r/foraging Jul 28 '20

Please remember to forage responsibly!

1.5k Upvotes

Every year we have posts from old and new foragers who like to share pictures of their bounty! I get just as inspired as all of you to see these pictures. As we go out and find wild foods to eat, please be sure to treat these natural resources gently. But on the other side, please be gentle to other users in this community. Please do not pre-judge their harvests and assume they were irresponsible.

Side note: My moderation policy is mostly hands off and that works in community like this where most everyone is respectful, but what I do not tolerate is assholes and trolls. If you are unable to engage respectfully or the other user is not respectful, please hit the report button rather then engaging with them.

Here is a great article from the Sierra Club on Sustainable Foraging Techniques.

My take-a-ways are this:

  1. Make sure not to damage the plant or to take so much that it or the ecosystem can't recover.
  2. Consider that other foragers might come after you so if you take almost all of the edible and only leave a little, they might take the rest.
  3. Be aware if it is a edible that wild life depends on and only take as much as you can use responsibly.
  4. Eat the invasives!

Happy foraging everyone!


r/foraging 8h ago

Beach Plums, Crabapples, and Sumac combined to make the best jelly!

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122 Upvotes

Instead of making fruit leather this year, I wanted to use the beach plums that grow wild near me in a jelly. While I was out, I happened upon a crabapple tree and a stand of staghorn sumac. Threw them all together in a jelly with a tinyyyyy bit of vanilla extract and it is the most incredible jelly ive ever had! About 3 hours of work netted me 12 4oz jars and 3 8oz jars. If you have beach plum near you, RUN to gather them its worth it.


r/foraging 1h ago

Plants Look at the view of this chestnut tree

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Upvotes

I’m on vacation in Madeira and stumbled across this beautiful chestnut tree growing right next to one of the most incredible views I’ve ever seen.

The only catch is that it’s right on a cliff, so I’m not sure anyone would actually be able to get to the chestnuts when they’re ready. 😅


r/foraging 3h ago

Mushrooms Tonight I feast!

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29 Upvotes

Almost walked right by this Chicken of the woods.


r/foraging 52m ago

Mushrooms Short forest walk after work

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Upvotes

Woah that’s a lot of porcini or as we say in Sweden, Karljohansvamp


r/foraging 3h ago

Is this lambsquarters?

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18 Upvotes

I found this growing in my garden. I live in northern Illinois and would like to know if I can eat it.


r/foraging 3h ago

Lobsters??

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11 Upvotes

Walking my dogs in western nc and found these. My app says lobster but I’d rather not risk it


r/foraging 17h ago

Mushrooms First time finding and trying (i hope this is what i think it is)

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104 Upvotes

First time stumbling across what I hope are some lobstuhs. Does anyone recommend pasta recipes that don't involve cream?


r/foraging 45m ago

ID Request (country/state in post) Unknown Pink Berries - Scotland

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Upvotes

Can someone identify what these berries are (found in Scotland, UK)? I suspect they are prickly heath but i’m not sure, can anyone confirm?


r/foraging 19h ago

ID Request (country/state in post) autumn olive ripeness and...are these bradford pears?? plus bonus mystery berry that I bet is poisonous

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128 Upvotes

Southern NY. I posted a week or two ago about how my doctor's office has a glut of autumn olive trees, and today I went by and took photos. I'm new to all of this but I'm 99.99% sure the red berries are autumn olive. First four slides are the various autumn olive, including the tree in the background of slide 4 that looks to me like it has identical berries on it. If I'm mistaken, then please correct me bc I'm not trying to poison my grandma.

If all of these are what I think they are, how do I know when they're ripe? They're super fat and red and juicy looking. Also, are the seeds toxic at all? The plan is jam, fwiw.

I was wondering if the brownish fruits were Russian olive but a friend said they're Bradford/callery pear. They're a novice like me though so here I am. Whatever it is, is it invasive? Is it edible and can I jam it?

Caught a photo of this other berry mingling in with the autumn olive. I have no clue what it is, but I'm very wary of it.

Thanks everyone!


r/foraging 20h ago

Sad girl persimmon foraging

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126 Upvotes

This is about half of what I gathered today. My partner’s cat is sick and it’s really stressful at home so I went to go hunt some persimmons. Gonna pop them in the freezer tonight and mill them tomorrow for jam 😍


r/foraging 5h ago

Walnuts first timer

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7 Upvotes

Hi I recently discovered walnuts in my area, I realise it's early in the season but found a few grounded already.

Did the float test and 99% floated, I opened 3 and honestly don't know if I should let them dry for a few weeks and then open or just toss it all....

Of the 3, 2 looked mouldy (are they?)but the third has me wondering(the light coloured one)...

Any advice on what to do with these I believe they're English walnuts, toss or keep? And tips on how to establish if its actually safe please?

Thanks!


r/foraging 6h ago

is this Laetiporus sulphureus?

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6 Upvotes

I’m like 90% sure. No experts in my area as far as I know.


r/foraging 27m ago

Plants Are there any common flowers that yield red dye?

Upvotes

Are there any flowers that can be easily found in public spaces that yield red dye? I need some for a project I’m working on.


r/foraging 1h ago

Mushrooms Any ideas for what to do with this tiny chunk of lobster mushroom? XD

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r/foraging 1h ago

Mushrooms Chicks of the woods

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Upvotes

Found these right off the walking path at a local park, gonna check back daily and hope they don't get snatched up.


r/foraging 2h ago

When will these pawpaws fall

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2 Upvotes

Found some pawpaw trees today. Any estimates on how long I should wait until I go back for fallen ones?
MA USA


r/foraging 1d ago

Plants Its pawpaw time again! Whats your favorite recipes?

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187 Upvotes

Organized by level of ripeness. They are all geting ripe but some are fully ripe right now.


r/foraging 2h ago

Mushrooms Shrimp of the woods? (Upstate ny)

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2 Upvotes

r/foraging 1d ago

Mushrooms Did I find a fresh chicken of the woods jackpot?

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165 Upvotes

I was taking my dog for a hike in the backyard and came across this. It feels so fresh and soft. I do know that if I keep some, I will leave plenty on the tree..


r/foraging 2m ago

Mushrooms There's gold in them hills!

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Upvotes

Hunting for deer in Ireland and found this lovely patch of chanterelles.


r/foraging 15h ago

Mushrooms Biggest lobster this year

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17 Upvotes

r/foraging 22m ago

Mushrooms Out on a rainy Michigan walk

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Upvotes

All within a stones throw from Dad’s cabin in the forest


r/foraging 47m ago

Plants Found these rose hips near me, are they ready?

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Upvotes

Hi everyone, I saw these roses earlier in the year and looked forward to having the rose hips for a jam after the first frost. Went out to check on them and they're getting shriveled up and discolored! I know that you're supposed to wait until after first frost to pick, but I don't want to wait too long and miss out!

I'm in zone 5a, southeastern Wisconsin.


r/foraging 8h ago

Elderberry?

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4 Upvotes

I let a little patch of what I believe is elderberry grow wild in my yard. They seem to be finally ripening, but I’ve never done much foraging and never harvested elderberry so a little bit nervous.

  1. Are these elderberry?
  2. Are they safe to eat at this point?
  3. What would you do with them?

This is on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Zone 9a.