A few days ago, the first big typhoon of the year blew through and the only thing I could think about was saving the biwa (loquats) from a tree I had just discovered. It did occur to me that maybe my priorities were a bit different to other folks as I stood in the wind and rain picking up fruit but as a reward I’ll be enjoying flavorsome biwa smoothies and desserts for the next week. Not surprisingly, the fruit is a little weather-beaten but can easily be peeled.
Urban foraging is a great way to add fruit and, if you are knowledgeable, greens, spring water and other good stuff to your diet. Realistically, you probably won’t save a lot of money but it’s healthy, fun to do and often a community service. In this case, the tree was on municipal land and the biwa would have just rotted, attracting wasps. I made sure to leave plenty for the local birds though.
If you try this on public land, you need to make sure the plants are a good distance from any roads to avoid contamination from vehicle exhausts. Many cities also spray with herbicides, etc. so it is important to check out the area in advance. The other major rule is of course to know what you are gathering. It’s popular to hunt for shiitake and matsutake mushrooms in the mountains here and from time to time, you hear about people suffering the ill effects of mixing up their fungi.
Another option is to help neighbors harvest their trees. Less mobile people are often grateful to have someone gather their fruit if you split the bounty with them. Others just don’t really think of picking their trees but are happy to share if you suggest the idea. It is definitely better than leaving the fruit to rot. Keep your eyes open: you may be surprised by the free, organic food that surrounds you.
Post script
I originally wrote the above while living in Kyoto. I’m currently in New Zealand working on a few things before heading back next year. As you might expect, the urban foraging is a lot more bountiful here. In my neighborhood, we have avocados, oranges and mandarins growing on public land and you can find blackberries and raspberries in various places. The local council does spray the berries though, so care is required.
In an interesting twist, my neighbors have two enormous loquat trees and have invited us to pick as many as we like. The trees are currently loaded but the fruit is up too high for us to reach. We tried shaking them but the branches are so thick and tightly packed it had no effect. Climbing is likewise not an option. We also have swarms of small birds that are clearly quite fond of loquats so any that do fall are always well worked over by sharp beaks.
Thus far, we have not had a single tantalizing one. Perhaps we should buy a ladder… and maybe stop feeding the birds? Or better yet just let them enjoy their feast. The fruit is certainly not going to waste. After living in a large city like Kyoto for so long, it still puts a smile on my face watching random birds bouncing around the backyard. As does just actually having a backyard. Gratitude.
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