What percentage of the food you eat was gathered by you?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
May 19, 2008 7:43am CST
During the summer, my gathered food can get up to 25%. During the winter, it's much lower because I mostly only have jams and dried teas. So 1 to 15% depending on the day in the winter time.
I had a teacher of foraging whose gathered food was over 90%.
I'm hoping to increase the percentage of gardened and wild gathered foods by me. What do you estimate your percentage of wild gathered food is right now? Will you increase it this year? Are you food gardening, too? Has that increased? I have more food in my garden this year as well as some in the house and on the porch (which I didn't have in previous years).
1 person likes this
3 responses
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 May 08
So your roomie is your store gatherer. so 100% roomie gathered.
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@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
19 May 08
I would love to learn how to gather my own food, I think at the rate of foods prices plus the very low quality of food, gathering is the way to go..But I would have to have a good teacher before I set out doing it on my own..
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
19 May 08
That is a good idea writer, I will have to check into it..
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 May 08
There are also community colleges and state colleges that might have classes, but they will be a lot more money. Good luck, let me know if you get any teachers. Happy foraging!
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 May 08
If you lived here, we could gather together and I could teach you the ones I know. I could also send you to the people who teach foraging here. There must be someone in your area that teaches gathering.
Do you have a Cooperative Extension near you? They may know someone. Do you have a natural food store or cooperative near you? They might know someone? Also many old people have the knowledge, but due to arthritis or whatever, they may not be doing it now, but would share knowledge if you would prepare the food for them.
Good luck.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
23 May 08
Too bad you don't live near me, we could go gather together. 20% in a less rural area is very good.
Unless you dry, can, etc., it's hard to have very much in the winter, but my instructor did continue to gather in the winter on nice days. She broke through a pond with an axe to get to cat tail roots. She was in a more or less survival situation for awhile. Take care
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
23 May 08
Also there isn't always enough to dry, can, freeze of many things. I always try to leave some. Take care
