Garden Crypt

By Nikki Phipps

Wildcrafting is a very popular hobby with many people. Long ago people could not go out shopping for various items and instead crafted their gifts and decorations from what was readily available in and around their homesteads. Wooded areas and open prairies are filled with plants you can use for wildcrafting. Some of these materials were gathered from the wild, while other items were taken from their gardens.

There are things you need to know beforehand if you’re new to this kind of decorating. First, you should become familiar with the numerous types of plants within your region. If you are not skilled at plant identification, you could fall victim to toxic plants, such as poison ivy, as well as laws governing rare or endangered plants. When harvesting plants in the wild,  only take what is needed for your wildcrafting project and no more to ensure that enough plants or seeds remain behind to sustain survival. Also, pay close attention to where you harvest. No matter how abandoned an area may appear, it is no doubt owned by someone; therefore, you should always get permission from the landowner before wildcrafting plants.

There are many ways to use plants. For instance, you could create decorative wreaths, garlands, and swags. Plants used for these projects should be gathered in the fall while the sap is still flowing so they will be flexible enough to twist into the desired shape. Once shaped and allowed to completely dry, they’ll remain that way indefinitely. Vine runners can also be harvested and used for this purpose as well. Flowers and herbs can also be used for wildcrafting. Don’t overlook the beauty found in their seedheads or berries; these can give your projects extra charm as well. Herbs and a variety of flowers can be cut and bundled to dry by hanging upside down, which keeps the stems and flowers straight. Hang them in a cool, dark area with plenty of circulation.

Your garden is a never-ending source of decorating materials, as is the wooded area of your landscape. Take what our ancestors have taught us and decorate your home or create gifts with plants from your garden and the wild. When done in a respectful and mindful way, wildcrafting can be a fun, inexpensive alternative to home decorating.

Find this and other garden design information at Gardening Know How.