Saturday, January 23, 2016

Eat Well When You Forage California

By Kimberly Gray


There are a whole lot of ways to put food on your table, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Perhaps you are a gardener, who prefers to grow some if not all of your produce in your own backyard, or through a community garden. Perhaps like many, you simply to the grocery store. But you could also take a forage California class to learn how to get your food from the wild.

When it comes to this movement, wild foraging is definitely the most popular. This means that individuals or small groups go into local woods or even desserts, depending on the area they live in, and look for food. Mushrooms are a main attraction, as they can be used by vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike to make delicious meals that are also healthy.

You do not have to take a trip out into the wilds in order to forage for food, though. Urban foraging is a growing part of this movement that allows you to get food from your city. Think of abandoned lots and small open spaces that have lots of wild plants growing. There could be abandoned citrus trees, edible flowers, even vines with berries that are all available nearby if you just keep an eye out for them.

In coastal areas, foragers are going for far more than just fruits and veggies to get free food. In bay areas, scallops and especially pricey abalones can be found and harvested, giving the lucky harvesters a real, free surf and turf experience. Of course, this can still be dangerous if you are not experienced, so this is not something anyone should be doing without experience.

If you just drive to the nearest forest and try to find edibles without knowing what you are looking for, you could end up in trouble. Not every wild plant you find will be tasty. In some cases, not only do they taste bad, but they may even be dangerous if ingested. It is good to go out on your first trip armed with knowledge, so consider taking a class that many local foragers offer in order to not only grow the movement, but to keep people safe from potentially harmful plants.

Another alternative to classes is a guided tour. Think of this as learning on the job. You get to pick things to eat later while ensuring that they are not only edible, but delicious as well. You will learn how to avoid things that are dangerous and only get the best of the best.

If you do not have time to forage but still want to experience a piece of this growing movement, you can always eat at a restaurant that specializes in using foraged ingredients. A growing number of eateries have a menu that is at least partially, and in some cases fully, dependent upon wild foods that grow locally.

Before you embark on your new culinary adventure, be sure that you are doing so in a responsible manner. Do not overstrip areas or harvest more than you need, as people doing this has lead to rules and regulations in some areas. This is a fun and bountiful pursuit if you are responsible and know what to look for.




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