What should I plant for foraging?

SherryA

I live in the middle of the United States, where most land has been cultivated almost to death. The small wild spaces that we have are usually being preserved by some entity or other and foraging is not allowed. So I mostly forage in my back yard! I've been very surprised at the number of wild plants I've found there - violet, bee balm, poke, burdock, dandelion, wild lettuce & more. I've also cultivated several kinds of mint, lemon balm, echinacea, yarrow, elderberry, raspberries & several culinary herbs.

Now I have an opportunity to encourage more wild plants. I've talked about the cottonwood tree they almost cut down in my back yard. In the process they opened up a big shady corner to the sun, and they pretty much decimated any grass that was growing out there. I'm hoping this disturbed ground will bring me some new wild plants, and I'm definitely willing to throw out some seeds!

For some reason, plantain and chickweed have never appeared on my property, so I'm hoping to start those. I will definitely try nettles because I love them so much, but I haven't had much luck growing them here so far.

What other wild plants would you "encourage" if you had a newly disturbed space?

Any ideas about how to manage if the grass tries to make a come back in that space? I don't want the grass to choke out the weeds! 😉

Karin

It's amazing how many lovely useful wild herbs grow if we allow them - you have a great variety there!! Yarrow would definitely be one I'd suggest :) It's such a useful herb and looks so pretty when it flowers. As for grass re-growing, can you just pull it out if it appears? Or is the area too big?

shllnzl

@figsagee

I don't want the grass to choke out the weeds! 😉

I read the above statement from you, stopped, and thought "Does anyone notice something different about this statement?"

SherryA

@kmartin.mail The area isn't that huge, but I'm hoping I can get useful things growing there with enough vigor that I won't have to pull out grass. In my experience, it's a difficult battle. Which is ironic since folks around here invest so many resources into killing weeds in grass, and seem to be convinced the weeds will always win.

Momma Mo

Definitely plantain as you are planning. Cleavers would be another that you might look into planting.

SherryA

@kmartin.mail I planted yarrow the first year I was here and it is prolific! I am blessed with more than I can use already. My most humble thanks to the plant devas and friend yarrow. 💖🌿

SherryA

@MommaMo Cleavers! I do get some of those in the spring. Maybe I can propagate more. Definitely plantain.

Jannajo

I am going WILD this season, (to come), sooo many ideas ! All mine! Can't wait!

SherryA

@2majomix Tell me more! How are you going wild? I think I have a similar plan but don't know exactly how it's going to happen! One of those "then a miracle happens" kind of plans.

Jannajo

figsagee, just look up a little higher, all the ideas I have come from this forum here, hahaha..they're mine now, but I do have to look them over when I start planting, eh? Miracles, actually must be my daily fare, my plans r so ...uh, strange: I want to give rest to the land, (small plot)....excited, but wondering still what might actually happen! We shld perhaps pray for each other? I'm in Canada, mucho snow lately, bit cold, too...

SherryA

@2majomix Yes, let's do pray for each other. I have been involved somewhat with wilding up some land. We threw a lot of seed balls. Clover, alfalfa - I should add those to my mix.

judsoncarroll4

Tell me about the soil... is it rich or poor.... damp or dry... or in between.

Torey

I would want to have Red Clover; makes a lovely nourishing herbal infusion. Arnica for making medicinal oils/salves. Lamb's quarters (aka Pigweed) for a foraged salad or cooked greens. A close relative, Strawberry Blight for the delicious berry like flowers. Northern Wormwood is an Artemisia species that grows here but there are many species that grow in different habitats, depending on what yours is. Chamomile usually spreads easily regardless of climate; both the domestic version and its wilder cousin, Matricaria discoidea. Fireweed is generally quite prolific and so beautiful; the flowers can be infused in oil to make a cooling lip balm. Mullein leaves for lung issues and flowers for ears and pain relief.

So many to choose from.

I would also try to cultivate some endangered species that may be in your area.

Megan Venturella

I grew mullein for the last few years and absolutely love it. Beautiful over two years and very majestic on the second.

Obiora E

@figsagee I would encourage small bushes and/or trees as they will outproduce the herbaceous plants with regards to fruit, nuts, and/or flowers. I would look into ones that used to grow there prior to the arrival of Europeans as they will be more resilient.

SherryA

@Obiora E Great idea. I do have some elderberry nearby. I looked again at the list of native shrubs & trees & found hawthorn & wild plum.

SherryA

@Megan Venturella I grew some mullein in other parts of the property in the last 2 years. The flowers are so beautiful. I'm hoping they will spread.

SherryA

@judsoncarroll4 I honestly don't know whether the soil is rich or poor. That corner has been ignored for decades because it was so shady. Generally the soil around here has a lot of clay, so I assume that does too. It is not in a spot that stays damp. It gets quite dry in the summer when temps stay over 90 for several weeks.

judsoncarroll4

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/853394#Comment_853394

I asked, because dock and nettles like damp area, sheep sorrel like poor soil, etc. I'd probably sow some dandelion, plantain and shepherd's purse... and see what happens.... maybe some poke for greens and to shade the dandelions... maybe a toss out some cowpeas for nitrogen and daikon radish to open the soil.... maybe some chicory, and wildish brassicas.... and, might as well start some asparagus.. could become a nice asparagus patch in a couple of years.

Dennis Bries

When I first moved in to this area about 40 years ago, I opened the canopy to get rid of some overgrown and mature trees. It was a welcome to put the grape arbor and some fruit trees in the area...over the years the grass and weeds have moved in and some adjacent trees have shaded what used to be full sun. This past season, wild blackcap respberries, gooseberries and other wild herbs are moving in. Since part of the area was garden, Jeruselem Artichoke, wild Asparagus, top set onions and garlic have flourished and have proven a real life saver for transplants of these to the newer garden areas.

SherryA

@judsoncarroll4 Those are great ideas! I'm sure poke will come up there on its own. It's amazing how many plants like that came up in the very first year. It was just a matter of not pulling them out. I get poke everywhere.

I have only been able to get one little nettle plant to grow, by buying a plant to transplant. It's in another part of the yard that is shaded a good part of the time, so I'm hoping maybe more will grow from that seed. I lived in the Pacific NW before moving back here, and nettles were everywhere. I read that nettles are native here but I'm having trouble believing it. Maybe it's like cleavers - you get them for a couple of weeks in the early spring.

I love the idea of dandelion, plantain & shepherd's purse. All those things, really! Thank you. I think this might be my most fun corner!

Sandy Forest

I read somewhere recently that even plantain can have a tough time. I think it has a struggle establishing in very dry, compacted conditions. And an herbalist friend of mine teaches her students to toss herb seeds about in the Fall, even late Fall. They are wild critters, and often need some stratification to wake up and grow. If you have plants that are struggling, they might benefit from a micro-climate, like a jumble of rocks or a log thick enough to collect some moisture and cast some shade. A high clay content might also need more aeration and biological activity than a tree removal crew might provide. See what happens if you lift a spot with a spade fork and perhaps leave a patch covered with leaves or chips. Good luck, and happy foraging! Sandy Forest

SherryA

Thanks Sandy! I like the idea of rocks & logs. Those tree guys & their big machines definitely didn't help with soil compaction, but I do leave a lot of leaves around and now have a fair bit of chips in that corner. I think there is some more crumbly soil as well as some shade around the edges back there, so I'm hoping some beautiful things can take hold.

solarnoon.aspen

Most of the plants mentioned have great flowers - as wild plants seem to - for wild bees and butterflies. That's always a good consideration as we need all the pollinators we can get, since the honey bees are in danger. Here, we are also encouraged to grow milkweed for the monarchs. In my province in Canada, the milkweed was made extinct because it was apparently deemed poisonous for cattle, however, that act meant that the monarch had no feed stations on its migrations. So, we are planting milkweed. It is a beautiful plant and has medicinal benefits for skin, lungs and stomach.

SherryA

@solarnoon.aspen Yes! Milkweed is a great idea! We get lots of bees and butterflies in the yard but I don't think we have any milkweed.

gardneto76

I love my London rocket and common mallow for greens. I also have chickweed. If I knew how to harvest the seeds I would send you some as it is spreading everywhere!

Obiora E

@figsagee Sounds righteous!

Donna West-Yordanov

When I first got to my land..we had bulldozing going on and general clearing.. The next summer all of the dirt scratched up was covered in chamomile.. Loved it..lasted for a couple years..now I have to replant. But that's ok!!

Kelley

I have been setting aside part of our yard each year for foraging by not allowing mowing ang spread seeding the area with plantain, chickweed, mustard, st John's wort, and calendula. We get enough to use as needed but not enough to make a backlog of oils for other seasons. I guess I need to expand my part of the yard.

OhiohillsLouise

Great suggestions have already been listed, here area few more. Mountain Mint for foraging but remember bees REALLY love it. Chives would be on my list but some people don’t consider it a native plant. Then there are ramps (or wild leek) but it depends on your location, conditions etc.

Heide

I would add minor’s lettuce. Of course access to nettles, wild berries, pine needles and dandelion are plentiful where I live. I often feel foraging is our best nutrition option for clean, sustainable, fresh, nutritious and cost free food.