Foraging in Juneau
Juneau’s rich ecosystem is home to a wide variety of edible plants, berries, mushrooms, and even seaweed, making it a prime spot for foraging. The temperate rainforest, nourished by a mix of rain and sun, encourages the growth of wild edibles like salmonberries, blueberries, and devil’s club. The coastal areas offer kelp and other edible seaweeds, while the forest floor hosts chanterelles, morels, and other prized mushrooms.
Foraging connects you with the land and the seasons, providing not only fresh, organic ingredients but also a deeper appreciation for nature’s cycles. Whether you're harvesting bright, juicy berries in the summer or gathering mushrooms in the fall, every season has something to offer.
What Can You Find?
Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular wild edibles in and around Juneau:
Berries: Salmonberries, blueberries, cloudberries, and cranberries are some of the top foraged fruits, perfect for making jams, syrups, or simply enjoying fresh.
Mushrooms: Chanterelles, hedgehog mushrooms, and morels can often be found in the forests, adding rich flavors to your meals.
Devil’s Club: Known for its medicinal properties, devil’s club is traditionally used to make teas and salves.
Seaweed: Kelp, bladderwrack, and other seaweeds are rich in nutrients and can be harvested along the coastline.
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Great book specific to Alaska which keeps things nice and compact. Specifically for plants.
https://amzn.to/3ZYKcDx -
A medicinal guide to Alaska's bounty. Again Alaska specific to keep things compact.
https://amzn.to/3znjTfm -
A field guide to edible mushrooms of Alaska including color photos, detailed descriptions, information on poisonous look-a-likes, ranges in Alaska and the Yukon and photos of the 5 deadly Alaskan fungi. An essential guide for beginners!
Books
Here are some Beginner books to get you started on your foraging journey. All specific to Alaska and include pictures to ensure proper identification!
Beginner’s Must Haves
Foraging can be quite intimidatingly at fist with the fear of poisoning and miss identifying plants. Finding a good guide is the best way to start, though that isn’t always available. For the novice forager here are some good books and items you may want to purchase to start you on your journey.
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This is an entry level 3-item foraging includes a mushroom bag, harvesting knife, and canvas collapsible pouch.
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A Hori Hori knife is a versatile tool with a sharp, serrated blade for digging, cutting, and sawing, ideal for foraging and gardening. Durable and multifunctional.
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The blueberry picker rake is lightweight, comfortable to use, great for people all ages.
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Essential for Devils Club harvesting. these are great because of the strap rather than an elastic band which tend to ware out.
https://amzn.to/3XK9JNE -
Frogg Toggs is a breathable, waterproof, wind resistant and extremely lightweight. Perfect for light use when reliable waterproof protection is necessary, hard to beat for the price.
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Juneau is a wet place, and nothing will ruin your foraging like cold wet feet.
Mens: https://amzn.to/3XXr6vXWomens: https://amzn.to/3ZMx4Rs