Everyday Bushcraft: Growing Native Plants

by Mike Lummio

Bushcraft Northwest

www.bushcraftnorthwest.com

The use of wild plants as medicine or food first begins with positive identification. With the information age, we have become so sight dependent that we often fail to incorporate our other senses. A misidentified plant can lead to anything from an upset stomach to a trip to the hospital; therefore it’s not enough to know what a plant looks like on the page of a field guide. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that quite often the plant in reality looks different in size, shape, and/or color from the book’s description. I’m certainly not saying that field guides aren’t useful and extremely informative, just that photos and the written word can only do so much. In fact, there’s much evidence to suggest that sight falls behind most of our other senses when it comes to recalling memories.

For this reason, it is imperative to learn how a plant smells, feels, and ultimately tastes to be certain it is what we think it is. For me, the best way to become intimate with our plant cousins is to live with them on a daily basis by planting them in and around our homes. Fortunately, the availability of native plants at nurseries has increased in recent years (some nurseries even specialize in this particular niche).

Some plants are harder to find or grow than others. Many grow in sensitive areas and should be bought or, if possible, grown from seeds gathered on a hike after positive identification. A botanist can help you with the germination processes which can be quite involved depending on the species but is well worth it.

Be sure to take into consideration the habitat preferred by your new plant. Is it a shade loving species? Does it require very wet soil? You’ll be amazed at how varied the habitat around your home actually is. There may be areas which receive runoff from the roof that contain twice the moisture as a spot just 10 meters away. A surprising number of plants do just fine in large pots so don’t be discouraged by a lack of space.

In addition to familiarizing yourself with useful plants, you’re also doing the ecosystem a great service as well. As humans continue to develop wild spaces with buildings, roads, and agriculture, the natural habitat becomes more and more fragmented. While foreign ornamentals may look nice, they provide little or no benefit to the organisms which have evolved around the native vegetation for food and shelter. When native plants are used, this habitat fragmentation is reduced. Also, many of the invasive species which are having disastrous effects around the world began as ornamentals which escaped into the surrounding ecosystem and gotten out of control.

Once you begin living with these plants, an endless amount of information is literally at your fingertips. What does the plant look like during different stages of growth? What does it look like in the winter? What does it look like when not in bloom? What does a crushed leaf smell like? How effective is this plant in healing the cut or burn on my hand? You’ll really be amazed at how these once unfamiliar organisms now seem like old friends that jump out at you as you walk along the trail!

Nature’s gift: a patch of Self Heal found growing among my strawberries.	I found this Siberian miner’s lettuce on the edge of a vacant lot scheduled for development. Do yourself (and the plant) a favor and transplant it at your home.

Due to their sensitive nature, these native plants were bought at a local nursery. The larger is a salmon berry with a red huckleberry growing in the shade underneath it. You don’t need a big yard to share in the experience of growing native plants.