I’m a Gatherer
Thoughts on bringing forest to table
The Moon is beginning to rise as the Sun paints the sky reddish gold. We are crawling through underpasses and over fallen oak trees by the reservoir. Taking in deep inhales of late summer air full of humidity for it had rained for a few days prior. I bend down to take my shoes off for I often feel called by Mother to connect through more mindful, barefooted steps. I see a small seedling of an oak tree shaking in the breeze. No more than a foot tall and just adorably small. There’s a cluster of something underneath those wavy leaves. Black Trumpet Mushrooms. I gasped, calling out to my lover to affirm what I'd discovered. In awe, we realize what we will have for dinner tonight, a gift from the forest. August 24, 2020
That fateful summer day was the catalyst to my love for foraging. The pandemic had robbed us of so much and I yearned for an activity that would bring me closer to myself, the Earth and all else. One that wouldn’t be for profit nor competition but merely for pure joy and restoration. See with foraging, I can feel deeply interconnected with the wide variety of life cycles all around me. Through foraging, we have an opportunity to cultivate a deeper connection with the Earth, a greater respect for the Earth and a greater knowledge of the Earth through foraging foods from the forest and bringing them to our dinner tables.
What better way to feel connected and in love with the Earth than to eat from it? My best meals have ingredients grown from the fertile soils of the land. Grown harmoniously with everything in the environment. I feel like a true earthling when I go out into the world, pluck from the Earth, come home to prepare a meal and share it with my loved ones.
When you eat from the Earth, you become protective over her. You start to desire for the lands you frequent to never be riddled with litter, to never suffer from drought or fire, to never be cut down or uprooted. We need more of that attitude in order to save our planet and our people. Foraging will make you fall in love with food again. Make you fall in love with nature again even if you’ve felt isolated from it. Consider bringing the forest to your table this year, it might awaken something in you.
I’ve grown up living in the rural countryside of southwestern Virginia and foraging awakened a deeper love for my home state. Sprinkled all over the forest floor as soon as Easter arrives are Virginia Spring Beauties, edible flowers that make any dish pretty. Spring is also great for harvesting garlic mustard greens to make a perfect pesto like spread. Midsummer is the best time for picking blackberries, mulberries and wineberries. Autumn rains bless us with pawpaw fruit and golden chanterelle mushrooms. Winter is great for sipping on tea from goodies collected during the year like purple passionflower, goldenrod or lemon balm.
Foraging for food is not a new concept, more so a lost one. People like to talk about how we were “hunter-gatherers” and only focus on the hunter part. This is because of how we perceive the risk to benefit ratio of hunting versus gathering. When hunting, you know that once an animal is captured and cooked, it is safe to eat. However, people forget how incredibly risky it is to hunt; could be attacked by the animal, could hurt your hunting companions or you can end up empty handed and hungry. When we gather our food, forage for it, it requires quite a bit of knowledge to make sure you don’t pick up something poisonous. But once you have the knowledge of what is edible & safe, in essence, you will always be able to find food to sustain. Both activities are risky but with skill, they can equally be very rewarding. Learning herbalism, mycology, ecology, botany, etc. requires dedication, diligence & discipline. That wisdom it is priceless.
We have strayed away from sharing our knowledge about the Earth and that has led to a fear of the forest. Many of our misconceptions of the forest derive from folklore and the media. We’ve been conditioned to fear the forest because of its depths and dangers due to Westerners emphasis in literature. There are myths and legends of things like fairies, witches, hermits, serpents, poison berries, mind-altering mushrooms, massive monsters in the lakes and in the trees. I could go on and on but you’ve read and seen them too.
In contrast, in Indigenous cultures all over the world, there has been an emphasis on understanding, cohabitating & enjoying the gifts that the forest has to give us. Stewards of the earth find opportunities to learn more about nature through foraging and see nature being abundant in resources for us to nourish and heal. The earth is also seen as something not to take advantage of and exploit for it cannot continue to bless us if we take more than we need.
When first getting started with learning how to forage, I started out small for there is so much to learn, it could take lifetimes. I joined some Facebook groups because there are so many people in them willing to identify whatever you’ve stumbled upon and to give advice on how to prepare it. One of my favorite books that I enjoy bringing with me while foraging is “All That the Rains Promises and More” by David Arora. I’m a big fan of the YouTube channel Learn Your Land because he takes time to explain and show viewers every aspect of nature. Always remember, knowledge is at your fingertips.
Speaking of tips, here are some tips for ethical foraging:
At the opening of most trails, we see the sign “Take Only Photos. Leave Only Footprints.” This is fantastic advice considering some people are quite careless in nature. When it comes to foraging, you can start with just photography so you can come home and properly identify and admire your findings.
When you are ready to return for harvesting, take only what you need for a meal or two. Here’s why, you might not like the flavor, could be allergic or it could not sit well with your stomach. It’s best not to waste food that could’ve fed someone or something else. Additionally, you should not be purging an area to the point that it may not be able to recover and grow again. Gluttony and greed plagues our society already so do your best to not destroy the land.
Be sure to also check the laws and regulations for where you decide to forage. Some parks require a permit or license to acquire anything from the land. Please be mindful and respectful to the land that has been stolen from indigenous people. They were the original stewards of the land and took care of it long before you were able to walk through it now. Consider donating time, resources and attention to the indigenous community near you.
Living a harmonious life with all that I’m interconnected with is my mission. I’m here to inform and inspire folk as my life’s purpose. I deeply desire for all of us to reconnect and stay connected to the natural world, cycles & rhythms of our planet. This can be done on both small and large scale I believe. Let this love letter serve as a nudge to get out there and try. I’m rooting for you!
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If you enjoyed this piece, you’re welcome to download my Easy Mushroom Info Sheet here.
If you’re interested in more of my work surrounding foraging and growing mushrooms check out my features page.
If you’d like a discount for growing mushroom kits at home from North Spore my code is PARTSHOMEGROWN for 10% off
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Q&A
Have you ever gone foraging?
Can you identify local botany?
I am on Monacan Land
What’s something you’d love to find?
We’d love to find some Morel mushrooms this year!
Email me your Q&As to withcarrington@gmail.com or comment on Substack :)
Until next time Pancake Pen Pals! 🥞
(Massive thanks to Rachel Leeke for the cute name for subscribers here)
*this piece is reworked from my original piece published in Sage Magazine 2020*
"I deeply desire for all of us to reconnect and stay connected to the natural world, cycles & rhythms of our planet." This sentiment radiates from your sharing. Thanks so much for a great read.
I am newly curious about foraging and while I wish I could say I love the taste of mushrooms, I am mostly curious about their variations and cataloging. I want to geek and be able to name it as soon as I spot it.
So I've never been foraging! But your post has definitely inspired me to look deeper into it. Thanks for all these resources and reminders. I've already started reading through your mushroom handout. Also I wanted to say how your point about hunter/gatherer dynamics really spoke to me. I feel like balancing and sitting with both of these identities is important. The level of carefulness and presence that it takes to be a gatherer, or learn from one, is so interesting to me.