The idea of “foraging” never quite seemed right to me. Among my greatest joys in life is walking out of the woods with a basket of berries in hand. It’s a powerful way to connect to something bigger than ourselves. But it always seemed like a one-sided relationship. What are the berry plants getting out of this?
Across North America, and indeed around the world, indigenous communities have developed deep and intricate relationships with their land over millennia. When we see through this lens, the meaning behind the term “foraging” falls away. Why? Because there is no separation between “us” and “them.” We are all part of this natural Earth. We are animals, and the berries want to be eaten by animals.
There are actions we can take while we interact with the landscape, which will make the berry patch healthier, and grow more berries in future years for all us animals to share.
Learning concepts like these started me on the path of Regenerative Wildharvest.
The Cycle of Giving Back:
Regenerative foraging is not about what we harvest, rather it is about how we do it. Here are some ways we embody this philosophy:
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Fireweed and Camas Planting: We harvest seeds from native plants like fireweed in the high country and camas in the valleys and sow them in winter.
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Prescribed Burning: During the cold seasons, we carefully implement controlled burns on the property we live on, in specific areas. This practice, while seemingly counterintuitive, can actually benefit ecosystems by:
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Reducing fire risk by eliminating built-up flammable materials.
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Encouraging new plant growth by stimulating seed germination and promoting the health of fire-adapted species.
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Improving soil health by releasing nutrients trapped in dead plant matter.
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Restoring Burned Land: After large-scale wildfires have burned the forests and torched the land, we participate in habitat restoration work by:
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Planting native trees: Planting native trees in post-burn sites is one way that we help recover lost forest land.
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Respecting the Balance:
Our commitment goes beyond these specific techniques. We:
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Respect natural abundance: We only harvest what is readily available, avoiding over-harvesting any single species.
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Minimize our impact: We are mindful of our presence in the ecosystem, and use minimally disruptive hand tools.
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Educate and inspire: We share our practices and knowledge with others, encouraging responsible and sustainable harvesting methods.