Before we look at some practical essentials about Wildcrafting, let me first explain a little bit about what it is. Wildcrafting meant harvested plants from their natural (wild) habitat. It’s a idea to keep in mind your purpose for each wildcrafting encounter including gathering plants for food or as medicine. However, the plants that you are harvesting may not be uncultivated ones that’s just one reason why know-how is so important.

However, you need to be careful if you do intend to do wildcrafting as you need to think about protecting those plants which are considered to be endangered or protected species. Certainly when your harvest done properly you will only remove some branches, seeds or flowers leaving plants living.

If it is necessary however for the complete plant to be taken then the person taking it should make sure that they leave behind some of its seeds in the hole where it has been removed from. Also when removing any of the flowers, branches or the plants themselves only a few should be removed and enough to continue to provide a nature her supply.

Now let us look at some of the facts about wildcrafting that it is important that you know.

Fact 1 – All plants designated as being Wildcrafted are in the USA regulated by “The Organic Food Production Act of 1991”. This act requires that those harvesting Wildcrafted plants must designate a particular area from which harvesting will take place. They need to provide 3 years worth of history that shows that a no time during this period have any kind of prohibited substances applied to it.

The harvesters must also show as part of the regulations of this Act that the plants harvested will come from a sustainable wild crop. This means that they allow the plants to grow back each year before they harvest them once more. Plus they also need to show that they will not allow any kinds of prohibited substances to be used when they are harvesting the designated area.

Fact 2 – Wildcrafting is not just limited to areas in the countryside it can be actually carried out in areas in a city or even in one’s own backyard. What you may not realize but there are many plants and trees in your garden which bear fruit and which come be used. For example if you have either crabapples or quince in your garden you could be utilizing the fruit on these if you so wished.

Fact 3 – If you intend to be harvesting Wildcrafted plants from public areas you need to obtain a permit to do so. This entitles you to pick the plants, but you must do it at a certain distance from the road or trails as designated and agreed between you the Local Agency who has provided you with the permit.

Fact 4 – It is important that when learning the facts about wildcrafting you know exactly which plants are protected species. The quickest way of finding this out is to contact your States Department of Agriculture and Department of Fish And Wildlife as it is these who determine which ones do receive federal and state protection.

Above I have provide you with a few facts about wildcrafting which it is important that you know about before you consider taking this hobby up. The more you understand about the legal and ethical implications then the better prepared you will be when it does come to harvesting your first plants.