Foraging, the act of gathering wild plant and animal materials from the environment, is becoming more and more popular in cities around the world. In South African cities, some people pick wild berries and imifino (wild spinach) in open areas, considering them to be fresher and more nutritious than store-bought foods.
Many people also associate foraging with their cultural heritage, reminding them of time spent in the bush or on rocky beaches harvesting mussels with elders or childhood friends.
À lire aussi :
South Africa is rich in plants used for skincare: rural women helped us document some
But although some plants that are popular with foragers are also grown in public parks, many people who forage in cities worry they could be told to stop by the authorities if they forage in public parks and gardens. My research found that this fear is often misplaced.
