Calendar of Harvesting and Gathering of Plants
in Central Valley California

by Ken Peek

Disclaimer: A webpage is insufficient to convey the knowledge to safely and responsibly use wild plants for consumption. Before eating or using any plant, seek hands-on field training with a qualified professional in the proper identification and use of wild plants. Gather only what you need or use. You should leave more than enough for the plant to easily reproduce and grow. Also know that gathering in State and National Parks and wildlife preserves may be detrimental and/or illegal. Be sure to get permission from the landowner of private property before gathering wild plants.

JANUARY	FEBRUARY	MARCH	APRIL	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUGUST	SEPTEMBER	OCTOBER	NOVEMBER	DECEMBER
Cut sandbar willow for baskets.			Collect grass seeds:  Collecting grass seeds varies a lot depending on elevation. April and May are pretty early, especially as you go uphill.				Gather oak galls.	Devils claw seed pods	Acorns
	Cut bush dogwood.			Fremontia: Strip bark for fiber.			Gray pine nuts and Sugar pine nuts	Woodwardia ferns
Elderberry and spice bush for drills and clapper sticks.				Cedar inner bark		Cut nettles.			Bay laurel nuts	Durango root fiber
Cut redbud for baskets.				Cut shoots of maple, redbud (white), and hazel.			Collect feathers from molting birds.		Contact butchers to check for deer hides and bones from hunters.	Stinging netttle fiber: Gather before the first rain of the winter season, late Nov - early Dec.
Dogbane					Tules: Tules can be gathered as early as June in select spots.					Dogbane: November is a bit early and it's still good all winter, Dec - Feb.
Gather willow bark for cordage and baskets.										Milkweed fiber
JANUARY	FEBRUARY	MARCH	APRIL	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUGUST	SEPTEMBER	OCTOBER	NOVEMBER	DECEMBER

 

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