Calliope Forages
This is the first in a new collaboration with my dear friend and fellow mama, Wendy Ennis. Wendy lives with her 2 daughter and husband in the pacific northwest and encourages her children to use the world around them as both a playground and classroom. These monthly blogs will share some ideas for exploring nature with your little ones, using Calliope as your guide! Find out more about Calliope at http://www.crownsandcalliope.com/?p=1
Hi. I’m Calliope. I’d like to invite you on a foraging journey with me.
Blackberries. I can eat blackberries ’til I’m purple!
When I’m berry full (or I have to leave), it’s time for oysters. Can I tell you a secret about oysters?
I don’t really like oysters, but I do love finding them!
I love picking them up for my Dad in the sticky mud and slimy seaweed where they live.
I love exploring the creatures that live on their shells.
I love flipping over a shell and guessing if it’s empty or not.
I love finding sand dollars and crabs.
I love how the water and sand feel under my feet. The splish and the splash are great! The suuuck-shhh stick stuck scares me a bit.
I love how I can play and climb on nature’s playground.
Even though I don’t like oysters,
I love that others do and I get to play while they gather them!
Keep reading for some more tips on how to forage for oysters and berries with kids..like me!
Moms, let’s keep it simple. Foraging with kids (like Calliope) is best done by being prepared, being flexible, and respecting the environment.
Keep a hiking pole in the car for raising or lowering blackberry canes to easy-to-pick levels for your children.
Remember appropriate clothing for your children. (A swim diaper or a cloth diaper over a disposable diaper or panties is extra helpful in water environments!)
Always, always keep foraging containers in the car because you never know when you’ll find a gem patch of blackberries or other forage-able food! If you forget, improvise!
Maintain a focus on safety, learning, and fun. When your child embraces foraging, he/she will want to return. Foraging lays a foundation for responsibility, respect, and gratitude for the Earth and encourages independence, creativity, and more.
*Please remember to follow all state department of fish and wildlife regulations regarding licenses, seasons, limits, and current conditions.
