I moved back to Winnipeg very recently, as in a few days ago, to start my career as a geologist. The environments and climates of Manitoba are markedly different than those of southern Ontario, so I will be concentrating on updating my regional knowledge over the coming weeks. This page will be my platform of resources on Manitoba foraging, and will be updated as I find new resources.
There is some overlap with the plants and fungi of southern Ontario, but there will be many differences. For starters, growing seasons will be very different. I noticed some of the trees are already growing buds, and most of the snow is gone. The near future forecasts are predicting warm, sunny weather, which in mind means that things may start growing soon. That being said, I think we also need a decent amount of rainfall to kick off growing seasons as well.
Manitoba Resources
Savour Winnipeg offers six courses throughout the spring to early fall in Assiniboine Forest. It gives participants a chance to hit the trails with experts to learn about common edibles. I've already bought my passes (which are incredibly cheap), to be able to learn from experts and make connections with local foraging enthusiasts!
I can look forward to foraging for lobster mushrooms this year! Just wait for late summer and some good rainfalls, and I'll be out scouting trees for these beauties.
Of course, Northern Bushcraft is an excellent resource to get an idea for what types of mushrooms and plant edibles are available in the province (and other provinces of Canada). Morels, chanterells, chicken of the woods, lions mane, etc. etc. are some of the mushrooms that are native to our province.
Prairie Shore Botanicals offers edible guided tours as well, based out of Gardenton, MB. Their website also offers from articles on foraging.
Morels are already coming up in places in the USA, so the countdown is on for when they will pop up here. Morel Hunters is a good resource to track where and when morels are popping up (as an aside, I noticed that morels were popping up just south of southern Ontario, which makes me sad that I probably just missed the season there!). There are various articles online, a google away, which yield more detailed information on morel hunting. I'm hoping that within a few weeks they will be coming up here; when the morels start coming up I will make a detailed posting about my experience hunting and collecting them.
Here's a nifty Facebook page dedicated to mushroom hunting in Manitoba. Definitely a good resource to check seasons and to see what you can get in this province.
Along with morels, ramps (wild leeks) and fiddleheads should be coming up soon. The distribution of ramps is listed from Manitoba to eastern Canada, but I have yet to find any resources detailing ramp foraging within the province. I LOVE ramps, so you can be sure that I will be hitting the trails hard to find these delightful wild onions. Fiddleheads are guaranteed to be found within Manitoba.
Spring Time Foraging
My spring time activities will be centered around ramps, fiddleheads, and morels, which all come up around nearly the same time. Although I am optimistic, and overly excited, about the upcoming season, I doubt I will be able to harvest much until May. But now is the time to hit up trails, scout areas, and figure out which areas will most likely yield wild edibles.
I am also keeping an eye for the elusive Chaga. It grows on birch trees in northern climates, and I know I'm going to find it here in the province. You can even add it to hand made soap! When I find Chaga, I will prepare a post on its benefits and uses.
If you have any good resources for foraging in Manitoba, or would like to share your experiences, please let me know! I'm always excited to expand my regional knowledge and learn the land.
