Have you ever wanted to go foraging for food but didn’t know where to start? Now, there is a map that shows you all of the places around the world that you can score free food. NPR featured an article recently that told about how two committed foragers created a map of the world that leads you to places with public fruit trees, free veggies–and for the really brave, dumpsters with a steady supply of food. Fallingfruit.org even allows locals to add to the map as they find free food sources.
At first, I thought this was going to be a dumpster diving sort of deal, but when I clicked on the map, there are tons of fruit trees on public land, blackberry locations, and really fun not-so-common scores, like currants.
And the best part? It’s totally FREE. Woohoo!
In the land of plenty, foraging just got a little bit easier.
~Mavis
Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn’t Know You Could Eat
Brandy says
We recently started foraging. We have tons of wild mustard in our area, and wild fennel is plentiful as well. You should do a post on eating your weeds! I think I commented once when I saw you pulling purslane, it could totally count towards your yearly goal 😉
Rachael says
The map is a bit lacking. I know we have pecan trees on public land around here in Waco, but its not on the map. Ah, well, we are often neglected in these kinds of things.
Ethan says
Wish I could help, but Waco is a long drive from Boulder. Sounds like the map needs your help! 😉
Tammy says
Interesting. My area has lot of maple trees listed. I’d love to tap maple trees, but the thought of going around town tapping trees doesn’t appeal to me. 😉
Tra says
We’ve been doing this for years! We live in Maryland and have tons of fruit trees on public property in the spring. We collect mulberries and make a killer mulberry-chipotle BBQ sauce. We have sour cherry trees on the college campus two blocks from our house. Last year we collected pounds and used the resulting cherry pie filling over the holidays. We collected pounds of raspberries and blackberries from a local park and made jams and preserves that I use almost every morning in my yogurt. Our community college campus nearby has apple and pear trees that we’ve gotten baskets of fruit from for the last couple years.
Our local agricultural extension office holds classes over the summer that takes participants on walks through local parks to find edible weeds- many of which you’ve seen all around you for years!
Some people have said that maybe we shouldn’t pick the berries and fruit because we are “taking it away from the animals.” I can see their point but we never “strip” all the fruit completely- I agree that would be wrong. However, when you walk past the trees and bushes a couple weeks later and there are fruit and berries rotting on the ground (esp. the mulberries!) it just seems like such a waste. Why not feed your family instead of the flies. Just don’t be rude about foraging- NEVER strip all the fruit/berries/herbs in a patch unless you actually own it!
Susan says
I would LOVE your Mulberry- Chipotle recipe! My son has a mulberry tree that is loaded this year. He lets me take all I want.
Tra says
Sure! I make a bunch of it when the berries are in season and freeze in in baggies for use throughout the year. To make about 1-2 cups of sauce:
1/4 c raspberry vinegar (red wine or apple cider will work too)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cup crushed mulberries
1 chipotle in adobo, minced (you can get them canned from many grocery stores in the hispanic food section)
dash of hot sauce (optional)
if you want sweeter sauce, 1-2 tsp of sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Put everything except the sugar and salt/pepper in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and add sugar, salt/ pepper. If you want a smooth rather than chunky sauce, whirl it in a blender or food processor for a few minutes. I hope you enjoy it!
Susan says
Thanks, Tra!! I am defintitelt going to try this.
Sally says
I’m in Maryland too. Can you give me more info about the classes over the summer that takes participants on walks through local parks to find edible weeds.
Thanks!
Diane Bernath says
We have several Mulberry trees out in the park behind us, and one other in the townhouses where I live – no one bothers with them. I plan on making jam with them this year.
Penelope says
My oldest daughter just told me about a couple of mulberry trees just dropping the fruit on the ground on our local university campus. She works on the grounds and said no one does anything about the berries, and we should be able to take them, so I guess we’ll be picking mulberries over the next couple days! I haven’t had mulberries in ages!
AMY says
Mavis I love your site, I just need to get my 2 cents in on the subject. I’m sure your readers do not do this, but please respect the farmers and don’t go and pick your own food from our fields. We are farmers in a more populated area and you wouldn’t believe the number of people that take their own vegetables from our fields.
Mavis says
Foraging for food on public land that is just going to rot is one thing, but stealing food from farmer’s fields is just that, stealing. 🙁 So sorry that has happened to you.
jessica hardin says
I have a tree in my backyard of the house I rent and it drops a bunch of berries. How do i find out what kind it is and if it’s edible?
Anne-Marie Bilella says
Ooohhh Mavis, this is right up my alley! I LOVE foraging in the wild. In my woods and pastures I have picked chickweed, plantain, honeysuckle flowers(makes good jelly!),wild muscadines, morels(like 5 🙁 ), lambs quarters, blackberries, kudzu flowers(also good for jelly). Waiting for elderberries to be in hopefully next month then I have areas around town to go pick them. I am going to share your post on my blog. For the person above that asked about edible berries, get a good field guide. I like the Petersons Guide to Edible Plants.
Jorge says
Sounds like communism to me.