Wildcrafting involves harvesting plants and mushrooms from their natural environments instead of cultivating them. Wildcrafters follow a code of ethics, respect endangered species, and only harvest parts of plants. They sell fresh or dried herbs and mushrooms, and some are also herbalists. Becoming a wildcrafter takes time and requires knowledge of managing plants for food. Apprenticeships are common.
Wildcrafters are people who harvest plants and mushrooms from their natural environments, rather than cultivate them. Some plants do not do well under cultivation, forcing people to harvest them from the wild, while others are simply readily available in the wild in some regions, leading people to harvest them in situ rather than attempting to cultivate these plants. The practice of gathering wild materials is known as wildcrafting, and in some regions wildcrafters are subject to an assortment of laws designed to keep wildcrafting safe and environmentally friendly.
Many wild crafters enjoy working in nature and see themselves as guardians of nature, caring for it while benefiting from it. A number of wildcrafters subscribe to a code of ethics that includes respect for endangered species and cleanliness after themselves. Where possible, only parts of a plant are harvested, rather than the whole plant, ensuring that the plant continues to thrive, and should a whole plant need to be harvested, a wild artisan will either plant a new one or leave the seeds behind.
Herbs are commonly harvested by wild artisans, who may sell them fresh, dry them, or distill them into essential oils. Some wildcrafters are also herbalists, offering a variety of herbal treatments to their clients, including herbal teas and infusions, and can create specialized herbal blends as needed. Many of these herbs are rare and don’t do well in gardens, so wild artisans are needed to harvest these wild plants.
Mushrooms are another common picking choice for wild artisans, who may sell the mushrooms to mushroom buyers or directly to restaurants and other food businesses. Others may dry mushrooms and sell them packaged this way, or offer their produce at farmers markets and other community markets that encourage people to connect with the people who produce and harvest their food. In addition to harvesting edible mushrooms, wild crafters may also gather mushrooms for dyeing, and some may distill their own dyes for fabrics.
Becoming a Wildcrafter takes time, as people must learn to identify and harvest plants. Especially when plants are being harvested for food, it is extremely important to know what you are doing and to manage them in such a way that they retain their desirable properties in the path between the wild artisan and the final consumer. Many wildcrafters learn through apprenticeships, working with experienced wildcrafters who also impart knowledge of running an environmentally friendly wildcrafting business.
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