Foraging ramps- also known as wild leeks (or Allium tricoccum, if you want to get really technical)- is a very easy food to forage. It’s great for beginners! They are also great in many recipes and are easy to substitute in.
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Before you Begin Foraging Ramps
It’s key to note that the best time to collect ramps is in the late spring. Like most vegetation, the weather and your location can make this vary. In my area of Western New York, I find around the beginning of May is usually a good time to start! This is also a great time to look for morels as well!
It doesn’t take much equipment to forage ramps. In fact, you can do it with none if you want! Gloves are definitely nice to have, a small garden shovel can come in handy, and garden shears, if you want to snip the roots. Other than that, you really just need a bag to hold them!
Location!
Ramps love to grow in the deciduous forests of eastern North America. They spread slowly in patches. The picture above is an example of a very large patch. You’ll see their leaves start to peak out after the temperature starts to warm up after the snowmelt (around April, but it varies by area). You can often find them by smell! The leaves give off a strong odor that is similar to garlic. Offputting to some, but I find the smell delicious!
Foraging Your Ramps
So you have your gear and found your patches of ramps- time to harvest! They can be a little stubborn, but this is why you have your shovel and snips. Find a large patch, and then get to a spot in that patch that has some nice thick stems- these will be bigger bulbs. Carefully dig them up (if you pull, you will most likely only get the leaf and stem!). You can use your shears at the bottom of the bulb to get it up a little cleaner and easier. Now that you have a ramp up, you can run your finger across the bulb to get the covering off, then place it in your bag!
If you are only planning on using the leaves (like for making a delicious pesto), consider using your shears to just harvest the tops and leave the bulbs. You will have less work, less mess, and leaving the bulb to grow and reproduce!
A Note on Sustainability
In many areas, especially on public land, ramps can be over-harvested. So please be very mindful of the place you are foraging ramps on. If you have a friend or family member that owns woods, consider asking them if they know if ramps grow on their property. If they do, ask permission to harvest some! Or if they are unsure, you can still ask if they will let you check. Remember if you do this, to still follow the guidelines of leaving at least half of each patch intact to keep growing.
So, happy foraging! I’m curious- how many wild foods do YOU harvest? I find so much joy in being able to go out and find food to bring to the table! If you’re looking for a quick recipe, right here is my pesto recipe. It’s fantastic on pasta!
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