Gathering wild plants and herbs is a long-standing tradition in West Virginia and is still common today. The state’s forests offer many edible plants like berries, mushrooms, nuts, and greens. Gathering is part of the culture and requires knowledge of nature and history.

Indians once spent summers in the mountains gathering food, and they shared the land instead of trying to own it, like European settlers did. Today, people still gather wild plants, sometimes even on land owned by others. Valuable plants like ginseng, goldenseal, and bloodroot can help people earn extra money.

Gathering is more than just collecting food—it connects people to their heritage. Older generations pass down knowledge about where and when to gather, helping keep traditions alive and creating a strong sense of community.