August Foraging Guide: Summer Bounty; Wild Harvest in the PNW
August is peak abundance for foragers in the Pacific Northwest. The warm, sunny days bring ripe berries, fragrant herbs, and even the first signs of autumn mushrooms in cooler forest pockets. Whether you’re gathering for food, tea, medicine, or craft projects, August offers a vibrant variety of treasures.
1. Wild Berries & Fruits
Berries are at their sweetest this month, with plenty to pick and preserve. Berry season is one of my favourite - I think just as many go straight into my mouth as do into my basket!
- Blackberries – The forager’s summer staple; make jam, freeze for winter, or enjoy fresh.
- Elderberries – A must for immune-boosting syrups; never eat raw.
- Huckleberries – Often found in sunny alpine meadows; sweet and tart.
- Thimbleberries – Soft and delicate; enjoy fresh while foraging.
- Wild Plums – Tart and flavorful; great for jelly or wine.
- Serviceberries – Sweet with a hint of almond flavor; excellent dried.
2. Edible Greens & Herbs
Many spring greens fade in summer heat, but some remain or make a comeback in shady spots.
- Wild Mint – Ideal for fresh drinks and herbal teas.
- Wood Sorrel – Lemon-flavored leaves; use sparingly due to oxalic acid.
- Pineapple Weed – Sweet, chamomile-like scent; steep into a gentle tea.
- Yarrow – Harvest leaves for tea or as a healing herb.
- Chickweed – Still found in shady, moist gardens and forest edges.
3. Mushrooms & Fungi
The first hints of autumn mushrooms can appear late in the month after rain. As soon as we get a few rainy days I hit the trails searching for mushrooms, they are my favourite thing to photograph too!.
- Chanterelles – Highly prized for their aroma and flavor.
- Chicken of the Woods – Bright orange and meaty; a vegetarian favorite.
- Lobster Mushrooms – Colorful and firm; cook for a rich seafood-like flavor.
- Reishi – Tough and woody; brew into medicinal teas.
4. Medicinal Plants
Late summer is still a great time to gather healing herbs. By August I'm usually thinking ahead to what I can have on hand for cold season.
- Elderberries – A top choice for cold-season syrup making.
- Fireweed – Young leaves make tea; flowers can be turned into jelly.
- Plantain – Perfect for summer skin irritations.
- Rose Hips – Some ripen early; great for teas high in Vitamin C.
5. Crafting & Seasonal Decor
Foragers can also gather materials for late summer decorating and art.
- Dried Grasses & Seed Heads – Create rustic arrangements.
- Queen Anne’s Lace – Press between pages for botanical keepsakes.
- Cattail Fluff – Perfect for fire-starting or rustic crafting.
Foraging Tips for August
- Avoid roadside berries due to vehicle exhaust and pollutants.
- Hydrate and protect from sun when foraging in heat.
- Use a basket or breathable bag to keep berries from spoiling.
- Double-check mushroom IDs before eating.
August is a month of sweet abundance for the Pacific Northwest forager. Whether you’re picking berries for jam, drying herbs for tea, or gathering your first fall mushrooms, it’s a time to savor summer’s bounty.