Ever wish you could barter some lemons for limes or persimmons for pineapple guava? Forage Oakland (http://forageoakland.blogspot.com/) is an East Bay foraging network that promotes neighbors to barter their surplus fruit. Founded by Asiya Wadud, the project hopes to support community, sustainability, and healthy living, as well as bridge the gap between communities from South Berkeley to North Oakland. Neighbors are encouraged to walk or bike and forage instead of driving to encourage self-reliance and earth-friendly practices. Despite the abundant citrus in the East Bay, it’s not all lemons and limes. In fact, members can exchange more exotic trade such as Brown Turkey figs, Hachiya persimmons, and Santa Rosa plums. There are already 200 members, and while membership is capped for the season, come autumn, Wadud will welcome more members and the bountiful ripening of the season’s fruit crop. Meanwhile, the project is accepting interns, donations, and volunteers.
— Alison Alter
Foraging in the East Bay
