We were aired two days ago on TV (watch it here), foraging in Belgium's capital. Right after the filming was done, I got a bit worried about safety. It's wonderful if more people start doing this, but we don't want anyone to get sick. I have a personal limit as to where it is acceptable to forage, but I know other people are more or less careful; it's a thin line.
And it is a remark we get a lot:
"There is so much trash in the city, would you really eat what grows there?"
(And usually the answer is to use common sense, and wash everything thoroughly, and that the invisible trash of pesticides in non-urban environments may be even more harmful).
But let's face it: that's not the real question. Let's turn it around:
"There are so much edibles in the city, would you really throw trash on them?"
And it is a remark we get a lot:
"There is so much trash in the city, would you really eat what grows there?"
(And usually the answer is to use common sense, and wash everything thoroughly, and that the invisible trash of pesticides in non-urban environments may be even more harmful).
But let's face it: that's not the real question. Let's turn it around:
"There are so much edibles in the city, would you really throw trash on them?"