Foraging In Toronto
Covid has amplified many behaviours of Toronto’s residents. Reports of kindness from strangers and companies pivoting to create something new balance the calls to support local while residents leave their zones to continue shopping. But the encouragement to spend time outdoors has brought with it an uptick in detrimental activities such as foraging in Toronto.
In the spring, while municipalities attempted to determine what was a risk and what was safe, garden centres, community gardens and small shops were ordered closed. This magnified the effects of existing food deserts throughout the city. “There is a complex interaction of factors which lead to inequality in individuals’ ability to access the food required for their health and well-being. For lower-income individuals and families, a food environment in which healthier foods are neither the easiest nor the cheapest results in a higher likelihood of poor dietary intake.”
In the final days of March, as case numbers began to climb, residents of Toronto began to realize that the lockdown was not going to be over in a few days, the number of google searches for ‘Foraging’ also peaked.
In local Facebook groups centered around growing food and gardening, the topic of foraging in the city of Toronto came up repeatedly with much misinformation being passed around. There was encouragement towards “sustainable foraging” with regards to percentage harvested from an area, and plenty of warning to posters around the importance of accurate plant ID. But there was little respect shown for the local by-laws or sustainability when considering the size of local population against an already struggling ecosystem.
As the season progressed and community gardens reopened, along with grocery stores, home gardeners reaped the benefits of a summer spent at home the online queries about foraging dwindled.
And then fall brought with it the dreaded second wave. The city began shutting down again. Residents worried about availability of items. Foraging turned from fresh greens such as leeks and fiddle heads or berries to seed collecting. Little consideration seemed to be had for the impacts of their actions.
As fall’s weather turned to winter and Christmas displays began popping up, so too did residents of Toronto. But these residents were popping up from the ravine systems and parklands, wielding bouquets of invasive miscanthus, red stems of dogwood and boughs of evergreens. After a hard year, forking out $50 or more on a container arrangement when you could DIY one and take a lovely nature walk seemed like a winning combination! I created a guide of winter activities for kids, and many center around the collection of natural items for crafting, play and learning experiences.
Beyond ignoring the moral values of Leave No Trace, what is wrong with this picture?
It is illegal. Foraging is permitted on crown land. It is also permissible on private property only if you have permission from that land owner. It is not permitted within the city of Toronto parks and ravines. The bylaw can be found here.
2020 was a booming year for many birds, bugs and animals. It seemed the factors aligned and animal survival rates were high. But those animals are now heading into winter. By foraging for seeds, you remove a food source not only for this winter but also for the following season.
Native plant populations are already struggling within our ravines. When we forage for and remove seeds, roots and other plant parts, that plant will now have a greater likelihood of being outcompeted by aggressive spreaders like Dog Strangling Vine (DSV). You have removed their little soldiers from the front lines.
You help to further spread invasive plants. Phragmites grass being a prime example. Their big billowing heads are beautiful. They make lovely photoshoot accessories for that nature themed Instagram shot, great swords for kids and a pretty filler in displays. They are fun for idle, fiddly hands to pick at while walking too. By chopping the fluffy seed heads and relocating them you are introducing them into more regions where they aggressively choke out native plants and alter the soil structure.
You set an example that it’s OK, when it’s not. Monkey see, monkey do. Many residents of Toronto may be unaware of plant types, their effects and the laws in place to protect them. If you are aware and still opt to forage within the city with the “sustainable mindset”, then you flag to others that this activity is acceptable.
“Local governments have a lot to learn when it comes to the viability of foraging and it’s ability to assist in resolving food deserts. Residents stripping our natural areas without addressing the larger issues is not the solution though.”
How can you enjoy nature, partake in its bounty and not cause harm?
Especially if you don’t have land (high rise living, rentals etc) this can feel impossible. When faced with challenges often new initiatives are born, and 2020 has brought about plenty.
Practice leave no trace while exploring,
Team up with a yard-sharing program,
Sign up for Community Supported Agriculture(CSA),
Grow your own! This can be indoors, on balconies, container gardening or traditional in ground gardening. You can interplant edibles between flowers,
Grow for your community. Perhaps you have a strip of space where the public can pass by that is being under-utilized. Planting edibles such as herbs or leafy greens and encouraging neighbours to help themselves can help to solve another’s need. We took our own advice in 2020, setting up a free to build ‘greenhouse’ in order to keep every last sprouted seed thriving so that they could be gifted to community gardens and neighbours.
Team up with the city to plant natives and remove invasives. The sooner we are able to rebalance the ecosystem the sooner we can return to historical and cultural foraging practices. We have tips for germinating natives in this post.
Plant Trees. Trees are the backbone for many foraging lists (evergreens, pinecones, sticks, logs etc) but trees take time to reach maturity. Prioritizing the planting of trees on your property before anything else allows them to become established as soon as possible so that you can harvest sooner.
