The Freedom to forage

Welcome to Gather This!  As part of my research, I'll be interviewing foragers I come across and asking them for ideas, inspiration, and fun things I may not have known about.  

This week I spoke to friend and forager, Jake Harris.  Jake owns a Permaculture Design and Installation business called Stone Soup Gardens which operates out of South Seattle.  He was busy wrangling his 2 year old daughter, Luna, who has just learned the value of consistently saying "no." Here is what Jake had to say.  

Urban Foraging - or the ability to freely gather fruits, nuts, mushrooms, and edible weeds fills me with great joy all year round!  We are lucky to live in Seattle where projects like Beacon Hill Food Forest,  the Good Shepherd Center,  Wetmore Community Farm and other public areas are dedicated to free food production for all.  When I think about my favorite food to forage,  it is a no brainer…  Paw Paws!!!  Paw Paws are a midwestern tree whose flavor can best be described as a cross between a banana and a mango.  It is ripest when it falls from the tree in October.  As a landscape designer, it is a part-shade tree that I encourage in many a garden. My daughter and I love walking down to our neighbors house to pick some up every year.  

Jake Harris
Urban Foraging Enthusiast