Forage For Your Own Food and Medicine
Foraging has been around since the existence of humankind. What began as a universal necessity later became an indicator of socioeconomic status, as those with fewer financial resources resorted to foraging to put food on the table.
The way we obtain food nowadays is very different. In industrialized countries like the United States, most people get their food from grocery stores or food delivery services.
Over the last decade, interest in foraging has grown as people seek new, nutritious, and flavorful ingredients, as sustainability advocates explore ways of breaking their dependence on industrial agriculture, and as Indigenous communities and other groups work to revive traditional practices.
Foraging definition:
• “To wander in search of food or provisions.”
• “To search for a particular food or foods, often in the wild.”
Foraging can be done during any season, but you will find different plants/herbs to harvest during the different seasons. It can be a rewarding practice and can be done almost anywhere, including urban areas. *
*Note that in urban areas, there could be a higher risk for pollutants and contaminants, so be cautious when foraging in those areas, ensuring that the items are well washed before consuming.
My favorite time to forage will always be during the summer. The weather makes it more enjoyable to be out in the elements looking for the plants and herbs.
I was able to get my first experience of true foraging a few years ago during the Kid’s Lakota Summer camps I participated in as a mentor, in South Dakota. Strawberries, blackberries, wild peas, sage, mint, chokecherries, and turnip (Thíŋpsiŋla in Lakota) were just some of the many abundant plants we were able to locate and harvest.
If you are new to foraging and want to explore it, here are some tips to help you get started below:
Proper Identification:
Learn to accurately identify your plants/herbs and wild mushrooms. Never rely on one single characteristic like bloom or leaf for identification. Use three or more points of ID. Consider color, leaf, bloom, stem, fruit, bark/branches, fragrance, location, life cycle of the plant, soil conditions, and/or spore print (for mushrooms).
Think about potential contaminants:
Don’t eat anything that may have been treated or from near sources of pollution. Try to find foods as far from human activity as possible when out and about in the countryside or the wilds. Washing foods can help reduce pollutants.
Ethical/Sustainable Foraging:
If you are allowed to forage, never take more than you need. Wherever possible, leave root systems in place, taking only small, sustainable amounts so the plants can continue to grow and wildlife can still have sufficient amounts for that season. Try to only forage from abundant wild food sources.
Foraging Tours and Classes in California:
Want to save the hassel of learning on your own? Take a class/tour and learn from experts!
Tools to help Forage
- Gloves: These help with prickly plants like stinging nettle, rosebushes, and wild berry bushes. Gloves also prevent you from any allergic reaction in the chance you touch something poisonous or something you may not know you are allergic to.
- Clippers/Pruners: Having a hand tool like this one can help save a lot of time from hand picking certain items and can even allow you to collect things in bunches rather than one at a time.
- A Digging Trowel: A portable digging towel or shovel is also good to have if you’ll be harvesting mushrooms or plants from the ground, helping you loosen the roots of foraged finds.
- Basket(s)/Bag(s): Having a designated basket or bag to keep your harvested items in allows you to get more than what you would be able to collect if you didn’t have anything on you. Or it would save time from you going back and forth to your car or whatever way of transportation you took to get to that location.
- Plant Identification App: There are many apps out there nowadays that can help you identify plants if you are uncertain about them. While this can be a helpful tool, it should NOT be something you solely rely on due to possibilities of it being inaccurate. This is especially true when there are safe plants that look very similar to ones that are toxic/poisonous.
Finally, remember the golden rule of foraging: “Don’t eat what you don’t know.”
If you aren’t 100% sure that a food is safe to eat, leave it alone.
10 Plants for Beginners
If you’re like me, you struggle to keep any plant alive no matter how hard you try. Even if it claims to be the most resilient plant, I still found a way to kill it in about 3 days or less. Well, fear not, fellow plant killers! This year, I made it my mission to become a plant whisperer, one way or another. After shedding a tear or two over my failed attempts with two string of pearl plants that never survived (sobs), having known that they were a difficult plant to take care of, I embarked on a journey of serious research. My mission: to discover plants that are not only adorable but also beginner-friendly.
So if you are looking for recommendations, below are 10 plants that are suitable for beginners.
For owners with cats or dogs, I have also listed for each plant whether or not they are safe for your household.
Echeveria Succulents
These succulents produce stunning rosettes with plump leaves that can come in a wide variety of colors. And they are fairly low maintenance.
They like lots of bright light, though direct afternoon sun can burn the leaves. And they need well-draining soil.
Water when the soil has mostly dried out.
Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Aloe Vera
Aloe is quite tolerant of drought, so it won’t suffer if you forget to water it.
It likes bright, indirect light so a window could be a perfect spot for it. Aloe Vera needs water when the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry.
Water it once a week, or twice depending on how hot it is.
Pet Safety: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Snake Plant
They like plenty of light, but they can handle less if necessary. And they are not too particular about watering, as long as it is not too much.
Water it once a week during the spring and summer and only once every two to three weeks during the fall and winter.
Pet Safety: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo, also known as the Ribbon plant, is a popular houseplant often seen in homes and offices. Despite its name, it’s not bamboo but a member of the Asparagus family. They can make wonderful gift plants, and many people believe they bring good luck and enhance the chi, or energy, of their surroundings.
Lucky bamboo does best in indirect sunlight and humid conditions, making it an excellent plant for bathrooms or kitchens.
In general, lucky bamboo should be watered once a week.
Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Money Tree
Needing only medium to low light, this plant can pretty much take care of itself. The money plant produces offshoots that sprout from the the stem’s base, which means you get free new money plants!
Water your money tree once every one to two weeks. Always check the soil and water the plant thoroughly if the soil feels dry.
Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Prayer Plant
The prayer plant gets its name because its leaves remain flat during the day, but then at night they fold up like hands praying.
This plant enjoys low-light and humid environments. So your bathroom might be the perfect place for it, where there is frequent warm, damp air.
You should water your prayer plant once every one or two weeks or whenever the soil feels dry.
Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Jade Plant
It features deep green, oval leaves on woody stems. It’s a relatively hands-off plant, just make sure it has bright, indirect light and well-draining soil.
Water more frequently in the spring and summer than the fall and winter, making sure the soil is never soggy.
Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Fishbone Cactus
The fishbone cactus features unique angled and toothed stems—hence another one of its common names, the zig zag cactus. It’s a tropical species that can handle more humidity and less sun than typical desert cacti.
Give it bright, indirect light, and water when the top 2 inches of soil have dried out.
Holiday Cactus
The holiday cactus is beloved for its bright blooms that appear in the late fall and early winter. It is actually a rainforest plant, meaning it needs more water than desert cacti.
Water when the soil is dry about 2 inches down. It’s also not picky about its soil, as long as it has good drainage. And it does well if you have a window with bright, indirect light.
Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Philodendron
Philodendron species tend to have large, glossy leaves. There are both vining and non-climbing types. Keep them in a fairly warm and humid environment, and shield them from strong direct light.
Water when the top inch or so of soil has dried out.
Pet Safety: Toxic to cats and dogs.
How many houseplants should I start with?
If you’re a beginner when it comes to houseplants, it’s ideal to start with just 1-3 plants that have similar growing needs (trust me, I know how hard it is to resist filling your whole space with plants). That way, you can easily work them into your routine and not have to consider any individualized care.
Full list of Toxic and Non-toxic plants for Cats & Dogs
Cats
Dogs
The Co-op carries a variety of plants throughout the year, including some of these beginner plants that were mentioned in this blog.
Want some help?
Our Floral Specialist in the Produce Department should be able to help you find the perfect plant for you!
Natural Remedies for Allergies
Ah spring, that time of the year that many of us look forward to for many reasons. Spring signifies new beginnings, longer days, and no longer having to leave home wearing layers upon layers of clothing.
That’s right, spring is also prime time for allergies!
Allergies are caused by an “overreaction of the immune system to certain substances or environmental triggers, such as pollen and dust mites.” Allergic Rhinitis, of which the seasonal type is called hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose that occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, red, itchy, and watery eyes, and swelling around the eyes.
For many, the path to relief begins with the rattle of a pill bottle — and that’s perfectly OK.
But there are other, more natural options that may be worth a try.
Below are some herbs, foods, and other natural remedies that could help lessen your seasonal allergies.* You don’t have to wait until you start to get symptoms to start taking these; The sooner you take them, the more your body will be prepared.
*If you have an underlying condition, taking other medications or herbal medicines, it is always best to talk to your healthcare provider before.
Stinging Nettle
Nettle leaf not contains natural antihistamines, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce nasal congestion, sneezing, and itching.
Butterbur
Butterbur extract contains petasins. Petasins could help with allergies by inhibiting leukotriene production. Leukotrienes cause inflammation and constricting of the airway muscles. It can also cause the body to produce excess mucus and fluid.
Licorice Root
Licorice Root has the ability to reduce inflammation and improve the mucous membrane health.
Yerba Santa
Yerba Santa is useful in clearing out the mucus caused by allergies and ridding the body of perpetually congested sinuses.
Ginger Root
Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it been known to work against allergies. A 2016 animal study showed ginger suppressed production of certain cytokines that cause mast cell activation, thereby leading to prevention and alleviation of allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Turmeric Root
The active component of turmeric is curcumin, a polyphenolic phytochemical, with anti-inflammatory, antiamyloid, antiseptic, antitumor, and antioxidative properties. Curcumin was reported to have antiallergic properties with inhibitory effect on histamine release from mast cells.
Local Honey
Consuming small amounts of honey from the same area you live in can assist with boosting your body’s capacity to handle allergens present in the atmosphere.
Other Remedies
Nasal Rinses
Rinsing directly flushes out mucus and allergens from your nose. Studies have shown that Nasal irrigation as an adjunctive treatment in allergic rhinitis.
Foods high in Quercetin
Quercetin calms immune cells, preventing or reducing their release of histamines-the substances that cause allergy symptoms.
Here is a list of 100 Foods high in Quercetin.
Homeopathic Medicines
Homeopathy, also called homeopathic medicine, is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses very small amounts of natural substances. Homeopathic products are often made as sugar pellets to be placed under the tongue; they may also be in other forms, such as ointments, gels, drops, creams, and tablets.
Here are a few homeopathic medicines that could help alleviate seasonal allergies:
Allium Cepa
Euphrasia Officinalis
Histaminum Hydrochloricum
Galphimia Glauca
Natrum Muriaticum
Find all of these natural remedies available at the Co-op!
Saving Your Bulbs for Next Spring
Every Year at the Co-op we have Beautiful Tulips, Daffodils, Dahlias, Ranunculus, etc. All these flowers have an expiration date in early spring and won’t grow any other time. These flowers grow from bulbs, which can be saved and used again next year! Over the course of them blooming they also multiply so each year you save them, the following year you will have even more flowers!
1. To harvest the bulbs first, you need to let the flower go through their cycle. Once the flower is beginning to shrivel up and die with no more blooms sprouting, you will cut back the flower. Cut the flower back so only 1.5 to 2 inches is remaining of the stem.
2. Then you will let the stems sit in the pot until they have completely dried out.
3. Then you will separate the bulbs from the soil. They are in clusters in the soil, and we want to keep the clusters together. The bulbs will multiply, but you don’t want to separate them until they just fall apart. You can remove some of the dried skin around the bulbs, but don’t remove it all. Only remove the skin that is loose and easily removed.
4. Store the bulbs in a cool, dark, and dry place. Keep them there until it is time to repot them! For Spring blooming flowers, daffodils and tulips, plant the bulb in September or October. For summer blooming bulbs, ranunculus and dahlias, plant in spring after the danger of frost has passed.
5. Different flowers will have different bulbs. They come in all shapes and sizes! Be sure to keep them separate and labeled when storing, unless you want to be surprised!
Written by Madison Suoja, Education and Outreach Specialist