10/14/2026
Foraging Etiquette
Ethics is important in research and experiments as etiquette is in foraging fun.
When you find a wild edible, like leeks for example, it is good to ask yourself “how many leeks are there in the area?” If several bunches then go ahead and dig some up. You want to make sure there is some left to continue to grow and thrive for the years to come. Leeks is also an example of ‘knowing more when harvesting’.
With leeks, there is a small root at the bottom underneath the edible bulb called a corm (usually cut off before cooking). If you pop off this little root structure, you can poke it right side up back into the hole. Voila, it will grow back the next year. Also a technique for spreading out the leeks…dig a new hole away from the wild leek bunch. It is good to break up the bunches of wild leeks this way or just plant the whole leek but why not eat the edible portion at the same time?
For those that are into gardens, plants, and nature, 'Foraging Fun' may be the natural extension. 'Foraging Fun' was very much a part of Manitoulin Acres this past growing season (Canada May through September). I asked myself 'what would I begin to teach on