Happy Friday,
I remember my first time foraging; ‘the hedge’ seemed vast and intimidating, filled with many unknown plants.
It was like entering a new world where every leaf and berry had a story.
The fear of making a mistake was intense, and rightly so; nature is as much a giver of life as it is a taker.
Do you remember the first time you felt cautious like one wrong move could lead to disaster?
That’s how I felt, and that inherent fear trained me to pay attention, look closely and see clearly.
The UK is a canvas painted with countless shades of green, a chlorophyll tapestry woven with numerous species of flora.
My research library is like a small window into this vast world, holding secrets of well over a thousand edible plants. All are found in the UK.
But mastery of foraging doesn’t require an encyclopaedic knowledge of every plant under the sun.
Let me tell you about my mentor, Marcus Harrison; he lived and breathed the wild world long before it became commonplace.
For those just starting out, he recommended having a deep knowledge of 45 wild edible plant species.
That’s double the amount of cultivated, farmed plants most people in Europe eat in a year.
Marcus’s dedication to unravelling Britain’s forgotten wild food record meant he spent hours lost in ancient texts deep inside the British library, unearthing every secret of the wild he could find.
Today, amidst the concrete jungles we call home, many of us are strangers to the natural world our forebears knew so well.
They were the true wanderers, the original foragers, knowing every secret the green world had to offer.
But as the cities grew and the forests faded, this intimate connection faded, too.
Is it lost forever?
No, it’s not, and a significant part of my life is dedicated to reigniting this lost bond.
There’s a unique joy in helping someone see the green world for what it truly is: to notice the subtle whispers of the leaves and the silent songs of the berries.
Some, especially those with an artistic soul, might find this connection naturally, but many need a helping hand.
Seeing someone’s eyes light up as they start distinguishing the individual whispers in the symphony of green makes my work all the more nourishing.
Embarking down the green path is like stepping into a new world; having the right guide makes all the difference.
Learning from those who’ve walked this path, like Marcus, is like having a key to hidden treasures.
Yes, it takes time to learn these wild edible plants.
And yes, those recommended 45 plants are the tasty ones.
Sure, there are hundreds of others, but if eating the equivalent of revolting famine food is your thing, go for it.
With time and patience, the seemingly impenetrable green wall reveals its secrets.
Every outing becomes a journey of discovery. To those thinking of stepping into this world, my advice is simple:
?Start small. Start with the basics.?
Choose a few plants, know them well, and let your knowledge grow like a tree.
Foraging is suitable for everyone, young and old. It is a promoter of health and a bringer of joy.
The foods we find are the true treasures of the earth, rich in life and free from the shackles of the modern world.
Foraging, is also a meditation, a moment of true presence in the world.
The joy of finding, gathering, and creating is unparalleled, fostering a connection with the earth and life itself.
Before taming the fields and sowing the seeds, our foraging ancestors lived as the true children of the wild.
They knew the green world like we know the words of our favourite song, learned through trial and error, love and loss.
This knowledge and wisdom was the true treasure of the ages, passed down through stories, and the silent songs of the green world.
As the world changed, as the fields grew, the green world faded into the background, but it never vanished.
Even when the plough and the sword ruled the world, the green world whispered its secrets to those who would listen, especially those who needed it the most.
Today, I released the colour edition of Forage In Autumn, the third book in my seasonal trilogy.
It celebrates the top fifteen edible and medicinal wild plants available in September, October and November.
?Click here to find out more.?
Talk soon,
Robin
P.S. Save £10 when you pick up all three books (link).
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