My new favourite thing to do with my children is to head to the woods and look for wild edibles. It might possibly be their favourite activity too. No matter what the weather is (and boy have we had some crazy weather this month), I am getting asked to go to the woods.
As a kid, every winter, my school would load us up in a bus and take us on a field trip to a conservation area an hour out of the city. There, we would learn about animal tracking, making fire in the middle of 2 feet of snow and things you can eat in the wild. This may just be a weird thing Canadian children are forced to do, but it’s what we did. I did learn quite a bit from it though.
A few years ago I started to learn more about herbalism and plants with medicinal properties. This led me to foraging alone in a local park. While S was playing at the playground, I’d be walking along the outskirts of the field, taking pictures of plants I didn’t know and running them through identification apps on my phone.
This year, I introduced this new passion of mine to my kids and it has been amazing. Not only is this such a fantastic way to learn about the different plants in your area but it gets them outside and exploring the world around them. Kids do not get enough time outside nowadays. Mine are no exception to that. Another magical thing I’ve noticed is that even the pickiest of eaters, will love trying and munching on wild edibles. S hates anything too onioney or garlicky, but she will run to eat wild chives and garlic straight from the ground.
If foraging and using wild plants is something that interests you and you’d like to teach some of these skills to your children, I have a few tips and tricks for you!
Tip #1: Snacks and water are mandatory. Even if you already know where to find wild edibles, kids are just in a state of constant hunger. I always try to bring snacks that won’t leave us with any garbage.
Tip #2: Expect to get dirty and dress accordingly.
Tip #3: Invest in a good field guide and then get one for your kids too. I like the classic Regional Foraging Series. They have one for every growing zone and region. Find the one for your area! Foraging with Kids by Adele Nozedar is a great one for children. It is easy to read and it also offers recipes for each edible.
Tip #4: Download a foraging app on your phone before heading out. I promise that after 30 minutes, you’ll be getting asked about every plant they see. I use PlantSnap but there are so many great options.
Tip #5: Never take more than you need or will use. Just like at a grocery store, you wouldn’t buy the entire shelf of broccoli just because it is there, don’t pick a growth clean just because it’s there. Sustainable harvesting is an unspoken rule among more serious foragers.
And last but really the most important one…
Tip #6: Always leave the area better than how you found it. I bring a plastic garbage bag with me and some gloves and pick up where I can. The only way natural spaces are going to stay beautiful is if we all do our part to keep it that way.
I bet that if you head out into the woods, a nature trail or even a local park that you could find something edible right now. My favourite foraging season is Spring. There are so many edibles that come out at this time that are just so readily available and they add a nice touch to most meals.
Here are 3 of our favourite plants to find in the spring;
Ramps
Ramp, ramson, wild leek, wild garlic, spring onion, this plant goes by many times. Many places across North America sell them in grocery stores in the Spring for a pretty penny. There are so easy to find. They like to live close to running water but people have found them everywhere. They taste like a very mild garlic. We like to use them in sauces, compound butters, pickles, sauteed… I’ve even put them in breads. These are so versatile and taste delicious. My kids even stick them between crackers and eat them like a sandwich.
A quick word of caution; to the untrained eye, these can easily be mistaken as Lily of the Valley. A pretty flower but absolutely toxic to eat. An easy way to tell the difference is to smoosh a leaf up in your fingers and smell. Does it smell like onion/garlic? You’re good! Lily of the Valley doesn’t have a strong scent.
Actually… A second word of caution to go with the first. This one is just about courtesy. People get very passionate about harvesting ramps. When harvesting ramps, always cut the plant at ground level. Try not to take the bulbs. It takes ramps almost a decade to grow. Taking the bulbs and roots ensures that there will be less to harvest next year. Leave the bulbs and they will grow back next year. The only time I take the bulbs is when they come out with the plant. They are a rare delicacy so I consider it my gift from the Earth for how seldom I do take them.
Garlic Mustard
Another garlic plant!
This plant was introduced to North America for its culinary use but is now considered an invasive species. It grows everywhere. My neighbour lets me pick it from the side of his house because it keeps coming back. If you find this plant, just rip it right out of the ground.
It is probably too late to really reap the benefits of this plant, again, that depends on where you live. Once it starts to flower, the leaves become quite bitter and hard to eat. You can harvest the flower buds and dry them out though. I’ve never done it but I know some who use it for seasoning.
I love to add the young leaves to soups and make it into pesto. The leaves also cook down like spinach and make a nice side to any dish.
Dandelions
Did you see this one coming? You should have! Every part of this plant is edible and it is everywhere.
This is the first year that I have harvested dandelions myself but it is so much fun. The green leaves are great for salads. The amount of vitamins from them is amazing. You can dry out the yellow petals and steep into tea.
Something we learned about recently is making dandelion honey. It is very easy, takes a ton of sugar to make and tastes very similar to honey. If you are honey lovers, you should try this one! You can find the recipe online.
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