate world. Thayer emphasizes wild
herb garden (elderberry, rose, bee balm, etc.), so foods specifically and doesn’t discuss medicinal
this is an excellent resource for the gardener and properties; however, his books are valuable field
forager alike. guides for identifying many herbs that straddle
the food-medicine divide (elderberry, chickweed,
If you love Dina’s recipes, you can catch more of and raspberry, for example). You’ll need to buy
them in our Online Foraging Course! the books separately, and they can be purchased
directly from the author here.
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

3. Incredible Wild Edibles: 36 Plants That Can and the European countryside. We appreciate
Change Your Life by Samuel Thayer (Forager’s that the book covers fewer plants in greater depth,
Harvest Press, 2017) which is more helpful than superficially covering
hundreds of plants. This book focuses on identi-
Did you notice we’re recommending another
fying and harvesting wild foods; it doesn’t explore
book by Samuel Thayer? That’s because he’s
medicinal uses. More about Kallas’s work can be
simply one of the very best wild food writers
found on his Wild Food Adventures website.
around. If you can only purchase a book or two
to get started, we suggest beginning with his 6. Ugly Little Greens: Gourmet Dishes Crafted
guides. (Note: Thayer does not discuss medic- from Foraged Ingredients by Mia Wasilevich
inal uses.) Incredible Wild Edibles is styled in (Page Street, 2017)
a similar fashion to Thayer’s other books but
covers a completely fresh collection of plants. There’s nothing ugly about this book, which
And it’s equally wonderful and essential. You can spoofs on the common misconceptions about
purchase Thayer’s books directly from the author weeds. It’s packed with fancy wild food recipes
and check out his blog here. and sumptuous color photos. Many of the recipes
are easy to prepare, but in general, this book is
4. Identifying and Harvesting Edible and ideal for the epicurean forager, with dishes like
Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) nettles Benedict and cattail pollen madeleines.
Places by “Wildman” Steve Brill and Evelyn Not just limited to greens, it features a diverse
Dean (William Morrow Paperbacks, 2010) collection of plants that grow in most temperate
to subtropical climates. The book blends plant
You can gather an immense amount of wild food
identification with preparation but dials in on
knowledge from this book. Over five hundred
the recipe side of things. Therefore, it’s best
edible and medicinal plants are organized by
accompanied by a field guide that features a lot
harvesting season, with identifying character-
of identification.
istics, detailed preparation information, and
beautiful line drawings to accompany each one. We’re excited to say Mia is a recipe contributor in
This was one of the first books on foraging Juliet our Online Foraging Course. You can check out
owned; she’s learned more about wild foods from her blog and schedule of classes at Transitional
this book than any other. In the back of the book, Gastronomy.
you’ll find a collection of Brill’s recipes. You can
purchase the book and visit Brill’s blog here. 7. Wild Food by Roger Phillips (Little, Brown,
1986)
5. Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods from Dirt to
Plate by John Kallas, PhD (Gibbs Smith, 2010) This wonderful classic was written by a British
family who spent time in North America,
This is one of the finest books on wild edible camping and preparing wild foods and drinks. A
greens, with thorough species descriptions, beau- wide range of wild edibles is covered, including
tiful photographs, nutritional profiles, and a lot mushrooms, herbs, seaweeds, flowers, roots,
of recipes. Wild greens are an abundant food greens, nuts, and berries. The book features loads
source in nearly all temperate places—including of simple recipes accompanied by sublimely
cities—so this book is a valuable resource for staged photos of wild food dishes in their native
foragers everywhere. Kallas is a botanist, teacher, habitat (think glamping with a wild foods twist).
nutritionist, and wild foods expert who has Be sure to buy the 1986 edition of this book,
foraged throughout the United States, Canada, which is affordable to purchase used and offers
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

more recipes and species profiles than the newer 147 wild plants, detailing their identification,
edition. range, traditional and contemporary uses, and
medicinal properties. Each plant is accompanied
8. The Wild Wisdom of Weeds: 13 Essential by photographs and line drawings. The book is
Plants for Human Survival by Katrina Blair currently out of print, making used copies a bit
(Chelsea Green, 2014) more expensive than other field guides, but it’s so
We love the spirit of this book. It covers fewer good that it still made our top ten!
plants than your average field guide but takes you Bonus: Do yourself a favor and also read
on a deep journey of discovery with each one. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom,
It includes edible and medicinal uses for many Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of
of the most common weeds found worldwide in Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Milkweed
the temperate climate, along with ethnobotan- Editions, 2015).
ical information. Some tips on identification are
included, but we recommend using a field guide This book will grow your heart and soul, and we
along with her descriptions to make sure you recommend it to absolutely everyone. Though
have the right plant. This is a great resource for not technically about foraging, Kimmerer’s
both urban and rural dwellers. You can order the writing on our relationship to land, food, medi-
book here. cine, and legacy will change how you live and,
yes, forage. Prepare yourself for incredible story-
9. The New Wildcrafted Cuisine: Exploring the telling, immense beauty, and possibly a lot of
Exotic Gastronomy of Local Terroir by Pascal tears.
Baudar (Chelsea Green, 2016)

Baudar’s book is truly groundbreaking, with

delectable imagery and recipes that push the edge
of even wild cuisine (edible insects, for example).
In this light, we recommend his book for the
curious and adventuresome cook, or for anyone
wanting to take their wild food dishes to the next
level. Arranged by season, the book balances
progressive recipes with traditional preparations;
a lot of pictorial how-tos feature fermentation
and food preservation. Most plants in the book
can be found throughout the temperate world,
but others are found only in Mediterranean
climates. This is a gorgeous book that is sure to
spice up wild food conversation. You can read
more about Baudar here.

10. Discovering Wild Plants: Alaska, Western

Canada, the Northwest by Janice Schofield
Eaton (Alaska Northwest Books, 2003)

Don’t let the title of this book put you off—it’s

relevant to temperate climates around the world.
And it’s a superb field guide. The book covers
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Wild Abundance
Natalie Bogwalker’s primitive skills classes and
consultations.
Wild Food Plants
Sunny Savage’s blog and website, she also has
many YouTube videos on the subject.
Wildman Steve Brill
Author and teacher of wild foods in NYC, Steve
Brill is a thorough and detailed writer, highly
recommended.

Edible flowers -foraged and homegrown

Chestnut School’s Pinterest page has two boards
you might find helpful: botany and wild foods.
Wild Foods Resources
Here are some of my articles on Wild Foods,
Eat the Weeds including on sochan and lamb’s quarters.
Green Deane from Florida shares his love of wild
We put together a list of The Top Herbal
foods, he has many YouTube videos on foraging,
and Foraging Blogs, Podcasts, and YouTube
especially for sub-tropical and tropical plants
Channels on the official Chestnut School blog
Eat Weeds
Wild foods blog from the U.K.
Eco-Images – Vickie Shufer’s website
Vickie teaches classes on eastern coastal wild
foods and publishes the digital quarterly “Wild
Foods Forum.”
Firefly Gathering
The Firefly Gathering is held near Asheville, NC
and teaches skills for living with the earth.
Forager’s Harvest
Samuel Thayer is one of the finest writers on
wild foods, his books on the subject are excellent. Learn how to gather and prepare
Hunger and Thirst your own edible and medicinal wild
Foraging, feasting, and adventure in the Rocky foods in our 375-hour
Mountains. Beautiful wild foods photos, Online Foraging Course*
humorous writing and fun!
*Registration opens once a year. All Foraging Course material
Mushroom Expert is included in our Online Herbal Immersion Program.
Identifying mushrooms, keys, photographs.

All photos and text © Juliet Blankespoor

Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine

www.ChestnutHerbs.com
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Review Questions
1. What do you need to consider in order to safely identify a plant from the wild? (See Foraging
Guideline #1)

2. When wildcrafting or purchasing herbs, you should be sure that you won’t be endangering a
plant’s overall population. What factors should you consider to be sure of a plant’s abundance in your
area? (See Foraging Guideline #3)

3. To ensure that your medicine isn’t contaminated with pollutants, what are some areas you should
avoid harvesting?

4. Why is timing such an important factor when foraging? Discuss some ways we can adjust our
harvest schedule to the life cycle of the plants.

5. What are some techniques to support regeneration when harvesting a) bark? b) leaves? c) roots?
(Note: If a plant is non-native and invasive, these steps aren’t necessary.)
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

Answer Key

1. What do you need to consider in order to safely identify a plant from the wild? (See Foraging
Guideline #1)

Court a plant throughout the seasons and positively identify it at least three times before you make
your move. Consult with local herbalists, botanists, and field guides. Be especially careful with plants
in families that contain deadly poisonous members, such as the Carrot (Apiaceae) and Buttercup
(Ranunculaceae) families. If in doubt, do not gather! Finally, I highly recommend getting to know
the most poisonous plants in your area BEFORE wildcrafting or foraging.

2. When wildcrafting or purchasing herbs, you should be sure that you won’t be endangering a
plant’s overall population. What factors should you consider to be sure of a plant’s abundance
in your area? (See Foraging Guideline #3)

Familiarize yourself with your state’s endangered species lists and the United Plant Savers’ lists of “at-
risk” and “to-watch” plants. (Be sure to study this list before taking the quiz.)

Know how widespread a plant is in the area you’re harvesting. Is the plant native or non-native?
Non-native plants tend to be more abundant and therefore more sustainable to harvest.

When buying herbs, support woodland growers and don’t buy wildcrafted herbs if the plant is en-
dangered.

3. To ensure that your medicine isn’t contaminated with pollutants, what are some areas you
should avoid harvesting?

Avoid harvesting near roads, foundations of buildings, electric lines, railroads, floodplains of polluted
rivers, and fields that may be sprayed with herbicide. If you don’t have a clean place to gather, look
around for organic community gardens or your neighborhood’s organic growers, and ask if you can
harvest their weeds!

4. Why is timing such an important factor when foraging? Discuss some ways we can adjust our
harvest schedule to the life cycle of the plants.

Foraging at the right time of year helps plants continue to grow and reproduce, and also ensures we
get the best flavor and strongest medicine the plant has to offer. A plant’s medicine changes through-
out the seasons. When a perennial plant is dormant, its energy is stored in its root system; therefore
we harvest roots in the fall through early spring. Let the plant flower and set seed before you harvest
its roots. When harvesting wild greens, it’s best to gather in the spring, as they become fibrous and
more bitter as the season progresses.
 HANDCRAFTED HERBALISM: MINI-COURSE

5. What are some techniques to support regeneration when harvesting a) bark? b) leaves? c)
roots? (Note: If a plant is non-native and invasive, these steps aren’t necessary.)

a) When harvesting bark, harvest a whole limb and use all the bark and twigs. Don’t harvest from
the main, central trunk of the tree, which will leave the tree exposed to pathogens and harm it’s
vascular system.

b) When harvesting leaves, always let some remain on the plant so it can continue to photosynthe-
size and set seeds. For woody plants, pull the leaves off the stem so that the twigs and branches can
form new leaves in future years.

c) When harvesting roots, replant the root crown – this is the part of the root that contains the
beginning of next year’s growth- and cut back some of the stems. If a plant spreads “clonally” (by
sending out runners), harvest a side root instead of the main, central root.
 Online Foraging Course
Learn to safely identify & harvest wild medicinals
& edible weeds with our 375-hour course!
AREAS OF STUDY INCLUDE:
Medicine Making Botany & Plant Identification Materia Medica (Herbal
Therapeutics) Herbal Safety: Drug-Herb Contraindications & Potential Side Effects
Foraging and Ethical Wildcrafting Herbal Actions
Registration is open once a year. All Foraging Course material is included in our Online Herbal Immersion Program.

Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine

Online Herbal Programs • ChestnutHerbs.com
Videos • Personal Guidance • Recipes • Electronic & Print Manuals • Projects • Quizzes • Certificates
 Chestnut School of
Herbal Medicine

Online Herbal Immersion Program • Online Medicine Making Course

Online Foraging Course: Edible and Medicinal Wild Herbs
www.ChestnutHerbs.com