Sustainable Harvesting

Foraging is a bit tricky, with over-harvesting and careless practices threatening the ecology of the plants and land. But when done properly, foraging provides the gatherer with plants full of nutrients and medicinal qualities, and one can take steps to make sure the environment is protected and nurtured.

Please commit to the Wildcrafter’s Sustainability Pledge:

• Weigh the impact you have on the land before harvesting.
• Harvest only healthy plants and fungi that are not contaminated by roadways, railroad tracks, industrial and agricultural runoff, urban areas, sewage zones, oil spills, and places heavily sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, etc.
• Never harvest more than 30 percent of what grows in an area, preferably only 10 percent. (Wherever possible, it is best to leave at least 1/7 of the plant so that it may continue to live.)
• Never harvest more than I can process.
• Process the harvest as soon as possible after it has been picked.
• Know how to make accurate plant identification to ensure the safety, health, and wellness of those who are consuming this harvest.
• Leave more than I take.
• Respect the environment that provides us with these gifts.
• Never harvest rare or endangered species (for example: American Ginseng, goldenseal, and Wild Echinacea). Here is the full United Plant Savers list of wild medicinal plants which are currently most sensitive to the impact of human activities:

“At Risk” List

• American Ginseng - Panax quinquefolius
• Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensis
• Black Cohosh - Actaea racemosa L.
• Blue Cohosh - Caulophyllum thalictroides
• Echinacea - Echinacea spp.
• Eyebright - Euphrasia spp.
• False Unicorn Root - Chamaelirium luteum
• Goldenseal - Hydrastis canadensis
• Lady’s Slipper Orchid - Cypripedium spp.
• Lomatium - Lomatium dissectum
• Osha - Ligusticum porteri, L. spp.
• Peyote - Lophophora williamsii
• Sandalwood - Santalum spp. (Hawaii only)
• Slippery Elm - Ulmus rubra Sundew - Drosera spp.
• Trillium, Beth Root -Trillium spp.
• True Unicorn - Aletris farinosa
• Venus’ Fly Trap - Dionaea muscipula
• Virginina Snakeroot - Aristolochia serpentaria
• Wild Yam - Dioscorea villosa,D. spp.

“To Watch” List 

• Arnica - Arnica spp.
• Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa
• Cascara Sagrada - Frangula purshiana (Rhamnus)
• Chaparro - Casatela emoryi
• Elephant Tree - Bursera microphylla
• Gentian - Gentiana spp.
• Goldthread - Coptis spp.
• Kava Kava - Piper methysticum (Hawaii only)
• Lobelia - Lobelia spp.
• Maidenhair Fern - Adiantum pendatum
• Mayapple - Podophyllum peltatum
• Oregon Grape - Mahonia spp.
• Partridge Berry - Mitchella repens
• Pink Root - Spigelia marilandica
• Pipsissewa - Chimaphila umbellata
• Ramps - Allium tricoccum (recently added)
• Spikenard - Aralia racemosa, A. californica
• Stone Root - Collinsonia canadensis
• Stream Orchid - Epipactis gigantea
• Turkey Corn - Dicentra canadensis
• White Sage - Salvia apiana
• Wild Indigo - Baptisia tinctoria
• Yerba Mansa - Anemopsis californica

NOTE- Forage Only When Necessary: Do Not over harvest wild foods. Foraging is fun, but remember that as a human, you have the ability to source your food in your natural environment - wildlife does not. If you must forage for food or herbs for an ailment, only harvest 5% -10% of what you see of any plant or patch you find, so it has a good chance to keep growing and come back next year. Remember that other lives depend on it.