Uncovering Nature's Bounty: Crafting Treasures from the Wild
- Rachel Sayer
- Dec 18, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 12
Nature's beauty has always inspired creativity, and for those who love the outdoors like me, it presents an endless source of eco-friendly materials for crafting and art. Foraging for natural materials connects us to the earth and encourages sustainable practices that benefit our creative journeys and the environment, not forgetting the immense health benefits of being in nature. This post will tell you how I harness nature's gifts for my creative projects, from using plants for dyes and paint to discovering unique textures and colors in rocks. For some 'How To' guides check out future posts.
The Art of Foraging
Foraging is the practice of searching for and gathering plants, herbs, fungi, and other natural materials, such as rocks. This time-honored tradition has gained renewed interest as people seek organic gardening and sustainable living. Many find joy in collecting materials ethically, strengthening their bond with nature in the process.
Research shows that the number of foragers in urban areas has increased by over 50% in the last five years, highlighting a growing appreciation for wild food. When foraging, proper identification of plants is crucial, and I'm not too embarrassed to admit that i have had a few minor incidents to prove the point (thankfully only producing rashes on my skin, rather than something more serious!). Some resources to help you in your foraging include local foraging groups, books, and online communities, my go to books are Free Food by Richard Mabey and Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and Ireland by Robin Harford. Robin also does a great newsletter, so subscribe to his website for regular info sheets about individual plants.
My foray into foraging for edible plants began, like many, in Covid-19 Lockdown, spurred on by free foraging video's on Youtube. This sparked something deep inside and before long i was spending my 1 hour of freedom a day walking and looking for wild edible plants in the parks, woods and shoreline near my home. It didn't take long before i was hooked, the idea of being able to source free food from around my local community was amazing. The more i read, the more i learnt about the health benefits of wild food and the idea that a lot of wild plants have retained high levels of vitamins and minerals compared to farmed veg's which are grown in over farmed soils that are pumped with chemicals, rendering them significantly less beneficial.
This led me down a rabbit hole around naturopathy, homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. So i started making my own herbal tea blends, infusing oils and making balms and found within this that lemon balm is a fantastic cure for cold sores, who knew! My love of plants and nature had really grown exponentially at this point, but it didn't stop there.
Nature's Dyes: A World of Color
It turns out, not only do plants provide us with food, nutrients, vitamins and minerals, as well as offering us innumerable healing properties, but they also gift us with a stunning array of colors for dyeing fabrics and making into lake pigments and paints.
Many plants yield vibrant colors with minimal effort:
Yellow: Onion skins are a common source, producing a bright yellow that synthetic dyes struggle to match. Buddleia is one of my absolute favourite yellows, even after the plant has turned and is dead. Weld is another great source or yellow, although it does smell quite cabbage-like when simmering up!
Blue: Indigo, used for centuries, offers a rich blue hue perfect for textiles.
Green: Nettles are a favourite of mine, simply because they grow everywhere and are super accessible. However, I also love Gazebo Red and Scabious Black Knight flowers.
Red: Madder root can yield various shades of red depending on how it's processed.
I soon learned that creating a dye bath is really straightforward, it's as simple as chopping your plant material up and simmering them in water. Once I had tried this for the first time, there was no going back; I can honestly say botanically dyeing fabric is one of the most joyful activities i can think of. Watching the plant dye colour the water, then seeing the fabric take it on and waiting in anticipation to see what colour will come out of the pot is always a treat!
Now, I appreciate that naturally dying is an art, there are lots of factors that can impact the results, such as the mordant/fixative used, modifiers (i.e. bicarb, vinegar or iron water) amongst a range of other things. And of course i agree you need to use a fixative that works, otherwise you will have sad results, however, I just can't bring myself to be someone who is precise and specific about these things. I want to use a pre-mordanted fabric sure, but then i want to grab some plants on a walk (making sure they are save to touch and use), simmer them up and see what colour i get. It turns out I'm much more of a folk dyer that anything else and I'm okay with that.
For me, one of the main pulls towards botanical dyes, is that studies have shown that natural dyes can be more skin-friendly than synthetic options, making them a great choice. I love the idea that rather than having toxic chemicals against my skin (often used in synthetic dyes) i have the essence of plants - who knows maybe we even absorb some of their healing properties through our skin?!
Eco-Friendly Paints: From Nature to Canvas
Using plants and minerals, you can create eco-friendly watercolors, oils, and acrylics that are safe to use.
One popular method is to produce lake pigments from dye plants, something i like to do with the dye bath after i have finished with it, thereby reducing waste further. By soaking dyed materials and extracting their color, you can combine this with a binder like gum arabic to create natural paint. Local beaches offer another option; specific rocks can be crushed and turned into pigments. The unique colors make your art stand out, and each shade tells a story from its origin. These processes not only gives rich colors but also add a personal story to your artwork and I love that each colour i make is representative of the place in which i foraged the plant or rock from.
Mindfulness and Connection to Nature
Finally and possibly the most most important reason i became engaged in foraging, botanical dyeing, paint making etc. is because each of these processes is mindful. Engaging in foraging and crafting promotes mindfulness and when I am doing either of these activities i am completely calm, my heart rate slows down, my breath deepens, my senses open up to the smells, sounds and tastes around me in nature. I become more aware of my surroundings and the changing seasons. Studies show that spending time in nature can lower stress levels by 30%, increasing overall mental well-being, something i can well believe based on personal experience alone.
The connection formed during these activities becomes a form of therapy, providing a break from the chaos of modern life. Crafting with natural materials also supports sustainability, as it reduces waste and champions the art of “slow” crafting, whilst also using just natural ingredients and no toxic chemicals.
Combining creativity with nature, has been the most transformative thing in my life in recent years and has brought me completely, unbridled joy of a kind I'm not sure i have ever experienced before. And with it, a calm, balance and even acceptance that i don't feel anywhere but out in nature. In case you want to give it a go, here are some tips for sensible foraging and keep an eye out for other blogs around botanical dyeing and paint making.
Tips for Successful Foraging
If you're looking to start foraging, consider these practical tips:
Research Regulations: Understand local guidelines on foraging. For instance, many national parks prohibit it, so check before you go.
Start Small: Focus on a few easy-to-identify plants. This builds confidence and skill.
Invest in a Field Guide: A good guide can help you quickly identify plants and their uses.
Document Your Finds: Keeping notes on where you found materials can help you rediscover them in the future. I like to draw myself maps of my regular spots, so i know where to go back the following year.
Respect Nature: Always forage responsibly, leaving enough behind for wildlife and other foragers.
By weaving eco-friendly crafting into your lifestyle, you deepen your appreciation for the earth and its offerings. Creating something beautiful from nature is rewarding and reminds us of the abundant gifts we often overlook.
A Creative Journey Into Nature
Crafting eco-friendly products from foraged materials is more than a creative endeavor; it’s about honoring the environment. As we reconnect with nature through foraging, endless inspiration and resources are right at our fingertips.
Every project—whether it’s natural dyes, paints, or rock crafts—joins a growing community of nature lovers and crafters dedicated to sustainability. So grab your basket, venture outdoors, and start transforming the treasures of the wild into beautiful, handmade art.
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