Since Greenbelt first published Russ Cohen’s book “Wild Plants I Have Known… and Eaten” in 2004, interest in foraging and eco-friendly food practices have grown at a rapid pace.
“More people are now paying attention to where their food comes from and how it impacts the environment than ever before,” says Russ. “These are the same folks who are putting in their own chicken coops and beehives, brewing their own beer. They’re just more engaged in connecting directly to their food and how to eat in a responsible way — it’s all very laudable.”
That said, Russ has also observed how the burgeoning popularity of foraging over the last two decades, driven largely by social media and celebrity chefs, has increasingly led to irresponsible foraging practices, as certain wild foods have become articles of commerce.
“People go into the woods and instead of appreciating the wild plants for their intrinsic value, all they see are dollar signs,” he explains. Russ hopes that his emphasis on showing gratitude for the land and its gifts, and enjoying them in a respectful way — the guiding principles behind both his book and educational talks — will help to counteract this commercialization trend.
“Foraging is one of the last activities out there that need not involve a financial transaction of any kind. It’s just you, outside, connecting to nature directly via your taste buds, without any intermediary,” he says. Russ lauds Greenbelt’s policy of allowing responsible foraging on all of its public properties, and in gratitude, turns over 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of his book to support its land conservation efforts.
The New Edition
While it may have been a bit ahead of its time when it first came out 20 years ago, “Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten” has had longevity. To this day, it continues to sell at a steady pace and remains a folksy and informative resource for anyone interested in learning about foraging in New England. It’s particularly popular among those who have attended one of Russ’s many educational walks or talks.
Now in its ninth printing, the content of “Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten” has remained largely unchanged over the years. The latest edition, published by Greenbelt this past spring, however, features a new four-page note of appreciation to Native Peoples in recognition of the fact that much of the book’s content relies on knowledge and sustainable practices originated and refined by the indigenous inhabitants of New England over thousands of years.