You didn’t call it quits for the season, did you? Oh, good! Not that I was worried or anything…
The temperatures are cooler, the wind is stronger, and the snow is falling. This can only mean one thing: Time to head outside with the ol’ foraging basket in hand!
“Why?” some may ask.
Well, plenty of food can still be harvested during the winter months.
Okay, maybe not plenty as in “plenty of summer chanterelles, blackberries, and purslane greens.” But plenty as in “many winter greens, fruits, roots, and mushrooms.”
In fact, there is no season where you can’t find anything. This time of year, I’m still finding greens such as bittercress, garlic mustard, and dandelion; fruits such as rose hips and crabapples; and mushrooms such as late fall oysters and turkey tails.
Heck, even wildflowers are still making an appearance, notably those resilient asters.
Besides the immediate benefit of feeding oneself with local foraged food in the winter months, there are many more reasons why it is so important that we collect winter edibles.
I recently created a brand new video regarding 3 benefits of foraging for food … specifically in the winter months. And, I’d love for you to check it out!
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Thank you!
Adam Haritan
Wild Foodism 
sadly I can only forage in my pantry in the winter- we have extreme temps in Wisconsin in the winter (-22 the other night.) But thankfully I have dried nettles, and froze a bunch of blanched foraged greens. Just made a sort of chana saag type indian dish with frozen lambsquarters, nettles and amaranth greens. DELICIOUS!! But I can’t wait til spring forage time. Love your blog!
Hi farmerkhaiti,
Those are pretty cold temperatures you’re experiencing over in Wisconsin! It dips down below zero (-9 was our record last year in western Pennsylvania), so I almost know how you’re feeling. I, too, have many foraged goods put away so that I can enjoy them throughout the winter season. Dried nettles are a favorite of mine (even though there are still some fresh young ones holding on outside), and are usually enjoyed in infusions. This year I put away lots of acorns, which I like to use as a porridge. And pretty soon, the maple sap will start flowing! Do you tap any trees?
Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it!
-Adam