Forest Junkie

5 min read

FORAGING CALENDAR

Where: Guide for central Sweden

When: Mainly summer and autumn

What: Foraging

Allemansrätten, or "everyman's right," is a big deal here in Sweden, and we're right in the middle of foraging season. To help you get started, here’s a foraging calendar showing what you can pick and when.

Foraging adds a whole new dimension to our forest walks. It's such a joy to find delicious things in the woods, and they taste even better when they've grown wild in the rich forest soil. Bring a basket with a nice fika, and enough containers and paper bags for your harvest. A berry picker can be handy too, but it tends to collect lots of leaves and twigs, so rinsing your harvest takes a bit more time.

The way nature develops each year depends on many factors, like your location and the weather. This calendar is a guide for central Sweden, so head out and discover what's out there!

FORAGING CALENDAR

MAY

Stinging nettle: Find nettles in sunny spots at the edge of forests or in clearings. They prefer nutrient-rich soil. Nettles are rich in vitamins A, C, iron, and calcium, and can be used in soups, teas, and as a spinach substitute. I wrote a blog post about nettle picking; I'll leave the link below.

Spruce tips: Look for young, tender spruce tips if mild weather persists in coniferous forests. They are high in vitamin C and great for making syrups, teas, or flavoring dishes. Yes, there is a post about spruce tips too; the link is below.

Dandelion: Find dandelions in open meadows, clearings, and along forest paths. The leaves are rich in vitamins A, C, and K. Use the leaves and flowers in a salad or to make tea.

JUNE

Wild strawberries: Look for wild strawberries in sunny clearings, along forest edges, and in meadows. Wild strawberries, or 'smultron,' are high in vitamin C and antioxidants and are at their best when eaten fresh on the spot. Do as the Swedes do and string them on a sturdy stem of grass.

Elderflowers: Find elder trees at forest edges, clearings, and near human settlements. Make a drink from elderflower and lemon; it tastes amazing! Don't pick them all because you don't want to miss out on the berries you can pick in autumn.

Wildflowers

The Swedish summer is traditionally celebrated with flowers during Midsommar. Swedes make flower crowns to wear on their heads—men too!, and girls pick a bouquet of 7 different types of flowers to place under their pillows to dream of who they will marry, according to tradition. Flower picking is a big part of summer here, and there are plenty of beautiful wildflowers to find.

JULY

Wild raspberries: Find wild raspberries in sunny spots along forest edges, paths, and clearings. Raspberries are rich in vitamins C and E. Great for jams, desserts, and snacking.

Blueberries: Blueberries grow in acidic, well-drained soils. Look for them in coniferous and mixed forests. They are packed with antioxidants and vitamins C and K. Use them in pies, jams, and smoothies, or just snack on them as they are.

Wild rose petals: Find rose bushes in open, sunny areas along forest edges and clearings. The edible petals can be used to make rose water for consumption and face mist, syrups, and add a floral touch to desserts.

Wildflowers

Enjoy the beautiful, colorful display of wildflowers while it lasts!

Chanterelles: July is peak season for chanterelles. Most Swedes keep their chantarelle spots a secret, so you'll probably have to find your own, haha. Look in mossy, coniferous forests, especially near pine and spruce trees. They are rich in vitamins D and B. Delicious in a savory pie, sauces, soups, or just make a simple but luxurious chanterelle toast.

AUGUST

Blueberries: In abundance.

Lingonberries: Look for these typical Scandinavian berries in dry, acidic soils, usually found in coniferous forests. They are high in antioxidants, as well as vitamins A and C. Lingonberries are perfect for making traditional Swedish jams and sauces.

Wild raspberries: Enjoy them while they last.

Boletus mushrooms (porcini): Look for these in mixed forests, often near birch and pine trees. These mushrooms are nutritious and versatile. Great for drying, and they work well in all kinds of dishes. Always make sure you know what you’re picking, and check them carefully as they often contain small maggots.

Elderberries: If you haven’t picked all the flowers, you can find elderberries on the same plants you found in June. Elderberries contain substances that can cause nausea and other issues if consumed raw. However, if you cook them into a syrup and pour a bit of that into hot water, you’ll create a great immune-boosting tea packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and iron.

SEPTEMBER

Lingonberries: Plentiful to find.

Blueberries: If you're lucky, you might still find some.

Elderberries: Plentiful to find.

Cloudberries: Sadly not to be found in Västerås as far as I know, but you can buy them at ICA in season if you want to try them anyway. Find them in marshy, boggy areas in the northern parts of Sweden. Cloudberries are high in vitamin C and antioxidants.

Rose hips: Find rose bushes in open, sunny areas along forest edges and clearings. They are extremely high in vitamin C and are great for making syrups, teas, jams, and even cosmetics. Be sure to properly remove the seeds, they were used as itchy powder back in the days. So, you’ve been warned—haha.

Various mushrooms: Boletus, chanterelles, winter chanterelles, and other mushrooms can be found in mixed and coniferous forests. Make sure you know what you’re picking and be mindfull not to pick protected species.

OCTOBER

Winter chanterelles (trattkantareller): Find these mushrooms in mossy coniferous and birch forests. They are rich in nutrients and flavor, making them excellent for savory pies, stews, soups, and sautéing.

Many varieties of other mushrooms: Can be found, especially in mixed forests. Each variety offers unique tastes and nutritional benefits.

Lingonberries: Last chance to find them.

Cranberries: Also not in this area, but can be found in wet, boggy areas and marshes in the northern parts of Sweden. Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Perfect for sauces, juices, and baked goods.

Elderberries: If you're lucky, you might still find some fresh ones that haven’t dried or been eaten by birds yet.

Rose hips: Still going strong.

Apples: Grow very well in Sweden, and apple trees can often be found in parks. To make your life easier, there is a map available where all public fruit trees in Sweden are marked. You can find the link below.

NOVEMBER

Rose hips: Last chance to find these vitamin bombs.

Winter chanterelles: If conditions allow. As soon as it starts freezing or snowing, they're done.

Apples: Can still be found and can be picked as long as it hasn't frozen yet.

DECEMBER

Winter chanterelles: If you're lucky, you can still find these depending on the weather conditions.

TIPS FOR FORAGING

Make sure to correctly identify plants and mushrooms. Use a good (local) field guide or app and, if possible, go with an experienced forager. I asked my Swedish neighbor to introduce me to mushroom picking. With her guidance and a lot of research, I am now very confident about what to look for and which species can be dangerous lookalikes. When in doubt, I never eat it. When picking anything, be mindful and pick responsibly. Make sure you cause the least harm to nature and avoid foraging in places where lot's of dogs might have peed ;-). I hope this blog post inspires you to head into nature and enjoy the abundance of the beautiful Swedish forest.