Field Notes

Stories, identification guides, and recipes from the trail.

Hi, I'm Nick. I built The Bay Forager on my own and I keep it free, with no ads. If it has helped you find something good this season, a small tip goes straight into the hosting and the data work. Only if you can spare it. Either way, I'm glad you're here.

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Safety

Is Foraged Food Safe to Eat? What the Science Actually Says

Dog pee, car exhaust, pesticides, heavy metals: the comment section has plenty of opinions about what is on your foraged food. I dug into the research to see whether my gut instincts actually hold up.

May 2026·8 min read

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Resources

Best San Francisco Bay Area Plant and Mushroom Foraging Guide Books

Finding foraging guidebooks is harder than it sounds. Regional variation and constant species reclassification make most books go stale fast. These are the ones I actually carry.

May 2026·3 min read

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Mushrooms

Grow Mushrooms When They Aren't In Season

Bay Area mushrooms peak November through February. When summer hits and you're craving them anyway, you don't need a sterile lab. You just need to start at the end.

May 2026·4 min read

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