I’ve a theory that foraging is good for the soul… We’ve all experienced the hunter-gatherer inside every one of us that pops out when picking blackberries, for example. Even when you’ve got more than enough for that crumble, it’s completely impossible to resist the glint-y wink of a particularly juicy and plump one that’s a tiptoe and a reach (and a little squeak as you almost tumble into the hedge) away!
An instinct, perhaps, that helped us to survive back when humans lived in the ‘wild’. There’s always room for one more berry and a huge urge to pick over and above that which you set out for. It seems indulgent today, but, surely this would have helped us over-winter in days gone by. Similarly, I wonder if there might be a benefit in foraging, for everyone who dreads the approach of shorter days and colder weather. Not only might it tickle our inner caveman and make us feel more prepared for the oncoming season, but also, the act of foraging gets you out in the weather that might seem less ideal and helps connect your soul to the seasons.
My dog means I’m out every day, rain or shine, frost or snow, and my budding entomologist children have conditioned me to notice all the little things in nature that change, week on week. We’ve spent a summer spotting the days that belong to mating bloody nosed beetles, the week the oil beetles make their appearance, the few days that the burnet moths explode from their cocoons in all their pinky-red glory, and the week when, all of a sudden, the chalk grassland is full of marbled white butterflies… and now it’s the turn of the yummy stuff! It occurred to me, last autumn, that the appearance of the things that I like to forage made me anticipate the changing seasons with excitement rather than dread. Cheeky, blushing rosehips come after the blackberries, and elderberries and are fun to pick and make into syrup to keep the winter sniffles away. Sloes are fantastic fun to pick and steep in gin, which then makes a welcome Christmas gift for anyone lucky enough to be offered a taste.
So indulge your inner prehistoric self (or inner squirrel, whichever you identify with most!) and have a go. See if it makes a difference for you as we slip into Autumn. The foragers code suggests only ever taking 10% of anything you forage, and of course, make sure you’re absolutely certain of what you’re picking. Even better, keep it plastic-free and zero-waste by composting the leftovers and reusing your tubs and jars. If you've been moved to collect a few berries in a green poop bag when out and about and they're just too juicy to miss, you're not alone (high five!) but it's probably better to use a food approved container!
Photo by Jametlene Reskp
