The “How” of Harvest Matters

The act of collecting edible and medicinal materials from wild plants can vary in timing, tools used, and plant parts taken. Differences in methods can have a significant impact on future plant populations and on the surrounding plant community. Matrix models of prairie turnip (Pediomelum esculentum) harvest project different levels of sustainable yield depending on the time and method of harvest. Information about American ginseng, garlic mustard and echinacea population dynamics also support the idea that differences in harvest methodologies should be considered in conservation planning. Expanded use of the United Plant Savers’ At-Risk Assessment Tool would help highlight the species for which method of harvest matters most.