Collect and Protect: The Sustainable Harvest of Ramps

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Published 2024-04-14

Ramps, AKA Wild Leeks, are an ancient food plant of North America that has been sustainably harvested for thousands of years. Learn about the ecology and lore of this species, its culinary use, and its potential as part of a sustainable food economy. This ancient tradition of using ramps has come under fire in recent decades due to anti-foraging attitudes fueled by very limited and poorly designed research. Although ramps are abundant over millions of acres of eastern North America, many people are calling for prohibition of harvest. The media has parroted unfounded fearmongering about the decline of ramps, based solely on a small number of local anecdotes that are never questioned. Online foraging groups explode each spring with ramp-shaming arguments fueled by misinformation about the supposed demise of this thriving species. I made this video to start a rational conversation about the conservation of this species alongside its traditional use. The idea that harvest cannot be sustainable, or is a major threat to ramp survival, is unfounded and insidious. This video shares some insights from two decades harvesting and managing wild ramps on my property, researching ramp ecology, reproduction, and sustainable harvest, and interviewing and learning from responsible stakeholders and caretakers of the amazing ramp resource.

All Comments (21)

@ThirdOfNine 3 months ago

This EXACTLY the kind of sensible, pragmatic content the world needs regarding these delicious wild edibles. THANK YOU!
@FeralForaging 3 months ago

"I believe we can have nature and eat it, too, but I don't think we can have nature if we don't eat it." I repeated this to myself a hundred times when I heard it. What a perfect way to capture the importance of foraging. Well put, Sam! Incredible video. I think everyone, whether forager, conservationist, naturalist, should watch this video. Thank you for all the work you've done!
@inigomontoya8943 3 months ago

Can somebody get this guy a TV show stat.
@LegacyWildernessAcademy 3 months ago

Thank you so much for creating this video Sam. I am a full time foraging instructor and your books were one of the most influential resources when I was starting out about 10 years ago. I first learned about permaculture and how Native Americans tended landscapes through one of your books, and it eventually led me to get my Permaculture Design Certificate in 2022. The amount of time and energy that went into making this documentary is astounding, and it was very thought provoking. To SEE someone practicing ecoculture and conducting their own long-term scientific studies is mind blowing.
@HollyBounting 3 months ago

Tears of joy and gratititude ran down my cheeks as I watched these beautiful human share their wisdom. Thank you Sam and Alan!❤️💛💚🤙🙏
@HomegrownHandgathered 3 months ago

Welcome to youtube Sam! Great to see you here 🙂
@jessicawoudsma 3 months ago

Looks like I just watched a 22 minute video about ramps, and felt like it was only 5 minutes. Much appreciation for the care and effort that went into this study and sharing of knowledge 💚
@deansherwood7468 3 months ago

Good work, Sam (and Alan). I'm glad you've got a YouTube channel now. I don't care for TicToc. This gives you time for an "essay" format and I am grateful. I'm a little disapointed that you have 58 views and only 7 likes, and I'm the first to comment. It will come for you.
@mongaloogirl 3 months ago

This is fortuitous - I just found my first-ever ramps this very evening! Sam Thayer, I'm a massive fan of what you do. Thank you doesn't begin to cover it.
@leahwesselmann6438 3 months ago

This is great. I have been harvesting at a teeny site for almost 20 years after having done experiments with dividing korms and even the roots, and then also for the past 12yrs I've used a putty knife to slice off the base of the bulb to leave the entire korm and roots. And the next year, yes, the next year, they are grown back.
@kristibemus2110 1 month ago

Ramps are the very first plant that started my deep dive into my passion of foraging and sustainable living. I'm so grateful I got the chance to meet you on my birthday last year! Thank you for fostering mine and everyone else love of nature.
@inigomontoya8943 3 months ago

I found a domestic leek that had naturalized at a 60 year old farm site grown over with trees. I have since moved clumps of it to my garden and even grew it from seeds. The way the bulbs fraction off If I leave one stalk somewhere after about a year, it creates a 2 foot diameter patch all by itself. Alliums are extremely durable.
@anyascelticcreations 3 months ago

I grew up in Wisconsin. And I come from several generations of foragers. I live far away from sugar maples and frozen ground now. But my family is still there. I will share this video with them. Thank you. 🙏
@ZombieBarbie 3 months ago

Incredible. I just had this debate while harvesting yesterday. What a game changer. Thank you Sam!
@ginbean 3 months ago

Hell yeah! Thanks so much for your advocacy and integrity, Sam.
@olenajohnson9980 3 months ago

Totally agree - if you forage for your own food, you are the guardian. Because if you over harvest, nothing will come up next year. Also, when you transplant clumps into new area, it’s helpful to seed additional patches with seeds from different areas. It will increase gene pool and make ramps more resilient. Thank you Sam!
@raymondmorris4387 3 months ago

Talking about your kids harvesting ramps “They don’t even know it’s not normal” 😂😂 this video is great thank you. I’ve been seeding ramps on my property for a few years and have only a handful of young plants to show for it. This information is very helpful
@darkhollowbiodynamic 3 months ago

Congrats on your film Samuel! Beautiful! Your wisdom is much appreciated.
@JoshVig1111 3 months ago

Thank you once again for who and what you are in this world, Sam ❤
@NomadicWoodsman 3 months ago

Excellent video. Love everything your do Sam ! Keep crushing it. Steve