foraging starter kit #
so you want to eat stuff outside? #
by Matte Kirwin
last edited 06 April 2023
(sept 2022) i’m on vacation right now so this doc is incomplete. but it should have the bare minimum to get you started!
getting inspired and learning #
Videos: #
- Black Forager on TikTok and instagram is a great starting point.
- she’s incredibly informative, inspiring, and funny
Books, general foraging #
- Northeast Foraging, if you live in the northeast of the US this book is the perfect starter book. you can read over what’s available in your area and then start looking for it.
- this was my first foraging book and i ate tons of stuff around boston using this book
- there are books from the same series for other regions, e.g. midwest foraging.
Books, mushrooms #
- Mushrooming without Fear
- extreme beginner book, makes sure every shroom is from a completely non toxic family. so it’s impossible to get poisonous mushrooms if you’re following everything in the book
- Mushrooming with Confidence
- book by the same author. i think of this as the intermediate book that you’d read after mushrooming without fear.
identification #
- always have 3 forms of positive ID.
- even then, taste test. only eat a little (tbh see if you have a bad digestive reaction). look up if it needs to be cooked first.
the three forms of identification i use #
- foraging books
- Seek app by iNaturalist or Google Lens, these are helpful but not 100% reliable. ALWAYS check another form of ID.
- facebook foraging groups, local to you (literally search on FB:
foraging <location>orforaging and identification <location>- For Massachusetts people:
- google “green leaves with white undersides massachusetts”
- google whatever you think you have found thru apps or books and TRIPLE CHECK ALL IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS ARE THE SAME
if you’re unsure at all DO NOT EAT