03 Magazine: April 05, 2024

Feature | Magazine 35
Pick ‘n’ mix
The popularity of foraging comes and
goes, but for acclaimed authors and
passionate foragers Helen Lehndorf
and Liv Sisson it’s a lifestyle.
WORDS REBECCA FOX
From making your daily walk a bit more
interesting, to creating a dye for textiles or
seeking out a unique ingredient for a gourmet
dinner – the reasons for foraging are many
and varied.
For Manawatū writer Helen Lehndorf, it’s the
medicinal nature of herbs and plants that fascinates
her, while for Christchurch writer Liv Sisson, it’s
fungi and lichen that are her passion.
Helen, author of A Forager’s Life, laughs when the
recent popularity of foraging is mentioned.
“I’m not often a person that hits a trend, so that’s
been delightful and funny. If something is going to be
trendy, I’m really glad it’s that.”
There are many subgroups within foraging
who have different interests such as picking
excess fruit around the neighbourhood, weaving,
seeking out plants for Māori plant medicine,
mushroom-hunters like Liv and people passionate
about seaweed.
“Everyone finds their own way in and some
just want to make their daily walk a little more
interesting or become a little more plant literate.”
Whatever the entry point into foraging, Helen and
Liv say foragers are always learning and expanding their
knowledge of plants and the natural world.
Even now, decades after she began foraging,
Helen, who describes herself as an amateur
herbalist, still makes discoveries as her plant literacy
increases through research.
“All the time I’m finding things that maybe I’ve
been buying to drink as a herbal tea or something.”
Photo: Paula Vigus