Now that the apples, apricots, pears, crabapples, and other fruit are ripening the temptation to take it is everywhere. But where can you pick fruit legally and ethically? Who owns it and why is so much going to waste? What follows is an introduction to the ethics of wild harvesting and foraging.

Foragers are opportunists. We are looking for what is available, and usually take what is in front of us. However, that is with the awareness that the plant should be protected, the property should be respected, and we are responsible for the larger environmental impact of our actions as well as the direct health and safety of the plant and the surrounding area.

Fruit, leaves, flowers, seeds, are all easily collected with the basic rule of thumb take only a third, and do no more damage than will be easily and naturally recovered as the season passes. If you have to trample something else to get to your target plant, don't. It collecting will cause soil erosion or other damage, stay away. If the plant needs to reseed, be sure and leave what is needed to replenish the area.

Digging roots tends to create more risk for intrusion, the type of root and if the plant is an annual, biennial, or perennial are all important factors to consider.

The over all concept is to be thoughtful and aware of the impact your actions may have. Nothing takes the place of thoughtful common sense!

Then there are the human factors. Most foragers like to educate curious on lookers, so you have to set a good example of polite conscientious behavior. Trespass laws are pretty clear - don't - so it is really the gray areas that are were ethics and law can collide with a forager's interests.

The best way to handle this is to ask permission as much as possible. Asking a land owner for permission to harvest has some great side benefits. You may be cluing the property owner into the value of plants they may have considered weeds or nuisance plants. You may be helping to clear and clean up an area. And it is even possible that this person will be a new friend and addition to your community.

Fruit hanging into public walkways is pretty much fair game. Again, harvesting berries and apples and other fruit is pretty simple and non invasive. Digging up roots or harvesting for other than personal consumption is usually frowned upon and may be illegal as well.

This is a photo of an escaped squash, now growing in a public walkway.

There are a lot of wonderful front yard gardens in Ann Arbor now. Are vegetables and fruits that have escaped the confines and crept over into public areas fair game? I would say no. They were clearly put there with the intention of harvest by the gardener. Don't take their hard earned crop.

Here is a photo of some mint spreading from the garden. I tend to nibble as I walk by - there are so many types of mint growing in people's yards and gardens, and most of it was not planted.

What about those escaped weeds and mints, Lamb's-quarters, purslane, dandelion and other edible wild plants I know are volunteers? I do sometimes take a nibble as I walk by. If I have a chance I'll compliment the gardener on those weeds as well, many don't realize their value.

I almost feel an obligation to rescue fruit tree bounty that is falling and rotting. If the tree is on or overhanging a public sidewalk I try and get a sense of if the home owner is harvesting it (if there is a lot of rotting fruit left to lay then the answer is no). In that case, I may pick a lot of fruit. But again - the best option is to knock on the door and ask if it is OK to pick from the tree.

As the apples come into season, look around, and you'll see hundreds of trees in the city dropping fruit. Our final obligation is to not let this abundance go to waste. It may be possible to form gleaning parties, to have a location to call if you have a fruit tree you don't want to harvest. As interest grows and people become more aware we have some real opportunities to share the bounty and also keep it local.

I welcome your thoughts.

Linda Diane Feldt is a holistic health practitioner and herbalist with a full time local practice in Ann Arbor, since 1980. For the past 17 years she has offered a free class on herbs through The People's Food Co-op, starting again in September. Details will be posted in this blog, you can also register in advance at The People's Food Co-op.

Photos by Linda Diane Feldt, taken in The Old West Side.