Foragers
Foragers
Foragers are the most important part of our business. Our vision is to create a situation where full-time foraging is a viable profession; Where your real world knowledge of what grows in your area will be valued. You collect the food that keeps us going, and we help you make money in the woods.
This is how it works…You email us with what you think you can collect, and in what quantity, and we’ll let you know how much we are currently paying. We will also be sending out an email with a list of prices and products we’re looking for. We are in the process of organizing landowners from around the Bay Area to allow us to forage on their land. When we do, we will have carpools to these spots, where you can forage to your heart’s content. The landowner will receive 10% of what we find in return for letting us use their land. If you are interested, please sign up and send us an email. Thanks!
I love it. Thanks for creating this. Let’s work it…
I’m in West Marin, living in Lagunitas, often walking in the hills around Point Reyes and Bolinas.
Curly Dock leaves now, 20# per week
Curly Dock seeds in summer/fall, 5 # per week
Miner’s Lettuce now, 10# per week
CA Bay nuts in fall to roast into cafe (similar qualities to cacoa and coffe beans!)
Watercress now, 10# per week
Wild Turkey, plenty of them for a sacred hunt to the right people
English Plantain, quite delicious when steamed
Wild Nettle, 10# per week
local Sweet Grass for smudge (Vanilla Grass, Hierochloe occidentalis)
Gosh, there’s plenty more potential, but let’s start here.
Looking for fruit for jam making.
Hi – this is all very exciting. i am curious if I can actually make a living with foraging? Or at least in part? I know some edibles and medicinals, as well as textile plants, and learn fast, but would need to get an idea of what is actually sellable, and maybe some clues about foraging without angering anyone.
This could save my psyche!
Elise
We’re definitely looking for foragers. Email feralkevin@gmail.com for more info.
Thanks
Iso
Cool! please email feralkevin@gmail.com for more info on foraging with us.
Thanks
Iso
please email feralkevin@gmail.com for more info on foraging with us.
Thanks
I can collect a variety of foraged goods.
Apples
Pears
Figs
lemons
Blackberries
kumquats
Quince Fruit
Lavender
Mint
Bay Leaf
etc.. I’ve been doing this for years. I know many places. Please contact me.
Glenda
Thanks for writing. We’re always looking for foragers. Please email kevin@foragesf.com, and let me know if he doesn’t get back to you.
Thanks
Iso
Glenda
Thanks for writing. We’re always looking for foragers. Please email kevin@foragesf.com, and let me know if he doesn’t get back to you.
Thanks
Iso
Just wanted to say congratulations for what you guys and gals are doing in the San Francisco area.
We have a small group of teachers/foragers in the Los Angeles area and giving classes during the weekend for quite a few years now.
What you are doing is very inspiring!
Pascal
Hello–This sounds fascinating+very cool. Please count me in for the next one. I would love to carpool (i.e. join one). I live in SF, Twin Peaks… many thanks in advance.
Best,
A
Hey Iso and foragers!
I am a fellow forager and have been researching & writing about it a lot lately. I put together a quick survey to get a sense of how people are approaching foraging these days. It’s quick, doesn’t collect identifying info from you, and I’m happy to share the results with you. This is only used for research & personal writing (I am a graduate student). Email me and I’ll put you on a list to receive the survey info after we close it out. Please fill it out before Nov 1 2010. Thanks! Jess
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LR3KJCZ
hello,
I have been picking wild mushrooms in oregon for a few years, and am done getting ripped off by wholesalers; so i am bringing them to the Bay Area FRESH!!
I am building a list of clients, and will deliver directly to your door, at a fraction of the price — and I always guarantee having the best product at the best price.
I pick chanterelles, lobster, porcini, pigs ears, hedgehog, candy caps, etc etc, and will soon have a line on TRUFFLES!!
if anybody is interested, please email OMGourmet@yahoo.com or call/text 541-255-5328 (541 ALL 5 EAT)
I look forward to meeting fellow foragers, and connecting with community minded people!
Thank you for what you are doing!!
I keep checking this site for opportunities to join you on your foraging trips. I hope to join sometime next year when economics are better. I live in San Joaquin Valley where the foreclosures have totally devastated us. However, there are loads of waterways, empty lots, and public lands here. Not to mention leevees. I haven’t yet identified any wild plants around and want someone experienced to lead me through them. Any wild plants I’ve encountered are at the local Asian Farmer’s Market. So innovative! Purslane and Wild Mustard(Yummy!) in February. And some bitter herb called “an-ansi” in the Philippines. (Not my cup of veggies!) Chrysenthamum leaves (though I dont’ think it’s the same as the commercial flowering kind) in summer. And long spikes of young dandelion leaves that I’m assured tastes wonderful in clear broth. Keep it up! I’ll be joining you guys soon and dragging a few other people with me.
Hi.
I can collect virtually unlimited fennel, miners lettuce, plantain, onion grass, and some wild lettuce and mallow right now from Marin. I am also looking to lead walks in Marin (preferable) or SF. I have lots of knowledge about most wild edibles except mushrooms. Thanks!
Chaya
This message is a follow-up to Chaya’s e-mail above ( a fellow forager and friend),
In Marin Co., the wilderness is producing a bonanza of fungi: deer mushrooms, candy caps, noodle mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, honey mushrooms, inky caps, etc. A lot of deciduous mast species are producing, including bay nuts, acorns, and buckeyes. In the urban arena, there are loads of fruiting trees: apples, lemons, pineapple guava, pomegranate, etc. Succulents and greens are all across the board, whether in backyard gardens or wilderness. Kelp is never hard to acquire. Already harvesting for myself and for a professional vegetarian kitchen the amount of forage I can sell will be limited, but as a full-time ecologist I can still rake together quite a lot for your wild forage CSA. If you are interested in wild edibles from Marin Co., please write back at your earliest convenience.
Randall
Thanks for writing. We’re actively looking for foragers to help out with our dinners, and the CSF box when we get it back up. Ill send you an email soon with more info, but definitely excited to meet.
Thanks
Iso
My wife and I are looking to learn more about foraging in South Marin. We actually have a small group that would go out with a couple week’s notice. Special interest in mushrooms. Hit me up at steven_richmond@yahoo.com — we’d love to learn! Thanks… Steve
I visited your website to find out more about mushroom walks but the idea of wild edibles in my city makes me want to learn more about foraging! I know where to find a few things like nasturtiums, mint, wild radish & some edible mushrooms like blewits. . . Could you send me a product/price list please? I’m so glad I stumbled on this web site!
Larel
We dont have a product/price list, but I’ll put you on the forager list. When we are having an event where we need foraged goods, we send it out to that list.
Thanks
Iso
I am interested in foraging and would like to do it in the East Bay. I am glad I found this website!
This sounds like a great opportunity.
Let me know when you are sending out the list and I will see if I can help.
S
Santino
I’ll put you on the foragers list. We probably won’t be needing anything until next month, but I’ll definitely let you know.
Thanks
Iso
Huzzah foraging! I would love to help your foraging teams or anything else you need. Please sign me up!
thanks, AO
hi,
i am interested in working as a forager. please tell me more about how i can get started. thank you!
Hello All,
Grateful to connected in with this community! I am a local herbalist/ wild foods guy. Currently, I have access to a lot of premium milk thistle seed (great plant for detoxifying the liver). Also, usnea (an amazing immune system herb – my personal favorite). I sent an email to Kevin regarding the milk thistle seed… I’m in full support of your organization. It’s fun to see all the other folks here expressing a similar level of enthusiasm and passion. Hooray, we’re all finding each other! Yes, I’m the sentimental type; I admit it.
Love that foraging is not some “fringe” activity these days. I admit i haven’t done a lot, but I do pick blackberries for jam, and minor’s lettuce in the Spring.
One thing I do want to mention, for the urban foragers, is to please, please make sure it is ok with property owners to forage their fruit. I have a small persimmon tree on the corner of my property that has been stripped two years in a row, last year literally the same day that I was going to pick the fruit. I went to work in the morning looking at the persimmons on the tree, and came home in the afternoon to a stripped bare tree. It makes me so angry and disappointed when this happens.
Cathleen
You bring up a good point. It is important to ask owners before taking fruit from their trees. I usually just walk up and knock on the door, people are always happy to share some fruit. In exchange I give them some of what I pick, and clean up some of the rotten fruit on the ground.
Iso
Ok, I know it may not quite be foraging but my daughters pet snails reproduced and we are currently raising 200+ baby snails. They are the common garden snail not the french variety but they can be eaten especially since we feed them vegetables from our fridge which is all organic. Would there be any interest in these for escargot?
I’m a local chef and would absolutely love to be included in this. Please add me to your list for updates and ways to get involved.
Elizabeth
I signed you up for the list, see you soon.
Thanks
Iso
Iso,
I’m interested in signing up. I harvest berries and lettuce from local forests and park and make fertilizer from crustaceans foraged at local beaches. I also forage micronutrients from insect larvae (collected both in the wild and off of car windshields) and moss. Let’s build a community! No more corporate farming!
please sign me up for the list!
i have been foraging in sf for the past year or so (miner’s lettuce, wild onion, mustard, radish, nasturtiums, & blackberries mostly) and would love to learn more and meet other folks. thanks!
Scott
We could probably set something up for you. Please contact kevin@foragesf.com for more info.
Thanks
Iso