Re: Looking for wild herbs

[JulieJess]

Please do NOT walk down any street with your pruning shears and take ANYTHING! Some jerk has been coming onto our property and "pruning" branches off our young maples, presumably to sell at the SF Flower Mart, and that's not any more right than pruning someone else's rosemary bush!

Go to the door and ASK!

[Braggi]

Go to the door and ASK!

Of course, that's the best advice. However, there are yards, businesses, schools, etc. that have rosemary trailing out of their beds, over walls and onto the sidewalks. Nobody in their right mind would be bothered if someone cut a few inches off the end of a branch to season their roast. The post office in Healdsburg is one such example. There are huge unkempt bushes out in front.

JulieJess, I've already commented on your lamentable situation. A cold hose for the culprits! There is no comparison between your trees, which need little to no pruning and an unruly rosemary.

-Jeff

[Dark Shadows]

I agree. And has anyone ever heard of the custom of gathering medicinal plants? I was at the Sonoma Regional Park on the trail that runs between highway 12 and Glen Ellen, gathering Bay leaves and I felt kind of guilty when I saw the sign about habitat restoration. My grandma was the one that taught me to pick prickly pear carefully using gardening gloves. When I saw the large cactus in front of the Sonoma Mission overflowing with luscious fruit, I was very tempted, but figured it wasn't worth getting a ticket for vandalizing public property. Seems like you should be able to gather a little from your environment for personal use. Of course you shouldn't go out and start hacking branches off ornamental trees, especially on someone elses property, but what's the harm in gathering something that they charge and arm and a leg for at Whole Foods? I saw a persimmon tree on West Sierra Road that was covered with fruit and it was all over the ground, obviously unwanted. Maybe if you've got a fruit tree and can't use it all you could put a sign out so people can help themselves, it would show a little holiday spirit I think.

[hales]

Hi, Dark Shadows, you sound like you live in my neighborhood.. I'm in Boyes Hot Springs, southwest of the Fruit Basket.

It would be great if everyone was moderate and considerate in "harvesting" what appear to be a surplus of fruit, or other herbs, foods or plants. However, I'm sure you realize that the world is getting more and more populated, and that many of us are either really needy or really greedy!

In our "backyard" of Sonoma County, I think the wise and considerate things is to either leave it alone, get permission, or be very discrete and moderate about it. (No point in letting it go to waste.. : ) The other day, I saw a neighbor doing some overdue yard maintenance, tree work, etc. and he had a huge box of persimmons. I doubt that he had a use for all of them, but I don't know what to do with them and don't have a lot of time to find out or do it, at the moment, so I didn't ask for any.

I think the key, here is communication. My Grandma had a hand-sewn sampler, which I have somewhere that read: "Hearts like doors, open with ease, the keys are "thank you" and "if you please". " : ) Corny, but true, eh?

What I think is great about the Wacco community is just this: that more and more people are interested in sharing these kind of surplus resources, or creating social networks where these surplus items could be redistributed to those who know how to use them, who need them, or would simply enjoy them, more.. It's a great application of technology and social networks to make better and more efficient use of resources.

For instance, I recently received a free pass to KPFA Crafts Fair, from a kind and generous waccovian; apparently she couldn't use it, and I since I would enjoy using it, "VOILA!" (thanks, Rose! : )

Scott.

PS. another point I wanted to make is that in some areas plants, herbs, wild mushrooms and such animals as bear, and other game animals, or seafood, such as abalone are being over-harvested and sold to Japan or other over-seas, or local luxury-oriented buyers. It's called "POACHING", and often it is done in a crude and destructive way, which is much different from respectful and moderate wildcrafting, fishing, hunting, etc. All over the world, animals are being over-"harvested" into extinction for food, medicine, (tiger bones and bear livers, for Asian sex tonics!) or just to make knick-knacks. (ivory or tusk carvings).

Scott


I agree. And has anyone ever heard of the custom of gathering medicinal plants? I was at the Sonoma Regional Park on the trail that runs between highway 12 and Glen Ellen, gathering Bay leaves and I felt kind of guilty when I saw the sign about habitat restoration. My grandma was the one that taught me to pick prickly pear carefully using gardening gloves. When I saw the large cactus in front of the Sonoma Mission overflowing with luscious fruit, I was very tempted, but figured it wasn't worth getting a ticket for vandalizing public property. Seems like you should be able to gather a little from your environment for personal use. Of course you shouldn't go out and start hacking branches off ornamental trees, especially on someone elses property, but what's the harm in gathering something that they charge and arm and a leg for at Whole Foods? I saw a persimmon tree on West Sierra Road that was covered with fruit and it was all over the ground, obviously unwanted. Maybe if you've got a fruit tree and can't use it all you could put a sign out so people can help themselves, it would show a little holiday spirit I think."