Photo credit: Josh Franer -This Built America.
Into the woods
Foraging for food has become more and more popular. Going green, living off of the land, never buying frozen food and eating locally grown fruits, veggies and even meat is the way of the future and a way to preserve the land for future generations. But foraging for food isn’t easy, and it is not always obvious what is edible and what isn’t. Here are a few tips to foraging for food and a way to supplement your next camping trip meals. Cause wouldn’t it be cool to pick herbs and spices and a few things to spice up your salad next time you go for a hike through the mountains or forest?
Photo Credit: NPS by Dirk Oden
How to get started on foraging for food
First you want to familiarize yourself with the natural weeds, herbs, bushes and trees in your area and try to identify them correctly so that you know how to use them. Just like you have guide books, maps and compasses to guide you through wilderness hikes, you should also have some sort of guide to help you identify the edibles you may come across along the way. Obviously there are things that you want to avoid eating or touching. Just because it looks green and smells inviting, doesn’t mean that it is good for you.
When you do come across something delicious to spice up your next mean, only take what you plan to eat, never take all the plants in a given patch. Leave some for others and leave some to keep the cycle going for seasons to come. And while you are hiking around foraging for food and getting to know your plant environment, if you are munching on something local with seeds, go ahead and throw those seeds back to nature and help keep the cycle going. Don’t ever collect from nature reserves as they are set up specifically to protect wild species, so give them some space to grow.
When to forage for food
Edible weeds are at their peak flavor and aroma right before they start to flower, so this is the perfect time to pick them. They are still good after they flower, but the nutrient and vitamin content is not as plentiful as pre-flowering. However, most flowers have their most intense oil concentration and flavor after the flower buds appear, but before they open.
Try to harvesting early in the morning, after the dew dries but before the heat of the day.
Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Photo: National Forest Service
Camping equipment and accessories in Colorado
Colorado is full of delicious wild herbs and flowers just ripe for the picking and with fall coming up, a whole new lot of exciting foods are popping up everywhere. From hunting to fishing to foraging for herbs and veggies in the Rocky Mountains, catching, finding and preparing your own meal straight from the earth to your plate is extremely satisfying. For all your tents and accessories to set up the perfect base camp to bring back the days “loot” go to Denver Tent Company: the best camping equipment in Colorado. Our canvas wall tents make the perfect base camp for your next hunting, fishing or camping trip. Come check out our inventory and get outfitted for your next wilderness adventure.
