Foraging is more than just an act.

Foraging is a valuable mindset that runs deeper than a good rummage for wild food or natural materials.  It is a fulfilling way of engaging in this world.  “It is the art of noticing”, as said by Mary Jo Hoffman.  It is the joy of resourcefulness and the beauty of discovering.  Foraging is a creative act to see the potential in the most common wild weed or overlooked object, to gather and place it where it can be celebrated and admired.  It is a way to make use of what is around us, to assemble something from seemingly nothing.  We can engage the spirit of foraging in our own way of life, our culture as a family, a team, and a community.

This practice emphasizes upcycling and sustainable creativity.  Foraging nurtures a deep connection to the natural world.  Each piece we collect carries a story of the landscape it came from and becomes a reminder of the beauty and abundance around us.

We chose to focus on foraging in this feature because of the key role biophilic design plays in creating spaces that support wellbeing and vitality.  Incorporating organic material in the built environment of this futuristic, tech-entrenched, artificial age will forever be an important tool to soften, balance and remind.  Humans have an undeniable biological and energetic connection with the natural world, fostering deep admiration.

In this feature we wish to encourage exploration, inspire this bountiful mindset, and share ways to practice the art of foraging.  You will be surprised what you find once you root around, the more you look, notice and imagine.