Last updated on April 13th, 2021 at 10:30 pm
Foraging is a fun and rewarding hobby, but sometimes it’s difficult to buy gifts for us gatherers. Whether you’re looking for something fun and unique or one that is special and useful, you’ve come to the right place. We love foraging and anything on this list would make this writer a happy hiker. To help you navigate through this season we’ve compiled this list of 25 amazing stocking stuffers and gifts for foragers.
1. Cooking Their Forest Finds
Many foragers love to cook, especially when they find something scrumptious in nature.
In those instances, table salt just won’t do, treat them to The Spice Lab Gourmet Sea Salt Sampler.
2. Emergency Picnic Blanket
For moments where you just must take a break and have a snack, the Pike Trail Pocket Blanket is just within reach. We love this for all outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and beach journeys. It’s a lightweight and puncture-resistant solution for break time.
3. The Perfect Knife
The Opinel No.8 Folding Mushroom Knife is a beautiful addition to a forage pack. Its ergonomic beechwood handle makes harvesting a breeze. Additionally, boar hair bristles at its base are great for cleaning excess dirt from your finds. This is a must have item!
4. Guides to Foraging by Zone
Foraging can be difficult when not completely familiar with the territory. The Regional Foraging Series is great for handy reference. Whether heading into your states backyard or across country these books are a set for your foraging friend.
These are sold as individual books, so it’s easy to order what you need.
5. A Must Have Ornament
Morels can be the most coveted of mushrooms come springtime. However, they can also be extremely illusive.
With this Old World Christmas Morel Mushroom Ornament at least spotting morels will be guaranteed this year.
6. Compact Walking Stick
For foragers, walking sticks aren’t just for traversing difficult terrain, they’re also used to move leaves and debris in search of choice finds.
This EarthTrekGear Collabsible Trekking Pole is great for many purposes on the trail and covertly packs away.
7. 2-Player Entertainment
The fun foraging game Morels is this writer’s absolute favorite 2 player game.
Whether it’s a rainy day or during a pre-hike breakfast, this game is a great start or end to the day. Beautiful artwork and nature-inspired gameplay make for a blast as you harvest and cook mushrooms along the trail.
8. Sharp Knives for Clean Cuts
Responsible foraging involves care and precision when plucking mushrooms, harvesting ramps, or cutting though juicy persimmons. A portable and reliable item like Smith’s CCKS 2-Step Knife Sharpener can keep you operating efficiently.
9. Satchels to Carry Their Finds
Easy to stash in a backpack, these ecofriendly Ahyuan Cotton Mesh Grocery Bags are perfect for hauling mushrooms home. Mesh bags are the preferred sustainable method of moving fungi as they can continue to spread spores along the trail.
For your wild herbs, berries, or small nuts these Premium Reusable Mesh Produce Bags are perfect for many uses.
10. Meal Planning from Nature
Foraging is step one, cooking up your harvested ingredients to properly honor their quality is the fun part. Karen Stephenson’s Foraging Cookbook is filled with tons of unique and ingenious recipes for some of the most delicious foraged dinners.
11. Pruners for Wild Herbs
For herbs and lettuces, the VIVOSUN 6.5 inch Hand Pruners will be appreciated in the wild. These VIVOSUN Pruners are perfect with stainless steel blades for precise cuts and an ergonomic grip for comfortable accuracy.
12. Forage from the Countertop
Yes, yes, foragers may find a heathy bounty all year round. However, from experience, a nice break from dehydrated or preserved mushrooms in the winter months can be refreshing. Additionally, the Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit is fantastic for days you come home empty-handed and is a great learning tool for youngsters.
13. Versatile Trail Comfort
Whether it’s hot or cold, cotton bandanas are versatile throughout the year. These Bycc Bynn 100% Cotton Bandanas are perfect for wiping your brow, pulling back hair, or being used as an eco friendly handkerchief.
14. Field Notes
For adventurers that like to catalog their journey, the Pocket Travelers Moleskin Notebook is a friendly companion. Foragers know patience is key, often taking notes on great coordinates for future harvests.
15. Socks Made for Gathering
Avid forager and hiker alike will appreciate socks designed for the wilderness.
Gift a thoughtful gift of merino wool to keep feet dry while they search. Everyone will appreciate a pair of Darn Tough Hiker Women’s Socks or Darn Tough Micro Crew Men’s Socks.
16. Clean and Pamper
Nature is dirty business, especially if you’re foraging with bare bands.
The Fendrihan Boar Bristle Nail Brush is a beautiful spa quality tool to clean nails and scrub palms after the hunt.
17. Adorable and Useful Tools
Your forager may have a knife, but do they have one that’s shaped like a bolete and keychain-ready? The Kikkerland Mushroom Tool Keychain keeps useful resources at the ready. Foragers can hook this to their backpack for those moments where a hoard of chanterelles appear unexpectedly.
18. Survival 101
There’s a good chance your foraging friend will love the idea of living off the land or being prepared in the wilderness. In addition to detailed illustrations and techniques for survival, The Bush Craft Boxed Set includes titles specializing in foraging and first aid.
20. Keep The Mind Sharp
Whether they’re waiting for nettles to stew or snow is keeping them indoors, a quick game of rummy or euchre can be quite fun. This set of Foragers Playing Cards will keep their minds sharp during off days. Possibly, they may even learn a couple new forgeable goodies for their next trip out.
21. Forage Without a Care
When foraging takes you off trail, you’ll love the ability to concentrate on the hunt. Murphy’s Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellant is a must have while in nature. It feels and smells great, lasts 6 hours, is all natural and plant based.
22. Packable Rain Gear
While the outdoors can be fun, nature is unpredictable. Some of the best foraging is done in the wettest times of the year. A great emergency raincoat can keep your loved one warm and dry until the hunt is over.
For Women we love the LOMON Lightweight Waterproof Raincoat. For Men the EZRUN Waterproof Hooded Rain Jacket is a great find.
23. Relax and Unwind
Stockings are a time for fun new things, why not mushroom hot cocoa? Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cocoa Mix with Reishi is crafted for chill. They may not have foraged these Reishi Mushrooms, but this cocoa mix will still the mind as they contemplate the next year of adventure.
24. Tea Towels for the Kitchen
A unique and colorful addition to their kitchen décor will inspire a year of foraging success. Foragers will love this Vintage Mushrooms Cotton Tea Towel. Complete with detailed and accurate illustrations of many mushrooms, they may even end up framing this beauty.
25. Kitchen Prep
Food harvested from nature is likely to have a good deal of dirt. The Full Circle Fruit and Vegetable Cleaner is perfect for brushing off foraged items prior to cooking.
Because brushing mushrooms is preferred over washing, this bristly brush will become a useful kitchen tool.
Image Credit: furtwangl | (source) | Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) — reduced file size and image