Calendar of Harvesting and Gathering of Plants
in Central Valley California

by Ken Peek

Disclaimer: A webpage is insufficient to convey the knowledge to safely and responsibly use wild plants for consumption. Before eating or using any plant, seek hands-on field training with a qualified professional in the proper identification and use of wild plants. Gather only what you need or use. You should leave more than enough for the plant to easily reproduce and grow. Also know that gathering in State and National Parks and wildlife preserves may be detrimental and/or illegal. Be sure to get permission from the landowner of private property before gathering wild plants.

JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

Cut sandbar willow
for baskets. Collect grass seeds:
Collecting grass seeds varies a lot depending on elevation. April and May are pretty early, especially as you go uphill.
Gather
oak galls.
Devils claw
seed pods
Acorns

Cut bush dogwood.
Fremontia:
Strip bark for fiber.
Gray pine nuts and
Sugar pine nuts
Woodwardia ferns

Elderberry and spice bush for drills and clapper sticks.
Cedar inner bark
Cut nettles.
Bay laurel nuts
Durango root fiber

Cut redbud for baskets.
Cut shoots of maple, redbud (white), and hazel.
Collect feathers from
molting birds.
Contact butchers to check for deer hides and bones from hunters. Stinging netttle fiber: Gather before the first rain of the winter season, late Nov - early Dec.

Dogbane
Tules:
Tules can be gathered
as early as June in select spots.

Dogbane:
November is a bit early and it's still good all winter, Dec - Feb.

Gather willow bark for cordage and baskets.
Milkweed fiber

JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

E-mail your comments to "Ken Peek" at kspeek123@att.net

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We hope the information on the PrimitiveWays website is both instructional and enjoyable. Understand that no warranty or guarantee is included. We expect adults to act responsibly and children to be supervised by a responsible adult. If you use the information on this site to create your own projects or if you try techniques described on PrimitiveWays, behave in accordance with applicable laws, and think about the sustainability of natural resources. Using tools or techniques described on PrimitiveWays can be dangerous with exposure to heavy, sharp or pointed objects, fire, stone tools and hazards present in outdoor settings. Without proper care and caution, or if done incorrectly, there is a risk of property damage, personal injury or even death. So, be advised: Anyone using any information provided on the PrimitiveWays website assumes responsibility for using proper care and caution to protect property, the life, health and safety of himself or herself and all others. He or she expressly assumes all risk of harm or damage to all persons or property proximately caused by the use of this information.

JANUARY	FEBRUARY	MARCH	APRIL	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUGUST	SEPTEMBER	OCTOBER	NOVEMBER	DECEMBER
Cut sandbar willow for baskets.			Collect grass seeds: Collecting grass seeds varies a lot depending on elevation. April and May are pretty early, especially as you go uphill.				Gather oak galls.	Devils claw seed pods	Acorns
	Cut bush dogwood.			Fremontia: Strip bark for fiber.			Gray pine nuts and Sugar pine nuts	Woodwardia ferns
Elderberry and spice bush for drills and clapper sticks.				Cedar inner bark		Cut nettles.			Bay laurel nuts	Durango root fiber
Cut redbud for baskets.				Cut shoots of maple, redbud (white), and hazel.			Collect feathers from molting birds.		Contact butchers to check for deer hides and bones from hunters.	Stinging netttle fiber: Gather before the first rain of the winter season, late Nov - early Dec.
Dogbane					Tules: Tules can be gathered as early as June in select spots.					Dogbane: November is a bit early and it's still good all winter, Dec - Feb.
Gather willow bark for cordage and baskets.										Milkweed fiber
JANUARY	FEBRUARY	MARCH	APRIL	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUGUST	SEPTEMBER	OCTOBER	NOVEMBER	DECEMBER

Calendar of Harvesting and Gathering of Plants in Central Valley California

by Ken Peek

Calendar of Harvesting and Gathering of Plants
in Central Valley California