The more I got into herbs and herbalism the more I wanted to know and understand about the subject. I'd gotten to the stage where I could identify almost every cultivated herb but the wild varieties evaded me. So early last year I decided to embark upon a journey of herbal recognition. Both Si and I love going out walking in the wilds and visiting places all around the country. I knew a lot of the common plants eg brambles, dandelions, buttercups & daisies, but ask me to show you Henbit or Hemlock and I wouldn't have a clue. Knowing that lots of things that grow in the wild can be eaten, whilst some can kill made me reluctant to pick anything. Add to that the problems of correctly identifying endangered species and it was apparent I had to do something. I learnt that the there was a name for gathering things from the wild. It's wildcrafting, it sounded so wonderful and conjoured up images of those old wise women way back when, that I wanted to know more.

I have been using and growing herbs for a long time, in the kitchen and for making herbal remedies to help colds and stomach aches. I've wildcrafted some of Mother Nature's bounty from the hedgerows (the easy to identify stuff), since back in my my early teens. I learnt the value of food for free, when I was on a low income, the hedgerows around my home back in Manchester provided an abundance of blackberries, elderberries, wild rosehips and petals to make wine and jam. Elderflowers when young (leave them to long and they smell catty!) make a remarkable champagne substitute that is very refreshing on warm summer evenings.

These days I go out armed with a notepad & pen, my digital camera, some field guides and books and some plastic bags (for harvesting blackberries, nettles and the like) and a small set of pruners. I thought it would be nice to document what I learn, and share some of the photos. So that's what I've set out to do, to start there will be two additional sections to this one:-

Book Recommendations

Below are some excellent books for identifying wild herbs and plants that can be used for cooking. Moonshadows has teamed up with Amazon and by clicking on the book images of none shop stock books you will be taken to the Amazon page were you can buy the book there. Items purchased via Amazon are not part of your Moonshadows order they are dealt with souly by Amazon.

Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (And Not So Wild) Places - Steve Brill A herbal and edible plant field guide, which is readable and comprehensive. The final chapter of recipes will make most readers want to head into the country just to find the proper edibles.	Click To Buy Now
Wild Food (Natural History Photographic Guides) - Roger Phillips Brilliantly photographed and well thought out book with some excellent simple recipes for each listing. It will certainly have you out of your arm chair and grubbing around in fields and ditches for your next meal! Recipes within include Crab apple jelly, Rowan Jelly, Elderflower Champagne and Elderberry Syrup.	Click To Buy Now
Food for Free (Collins Natural History) - Richard Mabey This guide to Britain's wild foods, first published in 1972, reflects ever increasing ecoawareness and popular interest in finding different, and more natural, sources of food. This book opens up an abundant storehouse of free wild food, of powerful and surprising flavours preserved intact in the wild stock whilst increasingly missing from the bland and pre-packed goods found in shops. Each of the 240 types of fruit, nuts, flowers, seaweed, fungi and shellfish featured has its own field identification notes.	Click To Buy Now

Wild Crafting Guidelines

The term wildcrafting denotes a high degree of ecological awareness and a deep respect for the living Earth that sustains all life forms. We have a duty as custodians to ensure that the same plants and habitats will be enjoyed by future generations.

• Before gathering any wild plant, check that it is not threatened, endangered or protected. If in doubt, contact the statutory plant conservation agency in your locality/country – the address and phone number should be available from your public library or your local Tourist Information Office.

• Be careful not to trespass when picking plants and never take material from a nature reserve or protected site.

• Gather modest quantities (no more than you need) and only from places where the plant is growing in abundance. A stand of plants must never be harvested in its entirety.

• In Britain and many other countries it is illegal to uproot any wild plant without permission from the landowner, irrespective of whether it is a protected species. Once permission has been granted to dig up a common plant, do so in moderation and do not leave holes in the ground. These should be filled and levelled with the disturbed soil from where the plants were uprooted.

• Never gather plants that have been exposed to traffic fumes, factory emissions, agricultural chemicals, or any other form of pollution.

• Never introduce an alien species into the wild. There are many cases of alien plants that have naturalised in a locality, but due to their rampant growth have stifled native species.

• Collecting wild flower/herb seeds for private gardening must also be done sparingly and only common species should be gathered. Always leave behind plenty of seed for the birds and for the plant to self-seed.

• Always tidy up after harvesting to ensure the area appears undisturbed by your activities.

• Wildcrafting is also about mindfulness, about never taking anything for granted and remembering always to give thanks.