This Seminar was presented by Mikelis Grivins of the Baltic Studies Centre and looked at the effect foraging has on European forests, with particular interest being taken in the Baltic’s due to this region being the hot-spot of foraging in Europe.
Why Forage?
Mikelis presented a wide range of reasons as to why foraging is so popular in the Baltic region. In Latvia, for example, 70% of Latvians have picked mushrooms before. This is a significant portion of the country, and some of the proposed reasons for this are:
- Free source of direct, natural food
- Connection with nature
- Relaxation
- Social networking
Getting outside and spending time with nature is likely the main reason as to why most people forage. It is proposed that due to the turbulent past of the Baltic region, people turned to foraging as a safety net; as a way to escape from the terrors of war. These people then passed on their knowledge to the next generation, and the trend lives on.
Additionally, the food that is picked is often rich in nutrients and thus a good source of food.
Foraging can often make up a large fraction of a foragers diet; and all for free. Any additional food can also be sold at market, etc.
Where is foraging popular?
As previously eluded to, foraging is most popular in the Baltic region, but is also becoming increasingly popular in Western Europe. The majority of foragers can be found in North-East Europe, with the majority of research coming from Spain + Finland. Foraging is really quite regional.
What do people forage for?
The main attraction for foragers seem to be berries and mushrooms. Obviously the species vary from country to country, and season to season, but below are the main attractions for foragers:
- Cloudberries
- Shellfish
- Truffles
- Herbs
- Bilberries
- Strawberries
Foragers in Latvia are especially in love with cloudberries, due to their rarity and desirability.
Additionally, the practice and knowledge of foraging each species varies greatly, and this is something that a lot of foragers take joy in, and the process of learning different methods and tricks is something they embrace.
My thoughts
Prior to this seminar, I had very little knowledge about foraging, and I certainly didn’t know it was as popular as it is in Europe.
I think foraging is something that should certainly be encouraged due to the benefits it provides for the general public.
However, foraging can have a significant effect on the forest. The accumulation of pickers can alter the ecosystem of the forest, and thus checks and balances should be put in place to ensure that the ecosystem of the forest isn’t drastically effected.
This seminar caused me to do further research into the benefits and impacts of foraging, as it opened up a new world I didn’t know existed, and one that is really quite significant.
Thomas Nicholls 