The Hunter Gatherer Society: Foraging, Primitive Fishing, and Camping – Blending Traditional Skills with Modern Living

Unlocking the Wild: Exploring Foraging, Fermentation, and Outdoor Adventures with The Hunter Gatherer Society

Discover the art of foraging and fermentation with The Hunter Gatherer Society. Our blog offers insights on sourcing wild ingredients, crafting unique fermented beverages, and embracing outdoor adventures. Join us as we explore nature's bounty, share easy recipes, and inspire a deeper connection to the environment. Whether you're a seasoned forager or just starting your journey, our community is here to guide you in celebrating the wild and the wonders it holds.

Foraging Florida, Sea Purslane

February 15, 2021 rpolipnick Foraging, Wild Edible Plants

When foraging Florida or any other coastal community in the southern regions there are many wondrous plans and animals to harvest. From sand crabs, clams, fish, to sea grapes, and sea purslane the abundance for Florida foraging never ceases to amaze me. Sea purslane is a perennial herb commonly found along coastal dunes in the southeastern United States, as well as Hawaii, the Caribbean, and many other coastal regions of the world. Sea Purslane is a an important sand stabilizer in the pioneer zone of beach dunes and can tolerate occasional flooding by sea water. With deep pink stems and leaves ranging from pink to green, Sea Purslane can be found growing along beach dunes and brackish coastal areas in[…]

Learning to Breath

February 7, 2021 rpolipnick Camping, Foraging

It is nearly sunset on my little southwest Florida island. The boat traffic of peak season has died down to only an occasional craft heading back after a day of vacationing. The sun sets low in the horizon behind me and the horizon in front of my hammock is beginning to glow a pinkish orange. Across the channel from me on a sandbar that has not yet come out of the water from the outgoing tide sits two osprey. They just finished their evening bath and seem to be enjoying the sunset as well. A deep breath, exhale, relax, let the stress of the times be washed away by the waves lapping at my feet. I will sleep well in[…]

Kombucha from scratch

January 30, 2021 rpolipnick Wild Food Recipes

I know, Kombucha is not hunted, fished, or foraged for but during the winter months and even during the summer in between excursions it is a nice pastime that provides some additional health benefits. It is wild fermented which I enjoy doing with both the Kombucha and homemade wines and ciders. Plus it was a great learning experience for me and my family as we started it from scratch and now have multiple containers producing good Kombucha regularly. These in addition to a couple that we have split off and given to friends. Kombucha is thought to have originated from China or Japan and is a fermented tea that has been consumed for thousands of years. Containing many of the[…]

Winter Chaga Tea Immune System Boost!

January 29, 2021 rpolipnick Foraging, Wild Edible Mushrooms

The dark and damp days of winter have settled in for much of the country and the outdoor activity options are limited, However that means that it is time to enjoy the bounty of our summer harvest. A couple years ago on an Alaskan forage my wife and I brought home an abundance of both chaga and birch polypore mushrooms. After they were dried and stored in mason jars making a sweet healthy tea from them was easy and provides a nice alternative to soda or store bought tea while strengthening your immune system against the winter crud. Something even more important during these trying times. Here is my very simple recipe for winter chaga tea. 1 gallon water2-3 cups[…]

A Modern Hunter Gatherer

January 27, 2021 rpolipnick Camping, Foraging

A hunter-gatherer is a person living in society in which most or all food is obtained by foraging which means collecting wild plants and pursuing wild animals. There are few true hunter gatherer societies left as agricultural societies took over and now dominate. Spread through our society there are many very specific groups including fishermen, hunters, and foragers. Often times these groups are very focused on that particular interest with little to no discussion on the other elements. Some are even overshadowed by the extreme views of one group for example the foraging groups can often be dominated by vegetarians or vegans where hunting groups can be overshadowed by trophy hunters that kill for sport and trophies with little or[…]