Gardening

Many of our native plants in North America are in trouble. Too many times I have seen people foraging in nature preserves for wild edibles, breaking the rules when they do that and often doing a lot of damage in the process. Some of the most sought after species are in serious decline - Ramps (Allium tricoccum), Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), Golden seal (Hydrastis canadensis) are examples.

I encourage people to learn about native plants and to propagate them and grow them themselves rather than "harvesting" from the declining wild stands. There are reputable and ethical suppliers of seeds and plants in every part of the country. Buy local species locally. Learn what is native in your area. The willy-nilly intermixing of species from different areas is having a deleterious effect on ecosystems all over the world.