It seems like everyone’s excited about new early-season spring greens, not just foragers. But foragers seem to love this season more than any of the others.
Yes, it’s true; there are things you can forage in winter, but there’s something about spring foraging that brings everyone to the yard.
Partly, it’s a celebration of all things fresh and green, and the excitement that winter has finally relented and growth can begin again. We all could use some fresh greens in our diets this time of year, after heavy winter foods.
But spring greens are also abundant and accessible. While your suburban lot might not have access to a woodland space to forage nannyberries later in the season, you almost certainly have wild violets, dandelions, chickweed, and yarrow and dozens of other wild edible and medicinal weeds within a stone’s throw of your door.
During morel season, suddenly everyone’s a mushroom forager, and for good reason!
Morels are delicious, and one of a dozen easily identifiable beginner mushrooms. (And they sprout from suburban lots often enough, occasionally even coming up through sidewalk cracks in the city.)
Dedicated foragers know spring is one of the best times to harvest edible and medicinal wild roots. For some reason, most people are shy about foraging beneath the soil, but it’s where a lot of wild plants keep their calories and nutrition.
And you have to admit, there’s something magical about the idea of harvesting tiny “fairy potatoes” from plants like spring beauty.
Though “spring” technically arrives the third week of March, Vermont won’t see spring wild edibles until Early to mid-May. The first dandelions usually flower for Mother’s Day weekend, and we’ll see our first morels around Memorial Day.
Still, I know most of you live in more reasonable climates, and are itching to get out there and taste the season. Here are some things to look for each spring (whether that means now where you are, or in a few months from now, as it is where we are).
If you’re looking for a full list all in one place, I have an article on more than 100 things to forage in spring that takes you through everything one by one.
Spring Greens
Spring Mushrooms
There are around 20 common, easy to identify edible and medicinal spring mushrooms that you can find most places in the us, but here are some of the most popular:
Spring Roots
Many plants store their energy underground all winter long, and while it’s starchy in the autumn, those starches convert to sugar right as the plants sprout each spring.
Trees, Sap, Lichen and Other Fun
Things You Might Need This Week
Every part of of a dandelion is edible, from the tip of the root to the sunny golden petals. There are plenty of ways to use each and every part too!
Seasonal Preserving
Recipes to keep your larder full all year round…in season now:
What are you harvesting, preserving, building, or exploring on your homestead this week? I’d love to hear about it!
Leave me a note in the comments…
(Comments only, please. Emails tend to get lost in my inbox, and as much as I’d love to get back to each and every one, my screen time is very limited…and things fall through the cracks, and emails get buried in my inbox. If you comment here, they’re all in one place, and it’s much easier to get back to every single one.)
Until Next Time,
Ashley at Practical Self Reliance
P.S. This is a free, reader-supported publication—no paywalls, just stories and knowledge shared freely, like the best kind of wild harvest. If you’ve found something useful or inspiring here and feel moved to support the work, I’d be deeply grateful. Paid subscriptions help keep this going, and help me keep sharing from the woods and fields.
Your emails are so inspiring. I have foraged for 35 years, in Italy and Greece mainly (where I live) and I love reading your incredibly knowledgeable articles which are very informative, precise, interesting and uplifting! Some of the most helpful and enjoyable material that comes on the email waves! Many thanks.
I had no idea that dandelions are edible! Will definitely try out some of these ideas. :)