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Summer is fruit season, and berries are an especially delicious treat to enjoy. Best of all, wild berries grow on nearly every continent, so you have a variety of delicious wild foods to try!
Below is an explanation of how to get started and a list of all the equipment you will need to pick berries. You probably already know some of them, others might come as a surprise, but all are valuable to have with you on your excursions.
Check out our other guide on the types of berries you can harvest and how to identify them for more.
Contents
Equipment you will need
The equipment you’ll need will depend on where you’re picking, as well as the type of berries you’ll be harvesting. For example, wild strawberries and blueberries do not have thorns. Therefore, you won’t need thick, sturdy gloves to protect your hands when harvesting.
field guide
A good field guide for your area is absolutely invaluable. As well as letting you know what edible species grow in your area, it will also give you details on potentially poisonous look-alikes.
When picking berries, be sure to identify them. Cross-reference any you find with your field guide, noting the plant’s stem and leaves as well as its fruit. This will allow you to identify them more precisely.
If you don’t want to carry a paper field guide with you, install something like the PlantID app on your phone.
Always remember the adage: “when in doubt, let it go”. Some wild berries may look absolutely delicious, but can be deadly if ingested. Unless you are absolutely certain that the ones you pick are edible, leave them alone.
Gloves
The first time I went for blackberries, I found myself with my forearms torn into ribbons. These fruit plants have thick stems covered in vicious thorns. They evolved this way to protect them from herbivorous predators, and that apparently includes foragers.
I love heavy duty leather gardening gloves because they are so versatile. For example, I don’t just use them for foraging berries: they’re also great for picking up nettles, pulling weeds like thistles and protecting my hands from insects.
Aim for gloves that don’t rip easily if you’re dealing with bramble fruit. While gloves can prevent thorns from penetrating your skin, they will also protect you from bee and wasp stings.
Protective clothing
In addition to gloves, make sure you are properly dressed for the excursion. The weather during berry season tends to be quite warm, but dressing lightly can bring a host of problems.
Long denim or canvas pants will keep your legs from being bitten by voracious insects. Meanwhile, a lightweight windproof jacket over a T-shirt will provide the same protection. The aforementioned gloves will take care of your hands, and a hat will protect you from the sun.
As for footwear, avoid open-toed shoes or sandals. Aim for sturdy, comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. If you are in snake country, be more careful and consider wearing high boots. If you startle a rattlesnake and it kicks, it will probably hit below the knee. So if you wear high boots made of a thicker material, you are less likely to get bitten.
Note that most rattlesnakes can bite through standard rubber boots. Aim for the tall leather boots or the thick, durable green or black outdoor boots worn by some landscapers and contractors.
plastic containers
When you go foraging, you need something to collect your bounty in, right? This is where a good container with an airtight lid comes in handy.
I like to use BPA-free plastic storage containers for mine. That’s because they’re tall and narrow rather than chunky, making them easier to pack in a backpack. Also, the lids close tightly so there is no risk of berry juice leaking into my bag.
We do not recommend taking glass jars when picking berries. Instead, take plastic containers with lids, then transfer the berries to glass after washing them. It’s because we don’t want broken pieces of glass in the forest.
You may be the most agile person in the world, but accidents happen. If you are carrying a jar of berries and it slips, broken glass will end up everywhere. This can injure wildlife as well as other berry foragers. Additionally, sunlight can be amplified through glass jars onto dry plant matter, potentially causing a forest fire.
Bottles of water)
How long do you plan to spend looking for berries? Is the location a few minutes walk from your house? Or a multi-hour hike?
Don’t forget to stay hydrated on hot summer days by taking a bottle of water with you. In fact, if there is a source of clean water nearby, also pack a water purifier.
Whether you use a ceramic filter or a straw filter type device is up to you. Just be sure to drink water regularly, even if you’re not particularly thirsty. Once you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.
Bell
I don’t know about you, but I live in bear country. In addition, bears are very fond of berries. Since we don’t particularly want to come face-to-face with bears while foraging for berries, we attach bear bells to our bags.
These are not meant to scare the bears, but rather to let them know we are there. Contrary to popular belief, bears don’t really like attacking people. Additionally, they will only attack if cornered or defending their young. (Or starve, but that’s a whole other article.)
If the bears hear bells and loud voices, their “oh no, humans!” alarms will go off. They will leave the area, allowing you to continue your search for food.
Pepper Spray or Bear (depending on your location)
In case your bell doesn’t deter bears, it’s good to have a backup plan. You can get bear spray or pepper spray from many outdoor or Army Surplus locations. Just note that the laws surrounding them may vary from region to region. Check the legality of owning this equipment before venturing into the wild with it.
Also take note of the species that live in your area. We only have small black bears here so there is little chance of being attacked. Even though they have become fiery, they are only slightly more dangerous than pandas. On the other hand, if you live in Wyoming, Montana, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, or Alaska, you run the risk of encountering a grizzly bear or Kodiac bear.
If you spray them with pepper spray, you’ll probably make them angry. And season yourself as a snack in the process. Be careful in bear country and consider going with a licensed guide if you can.
This type of spray can also be useful if you are picking berries alone. While it’s nice to hope you can go on an outdoor excursion and not be hassled, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Again, check the laws in your area to see what is and isn’t legal to carry.
Emergency drugs
Foraging for wild foods is great fun, but can also come with its own set of potential health risks. For example, people allergic to bee or wasp stings should take precautions when foraging berries. This is because these bushes will have significant insect activity.
If you suffer from these types of allergies, be prepared. Wear protective clothing and carry an EpiPen with you. Have your phone fully charged with roaming and GPS enabled. Above all, do not go out alone in search of food. The last thing you need is to be alone in the woods with your throat so swollen you can’t talk to an emergency dispatcher.
It’s important to carry an emergency kit with you, whether or not you have anaphylactic allergies. Alcohol swabs and adhesive bandages are ideal for treating puncture wounds and cuts. A standard bandage can help if you trip and sprain your ankle, as can pain relievers like acetaminophen or paracetamol.
Toxic doppelgangers
Familiarize yourself with the poisonous plants that grow in your area. This way you will be aware of potentially toxic lookalikes. The species listed below are among the most common North American species. They may look tasty, but they can kill you if you eat them.
Virginia creeper berries
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) somewhat resembles wild grapes or elderberries, but can have serious health effects if ingested. Most often they cause swelling in the mouth and throat, affecting breathing.
red banana
Red blueberry (Actaea rubra) the fruits can be mistaken for pine cherries or wild currants, which are edible. In contrast, blueberries can cause cardiac arrest in all mammals.
Canada Moonseed
Moonseed Berries (Menispermum canadense) are so similar to wild grapes that they manage to poison several people each year. Their frosty blue-purple berries are nearly identical, but can be differentiated by the crescent-shaped seeds inside (hence their common name).
bittersweet nightshade
These bright red berries (Solanum dulcamara) look a lot like their edible cousins the Goji berry (Lycium barbarum). That said, unless you live in Asia, you’re unlikely to come across Gojis in the wild. Bittersweet nightshade berries are very poisonous, but an adult would have to eat several of them for them to be fatal.
deadly nightshade
This plant (Atropa belladonna) is one of the most poisonous species on the planet. The fruits look mouth-watering, much like dark wild blueberries or Saskatoon berries. But only a few can kill a small child or shut down an adult’s nervous system.
Be careful and have fun!
Berry picking can be a wonderful experience for the whole family. As long as you make sure you follow good safety protocols and identify bays correctly, you’re sure to have a spectacular time.
Then you can take your bounty home and enjoy! Eat the berries fresh, or transform them into jams, jellies, pies, pancakes, jams: according to your desires.
Remember to harvest ethically and responsibly. Never harvest from the first plant you find, or the only plant in an area. Make sure there are also berries left for wild animals to eat and to replenish the area!
Mother Nature is incredibly generous with her generosity. Let’s be sure to respect and honor his efforts accordingly.
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