Urban Foraging: Is It Possible?

There's a common misconception that you cannot forage for food unless you live in a rural area.

This simply is not true.

Many urban, and suburban, locations have an abundance of natural resources. You just have to know where to look.

And in today's article, I will share how you can make urban foraging possible. As well as my own experiences foraging in city and suburban settings.

Key Tips For Urban Foraging

Parks and bike paths generally contain a lot of useful plants. As well as fresh water. On top of this, many shaded streets will have fruit trees.

Generally speaking, parks and undeveloped residential areas will have the most resources.

And depending on local laws, you may be allowed to forage for fruits and berries.

Otherwise, it is still worth knowing where these plants grow - in the event of a worst case scenario like a supply line collapse.

Speaking of worst case scenarios, you usually aren't allowed to fish in park ponds or bike path rivers. But, it is still good to know what types of creatures live here. In the event that you would need to completely depend on yourself for food.

Here's What I Found On A Normal Afternoon While Walking In The City

Alright, time to get personal.

You might be surprised to learn that I don't live in a cabin out in the woods somewhere.

In fact, I spend most of my time in a large city of several million people!

While there are busy streets and plenty of urban locations, there's also a lot of greenery - within easy walking distance from downtown!

Most major cities (like New York or Chicago) have large park areas and natural settings.

They also have access to lakes, ponds, rivers, and sometimes the ocean!

I bring this up, because there are plenty of foraging opportunities - if you know where to look.

Here's everything I saw on a while out and about on a normal Sunday afternoon.

At a nearby the bike path, I encountered a fresh water river (the water looks dirty, but could be consumed after you bottle it and add purification tablets).

The river also contains plenty of fish. As well as attracting ducks and other waterfowl.

And close to the river, I also found a large patch of wild raspberries.

Then, in the park itself, I noticed several groups of squawking killdeer. And guess what? They were protecting their wild eggs!

On a regular day, with minimum effort, I still managed to find multiple sources of food. And a constantly replenishing supply of fresh water. Urban foraging isn't just possible.

It's also extremely easy.

Comments

Book Recommendation: Last of the Breed, by Louis L'Amour

Last of the Breed , by Louis L'Amour is a fantastic piece of adventure fiction. And, a book that's centered around foraging and survival advice. The story follows Joe Mack, a U.S. Air Force pilot and Native American. Mack has been shot down by the Soviets, and is trapped inside Siberia wilderness, forced to rely on his survival skills as he slowly makes his way to freedom. Foraging, plant identification, and tracking all play key roles in the story. With author L'Amour sharing practical survival advice. He considered himself. From boyhood he had at every opportunity gone back to the woods. He had lived and survived under some of the bitterest conditions. He had killed or gathered his own food; he knew how to make clothing; he had often made moccasins, something not every Indian knew how to do anymore. Joe Mack banked his small fire and bedded down in a mound of leaves with fir boughs over him. It was cold and it was drafty, but Joe Mack had lived so before this. The story i...

7 Edible Tree Leaves For Survival Foraging

Most foragers look for fruits and berries they can eat. But, there are also edible tree leaves which can keep you alive in a worst-case scenario. These take no preparation, and can provide you with enough nutrition to stay alive. Here are seven common tree leaves that you eat. 1. Maple Leaves Maple leaves have a distinct five-lobed shape, making them easy to spot. You can pick maple leaves off the tree itself. But remember to leave plenty of leaves behind, so you don't damage the tree or stunt its growth. Maple leaves taste bitter. So, you'll want to boil them for at least five minutes. This helps to improve the taste. Additionally, maple leaves make an excellent addition to salads. And some foragers like to eat their maple leaves with a little powdered sugar or syrup. Adding some sweetness to the leaves will make them taste significantly better. 2. Birch Leaves Foraging for birch leaves and eating them is an age-old tradition in many parts of the world. It's something tha...

Foraging In Action: The American Civil War

Many preppers dismiss foraging as a waste of time. They'll say things like "You can't live off nuts and berries." Or claim that stockpiling canned goods is more efficient. Keeping an emergency supply of non-perishable food is great. But foraging is practical too. And anyone who thinks foraging is "useless" or a "waste of time" needs a quick lesson in military history. Foraging In The American Civil War Canned food was invented by Napoleon to feed his armies as they marched through Europe. Before then, soldiers got most of their food through foraging. And even after Napoleon, a lot of armies still relied on foraging. During the American Civil War, both Union and Confederate soldiers foraged for food. While troops were issued rations, supply lines were inconsistent. And many goods never arrived to the front lines. Because of this, soldiers would often hunt for eggs, pick fruit and berries, and shoot rabbits or ducks. Knowing how to forage allowed t...

Survival Foraging

Search This Blog