07/25/2026
There will be no Trail Snack Saturday this year. For most of the summer and fall fruits, this year seems to be a year of rest. This is a natural cycle and can be due to unfavorable weather conditions during the pollination period, like a lot of rain on a frequent basis, a long drought, very high temperatures or an attempt to adjust to climate change. Many species of fruits embody these traits.
Bramble fruits, like black raspberries, only produce fruit from their second year canes. It seems this year most of the bramble is focusing on putting out an abundance of new growth this year. This means that next year they will likely bear many fruits.
Plum trees also behave in a similar way, taking one or several years to rest and gather energy before producing a massive amount of fruit. This is called "masting". The mulberries, however, were very plentiful this year. I made several pies 🥧 😋
Unfortunately the areas I can forage mulberries in abundance are on private property and are not interested in hosting a foraging tour, but they let me forage for my own personal needs. Im very grateful for that 🙏 I wanted to share that to encourage you look into who owns the property that you might see something you'd like to forage, and ask permission from the owners. Often times, they dont see the value in it and dont mind if you take some. Just ask about the history of the land and if its been sprayed!
I took this opportunity to turn an unfruitful year into a tidbit of knowledge. Maybe this can help us learn to observe from the perspective of a Steward, and be more in tune with the cycles and conditions of the land. The greatest trait of a forager is to know when NOT to forage. Because this year did not bring an abundance of fruit, if we were to forage the fruits we did see this year, the wildlife would stripped of a precious resource they depend on. I never encourage harvesting anything that isnt abundant or a protected species.
Thank you all for your support at every teaching, every lesson, every pop up shop and every day! Yall are so amazing and I wouldn't be here without you. Your support helps me share nature's food and medicine with the world. I dont believe that food and medicine should be kept a secret. Nature's gifts are for anyone who respects and cares for her. Keep you updated on future events and teachings. See you in the forest, friends! 💚🌿✨️✌️
