Foraging for Fragaria virginiana

Peep those little red berries of goodness!

I found these little wild strawberries in my backyard! As kids playing in the woods, wild strawberries served as an excellent ingredient for our adventures and were, to the horror of my mother, frequently not washed before consumption ( something I do not recommend now that I understand that squirrels don’t have a designated bathroom).

Wild strawberries are much smaller than their cultivated bigger sibling, but they can taste just as sweet! For some cultivated varieties Fragaria virginiana was used and hybridized to get the larger berries you can find in the supermarket or local farmer's market. These smaller berries are one of the wild varieties that can be found in parks, backyards, and even on the side of the road!

It can take a few tries to pick them without squishing the small berry but the haul can be great for a locally sourced vitamin C packed snack if you happen to find some! Wild strawberries contain many other micro-nutrients like folate and manganese as well as several phytochemicals.

They tend to flower in late spring with the small red berries coming in early summer. If you have a field or backyard handy, you can see if wild strawberries are part of the biodiversity in the area and forage yourself a snack! When foraging be respectful of property and make sure you aren't trespassing or foraging in protected areas.

Maybe next year I’ll forage the leaves too? – I ‘ll need to research on the leaves first though!

For now enjoy nature and the little joys you can find in your own backyard!