Self-Sufficiency Spotlight: Foraging 101

Foraging 101

[A Note from Stephanie: This episode is the second in a series that highlights attainable steps toward self-sufficiency. I hope the episodes in this series inspires you to adopt a fun, new hobby that also happens to be eco-friendly!]

I’m Armenian. Each summer as a child, my mother, sister, and I would search for grape vines along the side of the road and collect leaves to make our most beloved ethnic food: dolma. Once we found a good vine, we picked until our fingertips went numb. I only recently realized there’s a name for this behavior—foraging—and there’s an active community of foragers who swear that wild food is richer in vitamins and minerals than most of what’s found in grocery stores.

If you have ever made salve from dandelions or collected elderberries you, too, are a forager. And while foraging is a fantastic way to supplement your family’s nutrition, the hobby also provides an excellent excuse to get exploring outdoors.

My guest this week is blogger and preparedness expert Lisa Bedford. Lisa comes to our conversation armed with practical foraging tips for beginners; she suggests ways to include the entire family in the fun, too.

Here’s a preview of today’s episode:

[9;40] 5 benefits of foraging for parents and kids alike

[17:45] The importance of having both a plan and a purpose before stepping out the door

[20:45] Foraging beginner? Here’s why and how to start with pine trees

[28:50] Health and safety tips for absolute beginners

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• The Idiot’s Guide to Foraging
• Peterson Field Guide: Edible Wild Plants
• Eat The Weeds

* This week’s sponsor is Blissoma. (Use code MINIMAL at checkout for 20% off Sustain Ecosystem products!)

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