gathering

Wildcrafting (also known as foraging, especially in North America) is the practice of harvesting plants from their natural, or 'wild' habitat, primarily for food or medicinal purposes. It applies to uncultivated plants wherever they may be found, which can include both wilderness areas and urban foraging. Ethical considerations are often involved, such as protecting endangered species, potential for depletion of commonly held resources, and in the context of private property, preventing theft of valuable plants, for example, ginseng.

When wildcrafting is done sustainably and with proper respect, generally only the fruit, flowers or branches from plants are taken and the living plant is left, or if it is necessary to take the whole plant, seeds of the plant are placed in the empty hole from which the plant was taken. Care is taken to remove only a few plants, flowers, or branches, so plenty remains to continue the supply. The Association of Foragers believes that foraging by people plays an increasingly important role supporting, promoting and defending the health of all plants, fungi, algae, animals (including humans) and the habitats/environments in which they exist. The Plants for a Future database lists 7,000 plants with edible, medicinal or other uses. In the United States, the mission of United Plant Savers is to protect native medicinal plants of the U.S. and Canada (such as goldenseal) and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant renewable supply of medicinal plants for generations to come.