Many Art of Foraging guests are surprised when they taste a drink or a snack made from a native plant. They might say something like: 'It's delicious. But, wait, we have that tree in our garden. I never knew that it was edible'.
Granted. Knowing what grows in your native garden, what is edible, and how to use it can be a daunting task. Especially if you just have a book or website to refer to. I know. It took me years to get it right, and that's full-time work supported by professional botanists and ecologists.
The first part of good garden foraging is to learn how to ID a plant properly. Bring in an expert if you are not sure. It could be a native plant expert, a Rongoa Maori practitioner, or a forager who knows about native plants.
If you are in Auckland, I'm happy to support you at your home foraging. See more here.