wild foraging - hedgerow harvests for natural health & beauty
Simply exploring your local surroundings builds a reconnection with nature and is an important step to living in harmony with the seasons. Many delicious recipes & traditional remedies derive from wild plants easily found in cities and suburban gardens as well, as in rural countryside. Getting to know these native plants, and understanding their culinary and medicinal uses connects us to the places where we live. By engaging with nature in this way, we develop an appreciation, deep respect for and lifelong love of our native flora and fauna.
For our Wild Wisdom guide, we've included some of the most popular, commonly used wild ingredients, helpful hints & tips and a Harvesting Calendar to get you started on your foraging journey.
Conservation:
- Take small quantities only from your chosen plant. This will help keep the plant healthy, leaving plenty for future propagation, and for wildlife.
- When gathering your leaves, flowers or berries, use a sharp knife or secateurs to ensure a clean cut. Ripping by hand may cause injury or encourage infection in the plant.
- Avoid harvesting alongside roads where there will be exhaust contamination, or areas which may have been treated with pesticides.
harvest calendar
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January:
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August:
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Important considerations & cautions:
Although botanicals (herbs, spices, plants) are considered safe for most people when used in cooking or in small amounts, inappropriate use of some of these botanicals could be dangerous. The content on this site shares our own personal use of botanical ingredients, is for information only, and should not be taken as medical advice. Prior to using any botanicals in recipes or remedies, you should always do your own research, and consult with a medical professional, your GP, or a qualified herbalist.
Although botanicals (herbs, spices, plants) are considered safe for most people when used in cooking or in small amounts, inappropriate use of some of these botanicals could be dangerous. The content on this site shares our own personal use of botanical ingredients, is for information only, and should not be taken as medical advice. Prior to using any botanicals in recipes or remedies, you should always do your own research, and consult with a medical professional, your GP, or a qualified herbalist.