Savouring the free lunch: Edible activism and the joy of foraging

Abstract

At a time when industrial agriculture and multi-national conglomerates dominate the foodscape in many parts of the Western world, when the ecological context of food is often excised from the act of eating, can the practice of foraging help reshape our sense of belonging within the earth community? In this chapter, we present a dialogue on our foraging experiences. David reflects on the impact of shucking oysters on a remote island, catching smelt in a stream and struggling to identify berries from a field guide. Heesoon recalls her botanical education under the tutelage of her mother, who imparted her traditional knowledge on edible weeds, and picking berries with her daughters. Through each of these episodes, we explore the sacramental, cultural, relational, and educational significance of our foraging experiences. Although foraging practices cannot promise to feed the current world population, we suggest that intentional foraging practice can constitute a form of edible activism, a way of re-thinking and reshaping participation in a pervasive consumer culture that sees food as commodity rather than communion