Plants in Minnesota
Module Overview
All heterotrophs (organisms that rely on consuming other things for energy) forage for food in some way. Humans are no exception; for thousands of years, we have learned which plants to eat, to use for construction, to develop medicinal treatments, and to avoid entirely. While many plants around the world have been domesticated by humans, some remain ‘wild’ in the sense that they are not grown on farms. Instead, these ‘wild’ plants are harvested and tended by humans in seasonal rotations. To this day, humans continue to engage in ‘foraging’: the act of collecting wild plants for consumption, beauty, building, and medicine.
Minnesota is home to many native and introduced plants that are highly desirable for foragers, and there is a rich history of foraging in the state. While the act of foraging is practiced around the world, plant species, local knowledge, and laws vary. For new arrivals in the United States, concerns about legal foraging, knowledge of safe, edible plants, and general awareness of forageable plants can be a major barrier to participation in this activity. As such, this module will focus on removing these barriers. Introduction lessons will highlight common English words used to identify plants (flower, petal, stem, leaf, etc.). Science content lessons will provide hands-on experience in plant identification, and will also cover the basics of plant growth (nutrient cycling and photosynthesis). Pre-experience lessons will introduce students to laws and regulations related to foraging in Minnesota. The module will culminate in a trip to a local park to identify native and introduced plants that can be foraged for in Minnesota.
PDF versions of student handouts are sorted by lesson and are available in the google folder linked below. If you would like an editable copy of a lesson, please contact Lucas Rapisarda at rapis008@umn.edu.
Teacher guides for each lesson can be found in the google folder linked below. Additionally, this folder contains a teacher toolbox that includes vocabulary flashcards, slide decks, answer keys, and additional readings.
Culminating experience information
Ironwood Foraging Company
Founded in 2017, Ironwood Foraging is a native-led organization committed to educating the public in the Minneapolis/St. Paul region on safe, sustainable, foraging practices. Ironwood Foraging provides workshops on wild mushroom identification; edible and medicinal plants; fruit, nut, and berry identification; urban foraging; and maple syruping.
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
Sequestered within Theodore Wirth Park in Northwest Minneapolis, the Eloise Butler Wildlfower Garden provides visitors with the opportunity to view over 600 species of native Minnesota plants. The garden is run by Minneapolis Parks & Recreation and offers tours of the garden space for visitors along its walking trails. Founded in 1907, the garden is one of the oldest of its kind in the United States.