Clive Yates

Wild Edible Plants Clive Yates

Foraging is a deeply human pursuit. Through all of history, we have looked to the land to sustain and delight us. It fulfills a basic need to be one with Nature: to go out into it, and to take it, literally, into ourselves. Foraging grounds us to the natural world that is just outside our doorstep. It offers us a connection to the earth that we may have left behind. Our fast-paced society favors supermarkets and convenience. Recently, foraging has grown in popularity. Every day, more and more people enjoy its many benefits. These include food, flavoring, and medicine. When we forage, we reduce our carbon footprint. Huge cargo ships, freight trains and lorries, waste precious energy and rid produce of its freshness. The forager is self-reliant, energy-efficient and waste-free. A treasure trove of berries, mushrooms, herbs, nuts, flowers and so much more is right outside.