The tons of food waste being generated by people and cities all over the globe is ironic considering that so many people are starving in other parts of the world. This is partly the reason why many people are drawn to the foraging lifestyle, where they search for food in the wild instead of doing their weekly shopping at the minimart.

How to Become a Forager is an art that anyone can learn and perfect. You can learn to be a forager and start getting the best kind of food for you and your family. Start your foraging journey with these 3 tips.

How to Become a Forager

Know your foodshed.

Local communities have their own foodshed. Most people are unaware of this because they have grown up consuming mass-produced crops and produce shipped from thousands of miles away. Get to know local farmers, start frequenting farmers’ markets and learn from them about what food sources are available in the community. Know how the temperature and geography affect the kind of food sources you will likely see. For example, in places with dry and humid climates, edible food tends to naturally grow in areas with a natural water source. Areas where soil is acidic are ideal for citrus crops and vegetables that thrive in this kind of environment. You will also know what types of food grow in season for a particular region.

Aim to consume root to top.

Know How to Become a Forager make use of all parts of the crops, meats and other produce that you get from foraging. Not only will this help you lower your food bills, but it also helps you scale down your carbon footprint.

Start safe and easy.

Arm yourself with a trusty foraging guide and start looking for edibles you can easily identify. You can easily find a ton of edible plants such as dandelions and lungwort right in your backyard. It is also important to err in the side of safety. If you are not sure if what you find is edible, move along. As you practice and learn from guides and other foragers, you improve your identification skills and you slowly increase the number and kinds of foods that you can harvest.

Foraging not only allows you to cut down on your food bills, it arms you with important skills and brings you closer to nature. Keep these tips in mind as you start your foraging journey today.