Biofore Magazine 2022

60

“We need to work with nature as a friend and always be very respectful.”

main underlying messages in her workshops is responsible foraging. “I want people to understand that they shouldn’t approach nature as a consumer. We’re not walking into the supermarket; we need to work with nature as a friend and always be very re spectful.” Tash berates the notion of over-consumption and calls for a culture of responsibility towards nature. “People walk into the forest, see an elder tree full of berries and end up picking half of it. What they don’t realise is picking the berries is half the work, which then must be processed, or they will rot and go to waste.” Her golden rule while foraging is to never take the first one you see or the last, and never take anything when it’s in a very small amount: “After you’re done foraging, you should be able to stand back and have it look as though nothing has changed.”

She notes that there has been a huge rise in workshop in quiries frommajor corporations to local schools, who see the importance of environmental awareness for young children. “Children are the best; they are like sponges, absorbing every little detail I give them. It feels so nice because most of the environmental challenges we are seeing today will only get worse when they grow up.” Participants learn about the land and how it works, what’s endangered and seasonal foraging habits. However, one of the