If people across the U.S. were suddenly forced to rely on the land again, cattails would be one of the most important plants to know. They are widespread, easy to identify, and provide food, materials, and practical uses from a single plant.
I’ve recently started selling some herbal products in a local store under my brand, Brigid & Bri Botanicals and Bee-Wares. While I’m excited about that and genuinely love making things for people to use (especially when it introduces them to herbalism), I’ve also found myself thinking more deeply about the role of the herbalist. And… Read more: The Herbalist as Teacher, Not Merchant
Wild rice is one of the few foods in North America that is still gathered, prepared, and eaten much as it has been for generations. The species most commonly referred to as wild rice, Zizania palustris, is native to the upper Great Lakes region and occurs naturally in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as… Read more: Wild Rice as a Living Food Tradition
I’ve been absent for a few weeks, but I’m happy to be back! I’ve been swamped with my “day job,” which is running a nonprofit news organization. Add in the usual holiday bustle and—most exciting of all—the fact that I’ve officially completed my training to become a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and… whew! It’s been a… Read more: Pine Needles: The needed green among the winter white
Depending on where you are, it may be too late in the season for wild plums, but I wanted to write about them this week, anyway. I grew up in Central California, where plums are a plentiful agricultural crop, grown in beautiful, cultivated orchards. I never considered that they also grew freely in the wild… Read more: Wild Plums
Fall marks the start of root season. Once the aboveground parts of many plants begin to die back, their energy moves deep into the soil. For foragers, that means it’s the best time to dig nutrient-rich roots like burdock root. It’s hardy, abundant, and easy to recognize once you know what to look for. Burdock… Read more: Burdock root: 5 simple tips for successful foraging
I love this time of year, when the days are getting shorter, the leaves are in full color, and we start using phrases like “beyond the veil”. It always gives me a sense of connecting to my ancestors, and that’s exactly what this season is for. Much like how Halloween is pulled from the ancient… Read more: 7 Powerful Plants of Old Magick
Fall foraging isn’t just about berries and roots. These fall foraging greens such as dandelion, plantain, stinging nettle, and violet are easy to find, packed with nutrients, and often growing right in your yard.
Rose hips are one of the best wild sources of vitamin C and a bright addition to fall foraging. Learn how to identify, harvest, and preserve them for teas and herbal blends packed with seasonal flavor and nutrients.
Sumac offers a strong lemon substitute just when fresh citrus feels out of season. Learn how to identify and harvest it, plus try a recipe for a sumac loaf.
Pumpkin spice is more than a cozy flavor of fall. Learn what’s really in the blend, the herbal benefits of each spice, and why pumpkin itself deserves the spotlight. Bonus: Milkshake recipe!
This summer I discovered I have a close connection with motherwort. I foraged a ton last year and transplanted one small plant. This year it popped up all over my yard. Big, beautiful motherwort plants, everywhere I look. I know we have an aversion to the word “wort,” but when talking about plants we’re using… Read more: Motherwort for Foragers: 5 Simple Tips to Spot and Use This Powerful Herb
It’s a high-emotion, high-stress time for people across my country, no matter where they stand on current events. When the world feels overwhelming, it’s good medicine to get outside.
Elderberries are a seasonal favorite, and are easy to spot once you know the elderberry plant. Learn how to identify them, avoid common look-alikes, and understand which parts of the plant are safe to use.
It’s easy to get excited when you spot mullein, but foragers should be cautious about where it’s found. Some areas can make the plant unsafe to use. Here’s why.
I’ve spotted a ton of mullein this summer. Once you know it, it’s hard to miss it. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a biennial plant that grows a low rosette of woolly leaves in its first year and a tall flowering stalk in its second. Verbascum thapsus is widely known as common mullein, though it’s also… Read more: Mullein (Verbascum)
Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) is a native legume that grows in prairies, along streambanks, and in open woodlands across the Northern Plains. I saw just tons of it while exploring the badlands of North Dakota over the weekend. The plant takes its name from the faint licorice-like flavor of its roots, which have been used… Read more: Wild Licorice
Ground cherries (Physalis spp.) are one of late summer’s hidden gems, and are often overlooked despite their sweet, tropical flavor. Small and golden, each fruit is wrapped in a papery husk that gives it a look very similar to its cousin, the tomatillo. Inside, the flavor is a unique blend of pineapple, mango, and tomato… Read more: Ground Cherries
This one can surprise you with a sting if you unknowingly brush up against it, but when you know what to watch for stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a fabulous plant to forage. Getting to Know Nettle Nettle grows tall and unassuming in moist, sunny areas such as along rivers, ditches, and woodland edges. Its… Read more: A Summer with Sting (Stinging Nettle, that is)
I was out in Minnesota yesterday, and came across several patches of goldenrod just at the start of their bloom. What an exciting time! Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is one of those plants that signals late summer is on the way, with its bright yellow blossoms lighting up roadsides, prairies, and open fields. It’s often mistaken… Read more: It’s Goldenrod Season
There’s something quietly striking about Upright Prairie Coneflower. This wildflower just feels like summer on the prairie. I was excited to find it growing wild and wanted to share this spectacular gem. This prairie native is easy to spot once you know what to look for: those distinct yellow petals surround a tall, narrow cone… Read more: Upright Prairie Coneflower
When you think of roses, you might picture elaborate gardens or trellises dripping in fragrant blooms. But out here on the prairie, we have our own wild version: the Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana). It’s rugged, low to the ground, and a whole lot tougher than it looks. And yes, it’s just as beautiful. I have… Read more: Prairie Rose
Most people walk past plantain without a second thought, but this humble “weed” is one of nature’s best first-aid tools. Packed with anti-inflammatory compounds like aucubin, plantain can take the sting out of bug bites, soothe cuts, and even calm irritated skin. Once you know how to spot its distinct leaves and learn a few simple uses, you’ll start seeing it as a powerful ally growing right under your feet.
I’ve been a part of a few conversations about purslane recently, including one with my neighbor who wanted to spray my “weeds” for me. It was actually my husband who had the conversation with her, but I was very happy to hear that he fiercely defended my purslane, and nothing was sprayed. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)… Read more: Purslane: Positively Wonderful
Wild Bergamot was my unicorn flower, one I admired for years but never could find growing wild. I finally spotted it blooming in a North Dakota prairie, and I was genuinely excited. That moment made it an easy choice for my first post. It’s useful, beautiful, and a classic prairie plant worth getting to know.… Read more: How to Identify and Use Wild Bergamot
Hi! I’m Sabrina, journalist, author, and forager with a deep-rooted respect for the plants that grow around us. I’ve spent more than 30 years in media, most recently as an agricultural reporter covering policy and global food systems. I’m also a member of United Plant Savers and currently serve as the chapter coordinator for the… Read more: Introductions