melissel Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 (edited) The girls and I picked some berries today at a local nature preserve, and it didn't occur to me until afterward that maybe that's not an ethical thing to do :001_huh: The berries are along the trail line, and I read all the signage and pamphlets afterward, and there was no mention of removing things (flowers, etc.) from the park (but there were a million other cautions about garbage and snowshoes and dogs and staying on the trails). Is this one of those things that everyone but me knows not to do? (Because, sadly, that's not uncommon for me :blushing:). TIA! ETA: I forgot to ask, where do people forage if not on public land? I guess I kind of always thought of foraging as something that mostly has to be done in forests and parks and such, unless you have your own land, which most people probably don't. In fact, now that I think of it, I've read articles about people who teach foraging classes in public parks and off hiking trails. Is that legal/ethical in general? Edited June 14, 2012 by melissel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth in MN Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 I live by the old rule "take only photographs and leave only footprints". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 In our local forest preserves, we are not to interfere with the plants in any way, and that includes picking anything. However, on our park district's property, there is no such rule, and last summer I picked a nice bag full of raspberries :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicMama Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 If possible, just ask the parks department. Either way, I'm sure they would be happy to tell you about their policy. Some places may encourage it, others forbid it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 In our local forest preserve, the plants, berries, etc. are to be left alone so the animals can have them. There's no sign saying that but we took a guided tour years ago and the naturalist taught the kids not to bother anything. Even bird nests that fall to the ground are to be left alone. But it would be nice to post a sign or something- otherwise how do you know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Ya know, i think this is one of those gray areas, and it largely depends on where you are. In MD, I'm not really sure there's such a thing as "public land" anymore. Anything that isn't privately owned (and posted) seems to belong to (and is thus protected by) the state. In Maine, if you find a berry bush, you pick (unless it's in somebody's yard or orchard, obviously). There's a lot of open land, though, and even if it's privately owned, it's probably owned by timber or utility companies who don't care if you pick. I don't know if it's still the case, but the power company used to have no issue at all with people cutting Christmas trees along the rural lines at the forest edge. It just kept them from having to cut them. So, my answer is: I dunno. You'll have to ask. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 We live in a city park and pick wild blackberries all summer long. Curious park visitors always comment on our wisdom. Last year the city came and chopped down our favorite patch. Seems blackberries are considered a noxious weed so they were replaced with native trees, shrubs and grasses. Oh well, plenty more where those came from! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Unethical feels like a strong word for what you did. But I think it's usually against the rules, yes, and with some good reason. I try to teach my kids not to mess with the public lands... but if they occasionally pick up a rock, eat a mulberry or two or move some sticks around, I'm not going to freak out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 In a preserve, the berries are for the critters. We live across the street from 40 acres of undeveloped public land. It will be a park someday. Right now, it's our foraging ground, as well as a lot of neighbors. We'd forage anywhere that's not someone's yard or a nature preserve. Roadside, city park, parking lot planter, abandoned lot, our yard. We have had neighbors offer to let us pick their fruit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Around here, foraging for morels or asparagus is much more controversial than berry picking. People with morels or asparagus on their land do NOT want people taking it, but much of it grows right by the side of the road where it's wooded. People drive around looking for it, and quickly get out and pick it. And then many sell it at the local farmer's markets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black_midori Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 We used to have people "forage" in our front yard - now THAT I consider just downright wrong (seriously - they'd stop & hop our fence to grab apricots and peaches that were inside the fence line, along with our house). It has scarred us forever... we are considering planting fruit and nut trees at our new place, and I am trying to locate them in a place where people aren't as likely to sneak over and steal them! For the preserve, though - I wouldn't fret. It probably was against their rules, but if there wasn't anything posted and there wasn't a ranger advising people then apparently they don't take it that seriously. The last nature preserve I went to, we were told by 3 different rangers not to touch anything (ANYthing - trees, twigs, broken bottles, etc) and we had to watch a 15 minute video about the area... and not touching anything! Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 It depends on the area. There are many state parks/nature preserves that don't mind (as long as you leave the reproducing part of the plant alone..so only a small part of any one bush of berries and no disturbing the root system of the plant). I've picked wild strawberries, raspberries, fern fronds and morels on railroad land before. The critters get enough of my own food so I don't feel guilty. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Humans are part of nature. Your behavior was normal and natural. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calendula Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 In our state (Minnesota), people are welcome to pick mushrooms, berries, and nuts at state parks, but nothing that would harm the plan (so no picking flowers, leaves, roots). The other stipulation is that you can only pick enough for your own consumption (not to sell at a farmers market, for example). I called earlier this year to ask, and they were so excited that I was asking - I'm not sure why, exactly - but they were quite encouraging that this was just fine to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmoe Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 In our state (Minnesota), people are welcome to pick mushrooms, berries, and nuts at state parks, but nothing that would harm the plan (so no picking flowers, leaves, roots). The other stipulation is that you can only pick enough for your own consumption (not to sell at a farmers market, for example). I called earlier this year to ask, and they were so excited that I was asking - I'm not sure why, exactly - but they were quite encouraging that this was just fine to do. Missouri has about the same rules. Many people forage even within the city of St. Louis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 We live in a city park and pick wild blackberries all summer long. :confused: You live in a city park? Do you mean a park park with swings and slides and stuff? I'm sure I'm misunderstanding you. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Humans are part of nature. Your behavior was normal and natural. :) Exactly, thank you. You don't go in and clean an area of the resources the local animals need but if you are there to experience the surroundings, eating a few berries is a wonderful way to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 It really depends on the reserve/park/state. I was at one in Texas where the ranger actually showed us where the good blackberries for picking were! Yet, you can face fines in the Smokies for picking anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 We pick on public land here, state parks and such. Just did a few days ago and plan on going again today, it's blackberry season! It's legal here, assuming you take precautions stated above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 :confused: You live in a city park? Do you mean a park park with swings and slides and stuff? I'm sure I'm misunderstanding you. :confused: nope. it's really true. it is a really big park tho. And the playground closest to us is for resident use only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbygirl Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 nope. it's really true. it is a really big park tho. And the playground closest to us is for resident use only. Do you mind if I PM you? I really don't want to derail the thread, but I'm curious as to how that works if you don't mind my being nosy. :) hehe I've never heard of a private residence located on city lands or do you or your spouse work at the park and they provide you housing? I'm fascinated. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Do you mind if I PM you? I really don't want to derail the thread, but I'm curious as to how that works if you don't mind my being nosy. :) hehe I've never heard of a private residence located on city lands or do you or your spouse work at the park and they provide you housing? I'm fascinated. :) PM'd you!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubiac Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 FWIW, in Nordic countries you'd be golden, under "allmansratten" (lit. all men's rights): Today these rights underpin opportunities for outdoor recreation in several of the Nordic countries, providing the opportunity to hike across or camp on another's land (e.g. in Sweden for one or two nights), boating on someone else's waters, and picking wildflowers, mushrooms and berries. However — with the rights come responsibilities; that is, an obligation neither to harm, disturb, litter, nor to damage wildlife or crops. Sweden FTW. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Is this one of those things that everyone but me knows not to do? Yes. :D You didn't know, but now you do, so it's okay, though. A nature preserve is different than a park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted June 15, 2012 Author Share Posted June 15, 2012 Yes. :D :lol: It would seem so, huh? Thanks everyone. I'll call the park number to be sure, but I'm sure you're all right that it's not OK to pick there. Thankfully, we didn't pick much, or I'd feel worse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Humans are part of nature. Your behavior was normal and natural. :) :iagree::iagree::iagree: No, I don't believe picking wild berries is unethical. If the park has a rule, you need to follow it. Next time you go, just ask at the visitor's center or the office or such if they have a rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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