Something I think is and will remain an important, valuable and rare skill is confident foraging. I am most definitely not a confident forager. I have books galore on the matter, and many reliable sources online bookmarked, however even if I feel 100% certain on what I've found, I immediately feel terrified and either discard something I've brought home into the compost pile/to the chickens or pass whatever I'm looking at by until the next time I cross its path; then, rinse, lather and repeat.
Does anyone have this skill? Does anyone know any courses for identification in their local areas.
On a semi related note, has anyone ever considered skill trading? By this I mean if person A has, say, a Foraging skill that person B wants to learn, they find a trade-able, trainable skill. Perhaps person B has welding experience, gardening know-how, defence training. Is this even done? I would say skills, especially among preppers, would be like currency or goods as much as food, money or fuel would be.
Thoughts?
-Sweets
"Buy land, they're not making it anymore."
- Mark Twain
Foraging is a lost skill. I've got a few books on the subject as well. It totally depends on the region your living in. I've practiced a bit but of course need time to get skilled. I don't know anyone offering courses on the subject.
Perhaps someone on this forum with the skill will see a money making/traveling oppurtunity and travel the country teaching us preppers. 😎 I know Id pay to learn this
there are you tube videos on urban foraging also
"however even if I feel 100% certain on what I've found, I immediately feel terrified and either discard something I've brought home into the compost pile/to the chickens or pass whatever I'm looking at by until the next time I cross its path; then, rinse, lather and repeat."
may I suggest next time you feel that way, dry the item between 2 sheets of wax paper in a book - this way you could take the dried item to a garden shop and ask them. You can also build your own reference book for future outings
i forage alot, pretty much everywhere I go, and am always learning as I go, having lived in different area of country, each had overlap, but each required new skills learned, the only placed lived where locals helped teach me was iqaluit, every where else combo of childhood training and learning curve. I have never thought of training, but this year agreed to help teach a local group of wild fruit/nut pickers, how to process and perserve, we will see how it goes.
http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
Farmgal - where is that "local" group? 😉
I'd be happy to join if it's not too far from the GTA...
Ottawa, but I would be willing to do the rockland/casselman area as well..sorry a bit far from GTA area..
http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
I have a contact for the local fruit and nut pickers group in GTA area, if you want I can put you in touch, it would not be quite the same but its a starting place?
http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
I have a contact for the local fruit and nut pickers group in GTA area, if you want I can put you in touch, it would not be quite the same but its a starting place?
That would be terrific! I'd greatly appreciate that.
Could you please drop me the details in a private message?
Thanks!
I will just give the link to the group publicly, in case someone else is interested..
http://www.notfarfromthetree.org
The picks are shared, but they host info seminars on how to use it, how to prepare the nuts and you will still be able to learn about the tree's, the picking times etc I will send you the direct contacts blog in a PM
http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
Thank you!