Rediscovering Nature’s Bounty in the City
Urban foraging – searching for and harvesting wild, edible plants in city environments – has become a new way for urbanites to connect with Nature and their surroundings.
Promoting sustainability and a deeper appreciation for the often-overlooked resources in our cities, urban foraging transforms city exploration into a treasure hunt for edible plants and mushrooms. This practice encourages people to slow down and observe their surroundings, fostering a mindful
interaction with nature even in densely populated areas.
FORAGING RULES AND ETHICS
Before setting off on your foraging adventure, be sure to follow these rules and ethics, according to Foraging Texas’ website:
- You cannot pick plants or mushrooms from city, state, or national parks, city nature trails, nature preserves, state historic sites, or any other public property without permission. Fines for illegally harvesting plants or mushrooms range from $500 to $2,100.
- You can harvest the above-ground part of plants from Texas roadsides but you may not dig up plants.
- Respect the environment and leave no trace by filling your holes and picking up your garbage. Don’t slash or smash your way through nature, and don’t harvest a plant if you see only a few around.
- Harvest sustainably so plenty of plants will continue to provide a bounty for foragers year after year. Additionally, do not strip all the leaves from one plant; take one or two shoots or a few leaves from many plants. Minimize damage to the plants by cutting leaves off the plant with a sharp knife or shears rather than tearing them off. Sterilize your cutting tools with alcohol or bleach to prevent transfer of diseases.
- Identify any plant before eating it, as consuming the wrong one can lead to illness or even death.
You can download apps, e.g., PlantSnap and iNaturalist, that allow users to identify plants during their foraging adventure. For a list of edible plants, visit ForagingTexas.com. - Be aware of any environmental dangers in your foraging location such as snakes, bears, or chemical hazards.
NATURE ADVENTURE
- National forests: Foragers are welcome to harvest one gallon of mushrooms per person per day, for private use only, at the four National Forests of Texas – Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, Angelina, and Sabine. Be sure to get permission from a park ranger before picking other plants.
- Big Thicket National Preserve: Foragers can harvest one pint of fruit or nuts per person per day for personal use from this preserve.
- Festival Beach Food Forest: Visitors can openly forage and enjoy fresh food at this edible forest garden located on the shores of Lady Bird Lake at 29 Waller St. in downtown Austin. Organizers host a Plant Walk every first Saturday at 9 to 11am for nature enthusiasts to learn about what is growing, what can be harvested, and how to use the medicinal herbs. Then on Sundays, visitors can attend Yoga in the Forest at 11am, when volunteers will guide them through gentle movement and nature-centered meditation.
- Private properties: For a list of campsites and other private properties that allow foraging, check out ForagingTexas.com.