Foraging 101: Free Herbal Allies Growing All Around You
You don’t have to go far to find powerful herbal medicine—some of the best remedies are growing right under your feet. That plant popping up in the cracks of your sidewalk? It might just be a potent ally waiting to be noticed.
Foraging is one of my favorite parts of herbalism. It’s like nature’s treasure hunt, and the rewards are pretty incredible. But as exciting as it is to discover wild plants, it’s important to slow down and be thoughtful about where and how you gather.
Before you even think about picking that patch of dandelions or snipping elderflower from a tree, take a good look around. Are you sure the area hasn’t been sprayed? Is it close to a busy road or treated lawn? I always tell folks: if you wouldn’t feel good about eating a salad grown there, don’t forage there either.
A Few Books I Always Recommend for Foraging
Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been at it a while, a few solid books can make a world of difference. These are the ones I reach for again and again:
- Peterson Field Guides – There are several types! I use one for local medicinal plants and another that covers common weeds. Both are incredibly helpful and easy to use when you’re out in the field.
- Botany in a Day by Thomas J. Elpel – This one’s a gem if you want to understand why plants look the way they do. It teaches you to recognize patterns in plant families so you can identify new plants more confidently.
There’s something empowering about being able to look at a plant and know what it is—and whether or not you should harvest it.
Learning Through Observation
Every spring, I make it a point to drive around and look at the plants growing in the ditches and around our city lake. I take pictures—lots of them. Sometimes I’m snapping photos of plants I don’t even recognize yet, just so I can go home and try to identify them. It’s my way of learning what’s growing nearby.
I’ll often take pictures of the same plant week after week, watching how it changes with the seasons. That’s been one of the best ways I’ve learned to identify plants—by seeing them through different stages of growth. Most times, you can’t confidently identify a plant until it flowers. And it’s not just the flower you need to look at—it’s the flower with the leaves, the stem, the way it grows, and where it grows.
Taking the time to observe a plant through the spring and summer (and even into fall and winter) builds a kind of relationship with it. You get to know it, which is really the heart of foraging and home herbalism.
A Gentle Approach to Wildcrafting
Foraging isn’t just about what you can get from nature—it’s also about what you leave behind. In early spring, for example, many flowers are an essential food source for pollinators. So if you’re harvesting chickweed or violets, be sure to leave plenty behind for the bees and butterflies.
And when it comes to trees, it’s especially important to harvest with care. Only take what the tree can give without harm—small limbs, fallen bark (if it’s ethically harvested), berries, or flowers. Some trees can handle a bit of foraging, others can’t. A little research goes a long way.
Most of the plants I talk about are super abundant—you’ll trip over plantain, dandelion, and cleavers this time of year—but occasionally you’ll come across something more rare or slow-growing. In those cases, like with chaga (which doesn’t grow in our area but is a good example), it’s often best to buy from a trusted source instead of harvesting in the wild.
Get your free Foraging Checklist here and use it every time you go.
Foraging, The Heart of Home Herbalism
At its core, home herbalism is about working with what’s nearby—what’s fresh, what’s growing in your backyard or just down the road. It’s simple, it’s affordable, and it reconnects us with the land in a way that’s hard to put into words.
Weeds? Some folks see them as a nuisance. I see them as generous, resilient, and absolutely worth getting to know.
Beginner-Friendly Tips for Getting Started
- Start local. Learn what grows around your yard, your walking path, or a local park (as long as it’s unsprayed).
- Use photos and journals. Take pictures of plants you’re curious about and keep a little notebook or app to track what you’ve learned.
- Observe through the seasons. You might not recognize a plant until you’ve seen it flower—or seen how it changes as summer turns to fall.
- Double check before harvesting. Make sure you’ve properly identified the plant and that it’s safe and abundant.
- Go with a guide. If you can, take a class, go on a plant walk, or find a foraging group nearby.
- Less is more. Only take what you need, and leave the rest for nature and future growth.
