Reciprocal Foraging

Since I began foraging rocks and occasionally soil, I have realized that we need very little and it goes a long way. If you are making paints for yourself then taking only what’s needed is the first and primal approach. Rocks and soil take decades, centuries or even many millennia to form. So respecting and recognizing the process and appreciating the beauty in earth and being respectful is what I found brings the most joy.

I have found rocks that I imagine or wish to have in very unusual places. I have been running and walking everyday and they appear from no where! I feel it is aligned and thank every time I pick the rock. If the rock is too hard but beautiful to look, it doesn’t serve a purpose for me then I leave it there and move on. And sometimes there are rocks that I pick up but very hard to process it goes back to garden or sometimes I take it to the same place and thank. Any rough granules or rock after the pigment is made, please be respectful and put it back to soil and not trash or wash in sink.

Since we get the colors from earth giving back is an integral part of this process along with being grateful. It could be sharing knowledge or some form of financial return to land or people to acknowledge this gift.

There is a beautiful article written by my friend Tilke that I will link here for complete list of things that we should consider - https://wildpigmentproject.org/reciprocal-foraging