Wildcrafting herbs can be a very educational and inspiring thing to do. It brings the herbal enthusiast into nature and helps them connect with their herbs on a whole new level. In a sense, wildcrafting is meeting the herbs on their turf.

Growing herbs on our patio or in the garden can be fun and very fulfilling. Wildcrafting can take herbalism to a whole new level. When you wildcraft, you are going out into nature and harvesting the herbs in their natural habitat. These herbs are not planted and maintained. They are laid out as nature intended.

There are many herbs that grow wild. Obviously, every region has its own herbs that grow wild and not forced by man. This is part of what makes wildcrafting fun. You are exploring nature that is around you and learning what all it has to offer.

There are a few rules or guidelines you should be aware of before you begin and as you wildcraft. These are very important in keeping wildcrafting pure and ethical.


1. Know your herbs – This is very important as you might take something that is poisonous. Know what your herbs look like and the habitat they enjoy. If you have to take a reference book with you. Never take something if you are in doubt of what it is.
2. Acquaint yourself with endangered herbs – There are many herbs that have become overharvested or for some other reason have become endangered. Contact your local DNR office or similar type of authority and find out what is endangered in your area. Keep in mind that every area is different. Never assume that something in abundance in one area is not endangered in another.
3. Check with local authorities on regulations – Some areas of public land might prohibit harvesting anything that is alive and prospering. Check with your local environmental agencies to what if there are any regulations on the herbs that you want to harvest.
4. Ask permission – If the land is not public, it obviously is private. Never just walk onto someone else’s land and take something whether it is herbs or anything else. Even if you have permission to take walks on their land or even to hunt on their property, always ask permission before wildcrafting. They might have a reason for you to leave their herbs alone.
5. Know what you are looking for – Do not just go out into nature and have no idea what you are looking for. Know your plants. Know what grows in your area. Know what you need.
6. Have the right tools – Just walking out and wildcrafting is not how an herbal enthusiast does it. Take a basket along with some herb sheers. You might want to take some gardening gloves with you, too. The basket will help carry your herbs safely and the sheers will help harvest what you need while doing as minimal damage as possible to the plant.
7. Take only what you need – We live too much in abundance. Wildcrafting should not be the same. Take only what you need and will use whether it is for medicinal purposes or for culinary use. Leave the excess behind to prosper. Also, if you only need the leaves or other parts of the plant, take only those items and leave the rest of the plant to grow. Obviously, roots can be a different matter altogether.
8. Give back when you can – When gathering whole plants, many people like to take the seeds from the harvested plant and place them back in the hole where they have removed the parent. This is a way for them to give back to the ground what they have taken away.
9. Be safe – As you are going out into the ‘wild’, you might want to take a first aid kit with you. Accidents happen anywhere and you need to be prepared. It might be safe to take a compass and a way to call for help if it is needed.
10. Enjoy the time – This should be a very rewarding time for you. As you are looking for the herbs, enjoy the nature around you. Stop and take a rest on a rock or log. Breathe in the fresh air. Yes, you are looking to wildcraft some herbs, but you are not behind a desk or on a couch. Enjoy it. Make a day out of. Have a picnic. Make it a family event. Make it a personal meditation time.

Wildcrafting is a great way to gather herbs that are hard to grow in a container or to just get commune more with nature. Use it as a time to teach your children. Take advantage of wildcrafting has to offer to you.