Usnea Lichen: Insights from a Professional Wildcrafter

Wildcrafting is a practice deeply interwoven with the fabric of herbalism. This age-old method of gathering plants and food from the wilderness has been a fundamental part of human survival since the dawn of our species. We are children of the wild, as is our nourishment and herbal remedies. Despite our desire to cultivate every plant in neatly arranged and organic farms, some plants simply refuse domestication. They belong to the untamed wilderness, much like the wildcrafters who venture into the wild to gather them.

Behind the Scenes with a Wildcrafter: Gathering for Sustainable Herbal Remedies

This summer, while participating with The Sustainable Herbs Initiative in Oregon, I had the extraordinary opportunity to meet with three seasoned wildcrafters in their natural office—the forest. Our group ventured silently into the heart of Oregon’s vast ancient woods, and it was there I encountered a spectacle: trees festooned with vibrant, neon green strands, draping like an old man’s beard from their branches and trunks. It was usnea, a significant medicinal lichen. In herbalism, usnea is celebrated for its ability to balance an overactive immune system, among other benefits, and it holds a special place in the Wishgarden Herb’s collection.

What incredible fortune! As the Herb Sourcing & Purchasing Manager for WishGarden, I found myself guided by profoundly knowledgeable wildcrafters through this biodiverse terrain. Miraculously, hanging right above me was the elusive usnea. Serendipitously, one of our guides was the very person who currently harvests usnea for WishGarden. It’s remarkable how plants can guide us, often appearing when we least expect them.

After discovering that our wildcrafter had participated in The Sustainable Herbs Initiative workshop, I felt compelled to share his journey. It’s rare to spotlight the stories of wildcrafters, as they often work in the shadows of the supplement industry, far removed from the end products on store shelves. Yet, it's crucial to remember that the roots of our herb trade lie in these wild collections, and many elements of our modern supply chains still rely heavily on the efforts of these dedicated, hard-working collectors who fuel our plant-wellness industry.

The Art of Wildcrafting: How Usnea is Harvested for Medicinal Use

For over 35 years, the person who now supplies WishGarden with wild yerba santa, usnea, and wild lettuce has cultivated a career steeped in nature. Starting as a Forester, then to organic farming and seed trading, his wildcrafting business embodies the spirit of traditional herbal practices intertwined with modern sustainability efforts. This year, he plans to pass his business to his son, including conventional knowledge that can’t be taught in any classroom. Let’s sit down with him and ask about collecting usnea.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, firstly, I’d like to ask how you started your wildcrafting career and business?

I have been organic farming, wildcrafting, and seed trading for over 40 years now. I began in forestry, working for our government but was laid off with many others because of funding cuts during Reagan’s presidency. I wanted to stay close to the forest so I looked into wildcrafting. Today, I consider myself a 3rd generation wildcrafter, though this is my last year in control as my son is taking over the business.

Tell me about the usnea, what does it take to collect each year?

Usnea is a very labor-intensive collection. I have been working with one man for 30 years, he collects for us and sometimes 3-4 people can collect around 11 lbs each spring. usnea can keep collectors busy in between larger collections, like yerba santa for Wishgarden! By August, we could have 300 lbs of usnea.

Amazing, so it takes multiple people collecting. What are the main points of collecting usnea that you feel are important?

It’s very tedious because as you collect, you must avoid collecting foreign material like tree bark or conifer needles where it thrives. I like to find large White Leaf Manzanita trees because they have smooth bark. Most of the time, we have ladders or long poles for collecting. It’s also important to remember, we have to dry the Lichen and hand sort any foreign material out for our customer’s quality standards.

Ah yes, this does sound labor-intensive and tedious! I admire your commitment to quality. Before we met today, I read some people's opinions about collecting usnea sustainability, some suggested only collecting from the ground, do you agree?

No, it’s impossible to collect usnea from the ground at scale. Maybe that’s best for home apothecary needs, but we wouldn’t be able to pay someone $15-$20 an hour to collect from the ground. As I mentioned earlier, we have to meet our customer’s food safety quality standards and collecting usnea off the ground would have a lot of foreign material and mold. There are so many opinions about the Ecology of usnea, but lots of misinformation.

How do you ensure sustainable collections?

We scout several locations each year and would not return to the same location until maybe 5 years or 10 years later. We collect little from each site, though move on often to new sites. I have worked with several Native American communities during my wildcrafting career and find indigenous knowledge important to follow, they know the importance of putting roots or seeds down in the wild, and they maintained collecting from the wild for over 1000 years. They maintained their local spots and so do we.

I recognize you have been successfully wildcrafting at scale for 35 years now, ethical wildcrafters like you know the importance of sustainable collecting for your future business! What else about collecting usnea?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell which Lichen is which. Usnea has a central cord, but when you stretch it, it doesn’t snap like other Lichens. When it’s been raining and the Lichens get wet, it’s harder to identify. Years ago, I made the mistake of collecting the wrong Lichen!

For 45 years, WishGarden has been in the business of not just nurturing plants but also relationships with those mystical beings we call wildcrafters. Each one of them sings the same tune—they're here to deliver nothing but top-notch, good-vibes-only, sustainable plant goodies. It’s like comparing wild plants to their domesticated cousins; the wild ones pack more punch, and likewise, our wildcrafters bring deeper, richer wisdom about keeping our wilderness thriving. So, let’s keep spinning the yarns of these unsung heroes of the herb world!

Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler attended The Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certificate in medical herbalism. Lauren loves educating and advocating for plant sustainability. She is the Sourcing & Purchasing manager for WishGarden Herbs.

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or sell any product.