As the days are lengthening and we’re tiptoing towards spring, February is the perfect time to do a little preparation for the upcoming harvest season.

1. Make a harvesting calendar

I like to put all my harvesting dates onto a wallplanner.

I use this one designed by my friend, Olli at Nido Handmade.

This yearbook by Herbalists Without Borders is a fabulous resource if you are a beginner and need some help with what to harvest when.

Also, see step 7; when you keep good records, you will be able to update your calendar each year according to the changing climate.

2. Take stock : Are there herbs you used last year and loved. Did you run out of things? What do you still have in stock?

This will help you to prioritise which herbs are most important for you to harvest this year and how much of each you would like to find or grow. You should only look at harvest what you are going to use - and always leave plenty growing in the wild for other animals.

3. Grow or Harvest?

If you have access to a growing space, there will be some herbs on your list that you might want to grow yourself. Top of these for me are: calendula, borage, marshmallow, angelica, comfrey and elecampane. Now is a great time to get seeds and start seedlings indoors or make a plan to buy plants later in the spring.

4. Gather your tools

Sharp Shears/Scissors: Often a clean cut can minimize damage to the plant so you leave plenty behind and the plant can thrive.

Basket or Paper Bags: I love baskets to gather your harvest without bruising the delicate leaves and flowers. Choosing something breathable like paper or wicker basket will prevent your plants from going mouldy.

Gloves: Depending on what you are harvesting, you might want these to protect your hands from thorns, stings, and plant sap. I am brave and harvest nettles without them, I love being reminded of my foraging adventures with tingly fingers for the rest of the day, but your nettle harvest is the most obvious time you will probably want gloves.

Small Trowel: For carefully digging up roots.

Dehydrator (optional): Speeds up the drying process.

Drying rack ( optional) : Can use space efficiently to lay lots of herbs out to dry.

5. Plan Your Drying Methods and make space for drying your herbs

Air Drying is simple and most traditional -

• • Bundles: Tie small bunches and hang them upside down in a warm, shady, and well-ventilated area.
  • Paper: Lay your herbs out on brown paper or newspaper in a warm, shady, well ventilated area.
  • Screens: Spread herbs thinly on screens or trays.  I use herb drying racks like these to maximise space in my house.
  • Paper Bags: You can place small amounts in paper bags and shake the bags daily to dry slowly.

Dehydrator: Provides consistent temperature and airflow for faster drying.

Low Heat Oven: Can be used for some herbs, but requires careful temperature control. I have my oven on the lowest temperature possible, leave the oven door ajar and check on the herbs regularly. The herb I most use this technique for is plantain as it often goes black when you air dry it.

6. Gather Your Storage -  How is that collection of jam jars and kilner jars going? Airtight glass containers are the best for storing your herbs long-term. You will also want labels.

7. Your herb diary: Keep a harvest journal. Make a note of when you harvest each herb and where. Write some notes about how you find the plant – were there lots of flowers this year? Did the birds get to the berried before you? You will thank yourself next year when you come to plan again. Keeping these notes can help you connect deeply with the land where you forage, enabling you to revisit a place as the seasons pass and care for it if it needs help. You will also be able to start spotting patterns in the plants life span and be able to adapt your harvesting diary according to the changing climate.

Some Important things to consider:

• Proper Identification: Always be absolutely certain of the plant you are harvesting. There are some useful plant ID guide for Britain and Ireland listed here.
• Forage ethically and in the spirit of reciprocity: Ask permission from the plant before your harvest, and give thanks. Only harvest from abundant sources and leave plenty for wildlife.
• Forage clean herbs gather your herbs away from roadsides, pesticide laden fields and areas that are heavily used by dog walkers.

Happy harvesting!

PS: If you want to build your confidence with the practical guidance you need to stop reading about herbalism and start actually making your own medicines at home, then check out Herbalism at Home.