When harvesting non-cultivated herbs—also known as wildcrafting or foraging—it’s likely that your adventurous spirit might take you outside of your backyard, and into forests, prairies, parks, and other habitats. I applaud any sense of exploration, but please keep sustainability and safety in mind when you’re doing any foraging. Some herbs become so popular that they get very overpicked, and then become endangered, or enthusiasts uproot the plant while harvesting, leaving whole patches of herbs unable to survive. And—know what you are picking!
Responsible foragers take only the flowers, leaves, or fruit that they’re going to use, and leave the majority of the plant undisturbed. If you want to replant what you’re taking in your own garden, try to take only the smallest amount of rootstock needed, or use seeds from the plant to place into the empty hole left behind. In general, though, foraging in a way that lets the area seem undisturbed is the best, and most responsible, way to harvest wild herbs.
Whether you’re noticing “weeds” that will prove useful, putting a few beloved herbs into a kitchen garden container, or creating an extensive medicinal herb garden that would make a Medieval monk blanch with envy, just enjoy the trip.
My herb garden is a work in progress, and it always will be, because every day, I’m learning about garden geek issues like soil health, fertilization, harvest dates, and pest control—but I’m also learning about patience, nourishment, awareness, and joy. When you look down into a cup of tea made from herbs that you planted, grew, harvested, and dried, there’s a soul-quenching satisfaction that feels healing, before you even take a single sip.
Although I often embark on ambitious growing plans and find myself humbled time after time, I also appreciate that plants are a quiet and beautiful adventure, and I try to adjust my thinking accordingly. So, good luck on all your backyard pharmacy endeavors, and I’ll raise a lemon-balm-infused cocktail to you, fellow traveler.