Bored Panda interview about wild food foraging: who does it and why?

This interview has been published on Bored Panda, the online trendsetter/follower that features anything and everything. Lucky me, Liucija Adomaite and Indr? Luko?iūt? allowed my words to shine. Thank you for the plug girls!

The practice of collecting wild edible plants and mushrooms has been around for centuries, with people in many parts of the world relying on them for sustenance.

But foraging is back in fashion with more and more people opting for sustainable food sources and ways to connect with nature. From forests and meadows to suburban yards and urban parks, with the right knowledge and skills, foraging can be done virtually anywhere.

Ps! After you are done with this post, make sure to check out?the previous article?with more incredible foraged goods.

To find out more about the art of foraging which is having a Renaissance of popularity right now, Bored Panda reached out to?foraging expert Diego Bonetto.

Bonetto is an Italian native who has lived in Australia since the mid-1990s, who spends his time guiding novices, chefs, and other professionals through the parks and outskirts of Sydney looking for hidden-in-plain-sight ingredients. He is also a renowned author of a best-selling book?“Eat Weeds, a field guide to foraging: how to identify, harvest and use wild plants,”?which shows people how to engage with wild food sources, transforming your neighborhood into an edible adventure.

“From forest to the seaside, riverbank to city street – even your own yard – there is wild food and medicine available to those who know where to look. In the face of global challenges such as climate change, food insecurity and pandemics, we seek to empower ourselves with the information and skills that enable self-reliance and equip us to care for our families and communities,”?Bonetto’s book explains, so if you’re interested, be sure to check it out!

When asked what are the reasons for foraging gaining popularity lately, Bonetto said that we are living in a time of great change and questioning. “People come to my workshops to learn about foraging for different reasons. Young families because they want their kids to have experiences outside and connect with nature,” he explained.

Meanwhile, “old migrants come to validate their knowledge because up until recently they were perhaps made fun of for harvesting wild food in parks or from the roadside. Their skills were not deemed cool or relevant before hipsters made it so.”

So it seems that every group of interested people has their own reasons for getting interested in foraging. “Journalists are interested in the story because it is an empowering one,” Bonetto continued. “It's applicable everywhere and reaches all kinds of audiences. It is also apolitical and a positive news story.”

“Gardeners come because they are familiar with the plants and want to find a way to use them. It is a similar reason for farmers, many are now seeking alternative ways to revitalise the land after overuse.”

While “survivalists have always been interested in learning how to utilize wild food and medicine and there is now certainly a growing number of people interested in self-sufficiency.”

Lastly, “chefs and bar people are interested in wild produce,” Bonetto said and added that they love the possibility of bringing new ingredients to the table, ones with unique stories and flavours.

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