Medical Herbalist, Jenny Carden-Porrett, talks through the essential items she uses for foraging, processing and storing herbs throughout the year.
“It is good to be prepared and have a kit ready to go, especially when the seasons are changing with more variation in weather, so herbs and plants we don’t expect to come out until the spring/summer can appear early.
It is important to get to know an area before you start to forage from it, firstly so you know where the plants you want to collect are, and also so you are less likely to over-gather plants which may not be as abundant as they usually are due to weather or other factors.”
Jenny’s top 4 items are:
- Tincture – a high percentage vodka or gin to extract the constituents of herbs.
- Paper bags – great for drying herbs and keeping them out of the sunlight.
- Scissors – a must have for collecting nettles!
- Jars – a tight seal and brown glass so it is UV resistant to stop the degrading of the constituents.
Full Kit List:
- Vodka/Gin for tincturing
- Paper Bags
- Scissors
- Jars
- Labels
- Sunflower Oil or virgin Olive Oil
- Locally Sourced Beeswax
- Small Jars for balms
- Vegetable glycerite
- Wildflower and fungi identification guide
- Wicker Basket if possible, especially for mushroom foraging
- Lock Seal Bags for collecting and freezing berries