Wild, Weedy, and In Your Yard: Late Summer Foraging

Key Takeaways

• Late August is one of the most abundant foraging periods in Canada.

• Many common plants have both culinary and medicinal uses, deeply rooted in Indigenous and settler traditions.

• Foraging requires awareness of plant identification, sustainable harvesting, and local regulations.

• Knowing preservation techniques extends the usefulness of seasonal finds.

Late summer in Canada is a season of contrasts. The days are still warm, but evenings carry the first hints of autumn.

Gardens swell with harvest, yet hedgerows, ditches, and meadows offer an entirely different pantry — one that has fed people and wildlife for millennia. Across the country, edible wild plants are in their prime: berries blushing against green leaves, greens pushing through field edges, and seeds ripening quietly in the wind.

Foraging in late August isn’t just about filling a basket. It’s about knowing where to look, when to harvest, and how to work with the rhythms of the land. Many of these plants — goldenrod, rosehips, crabapples, lamb’s quarters, and more — have long histories as food and medicine in Indigenous and settler traditions. In the modern kitchen, they connect us to place, season, and the practical skill of feeding ourselves from what’s around us.

This series, Wild, Weedy, and In Your Yard, explores the abundance available at this point in the year — and the knowledge that comes with it.

In This Series

What to Forage in August in Canada

A cross-country guide to key edible plants in late summer, from the boreal forest to the coast.

Crabapples and Clover: Late Summer Snacks from the Land

Two humble but flavourful plants that thrive in August — with deep histories in both kitchen and medicine.

Wild Teas and Trail Foods: Ancestral Foraging Traditions

How plants like yarrow, mint, and Labrador tea have nourished and sustained travellers and communities for centuries.

Fields, Fencelines, and Forgotten Gardens: Where to Find Edible Wild Plants

A look at the habitats that hide edible plants — and the traditional knowledge for finding them.

Preserve the Season: Storing Your Late Summer Forage

From drying to fermenting, how to make August’s bounty last into the colder months.

A Baker’s Dozen: Wild Plants to Forage Before Summer Ends

Thirteen edible plants — from berries to seeds — worth finding before the season shifts.