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from the roadside is recommended.

Your herbal gathering kit:

Before you set out to harvest your own hers, you will need to collect together the following items and prepare an herbal gathering kits.

Paper bags, envelopes and clean plastic bags are useful containers for the plant material gathered.

Plastic tubs and glass jars are essential when gathering fleshy plants which may be damaged easily and they are excellent for storing dried and prepared herbs.

You will need a pair of scissors and a multi-function pocket knife for cutting you herbs. These should be light and easy to carry, and good for cutting tender plants without damaging them by breaking pieces off, and for cutting plants that are difficult to pick by hand.

The knife can also be used for gathering scrapings of bark from trees and for cleaning plant roots and stems before storing.

Take some labels and a pen, for labeling what you gather by name, date harvested and use-by' date, and also with its healing and culinary properties.

A notebook for taking note of all the plants that you gathered why you harvested them and where you found them so that you will find them more easily the next time.

Planning your field trip:

You don't need to plan your herbal field trip down to the last detail with military precision but you do need to familiarize yourself with local areas. You should have a good knowledge of the habitat you will be collecting your harvest from and the type of plants that you are gathering and why. Be sure you take your full kit of equipment, with plenty of storage items.

If you are going on a full day trip, make sure you have food and drink, and a torch and mobile phone just in case of emergencies.

Always be prepared and you'll enjoy your trips gathering herbs. As you become more and more practiced, you will find that instinct will start to play a part in your ability to find the right plants, at the right time of year, and in the right location.

Learn more about this author, Janette Peel.
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