What is Wildcrafting? (Plus, my Medicinal Plant Walkabout at Discovery Park!)

Want to get more out of wildcrafting plus medicinal plant without the guesswork? Below we walk through the essentials in plain language, with practical steps you can use right away.

Key Takeaways

• You might have heard the term foraging before, but have you heard of the term wildcrafting?
• Wildcrafting is the harvesting of wild plants (uncultivated) for food or medicine.
• Have you located it in a habitat that it typically grows?
• Have you observed the plant in multiple seasons?

Is Wildcrafting Plus Medicinal Plant Worth It?

Worth noting: are you harvesting from a protected area, such as a park or private land? Are you harvesting from a large, healthy stand of plants?

• Can you harvest just what you require without causing damage or a noticeable effect to the plant?
• Are you harvesting with a purpose in mind?
• More importantly, are you preparing the part of the plant that’s edible/medicinal?
• Are you harvesting the plant in the correct season?

Where the Real Savings Hide

Are you aware of dosages? While this topic has become more and more interesting to me, I also knew I wanted the sound advice of an expert.

• Remember that so last weekend, my son and I decided to take a Medicinal Plant Walkabout offered through Cedar Mountain Herb School (the same place I took the dandelion intensive on a couple months back).
• I completely recommend that you learn how to identify and apply wild plants from an expert, such as Suzanne from Cedar Mountain Herb School!
• She has over 25 years of experience as an herbalist and instructor and is well acquainted with numerous wild plants from our area.
• I wanted to share just a few aspects we learned from our 4-hour  plant walkabout in Discovery Park last weekend.

A Closer Look at Wildcrafting Plus Medicinal Plant

As a rule, this was one of my favorite plants we talked about - Miner’s Lettuce! It frequently grows along trails and….

• It’s totally edible!
• It tasted like a light and refreshing lettuce and my son enjoyed it highly much. (In fact, he was asking for some again yesterday!) Suzanne didn’t race through our walk - instead she spent about 15 or 20 minutes talking about each plant.
• In short, this is a stinging nettle which is an amazingly iron-rich and nutritious wild green that numerous of us would consider a bothersome weed due to its “sting”.
• When cooked, it can be used much like spinach and it can also be dried.

What to Know About Wildcrafting Plus Medicinal Plant

When processed, it will loose the sting and is actually quite tasty! Suzanne also explained that once the flowers begin forming on this plant, you don’t wish to harvest it as it can be hard on your body. (See, this is why learning from an expert is a solid aspect - not all plants are beneficial or edible at all times of the year!).

• Worth noting: by the method, see those plants sticking to her sweater?
• Those are called cleavers!
• They are edible, but not incredible.
• These is Pacific Bleeding Heart and it’s also a medicinal plant.

How Wildcrafting Plus Medicinal Plant Really Works

More importantly, perhaps you’ve seen it? Suzanne explained that it is a rather powerful pain reliever and should be used with caution.

• Just since something is “herbal” or “natural” does not mean it is safe!
• Some plants may pack a more powerful punch than others and some should only be used sparingly or taken in small doses or for particular ailments. (Another solid reason to learn from an expert.
• Remember that note to self: I probably do not require to be harvesting Pacific Bleeding Heart, so I’ll just take some pretty pictures of it!) This plant is Western Hemlock - one of our region’s most poisonous plants!
• I’ve heard about it before and its ability to kill you.

Getting the Most From Wildcrafting Plus Medicinal Plant

As the name implies, it grows in damp areas. We found this one in a genuinely moist, boggy area growing alongside skunk cabbage.

• As a rule, if you don’t know a plant, the best advice is to not touch it.
• Some plants may cause skin irritation or you may unintentional ingest it (such as rubbing your nose or mouth after touching the plant).
• Here’s a plant that’s just cool to look at: skunk cabbage!
• It’s my son’s favorite forest plant and we found a ton of it at Discovery Park!

Tips That Make a Difference

In short, you can find it growing in marshy areas or near streams. Did you know we have a native rose?

• We do and it’s called the Nootka Rose!
• Turns out you can apply it topically for a skin toner.
• Worth noting: i frequently think about plants I can eat, but this talk also got me thinking about plants I could apply for salves, creams, and natural skin care. (And now I’m thinking I wish to plant a Nootka rose in my landscape!) Isn’t this a gorgeous plant?
• It’s a Hawthorne and Suzanne calls it the “everything’s going to be OK” plant since the elixir she makes applying the leaves, flowers, and berries assists bring calm and soothe a troubled heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I save money on wildcrafting plus medicinal plant?

Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. Are you harvesting from a large, healthy stand of plants?.

Is it worth shopping around for wildcrafting plus medicinal plant?

Usually yes. Can you harvest just what you require without causing damage or a noticeable effect to the plant?.

What should I check before buying?

Read the terms, confirm any code still works, and factor in shipping or returns. Are you harvesting with a purpose in mind?.

Smart Ways to Save More on Wildcrafting Plus Medicinal Plant

• Leave items in your cart for a day; some stores send a follow up discount.
• Pair cashback with a coupon so you save twice on the same order.
• Stack a coupon code with an existing sale whenever the store allows it.
• Sign up for the retailer newsletter to catch first time and seasonal discounts.
• Compare the final price including shipping, not just the headline number.

Final Thoughts

Before you check out, line up wildcrafting plus medicinal plant against current promotions and any codes you can stack. Small habits like these add up to real savings over a year.

Originally published at thecouponproject.com.