Curious by nature. Wild by choice.

Sip the seasons — Follow your curiosity — Explore with us.

The Wild Journal Blog is LIVE —
and newJuly walk dates are now open!

Community Support For A Small Business Captures My Heart

Glass fip top bottle with deep earthy yellow soda.

Foraged Dandelion Flower & Burdock Soda Recipe

Get outside with The Little Explorers: Foraging Field Guide and Colouring Book.

About The Honourable Harvest

Hello, my name is Mel!

Wild food educator, hunter, mumma, and author of The Little Explorer’s Foraging Field Guide and Colouring Book.

I connect people with nature through wild drinks and edible exploration — from fizzy ferments and forest cocktails to foraging walks and children’s nature crafts. Whether you’re raising a little explorer or just want to sip something that tastes like place and time, you’re in the right woods.

A Little More About Me

Foraging Haul
The seasons pass so fast!! Today I zipped out for a quick little forage.

This one plate is filled with all sorts of play time.
Elderflowers (tea), green - black walnut (nocino, preserves?), creeping thistle (medicinal tea), wood sorrel (acidic punch for something!), cow parsnip seeds (cucumbery, aromatic magic headed to a tincture).

Any fun ideas? Comment below!

#playtime #season #summer #foraging #haul #getcurious #wildbychoice #thehonourableharvest

The seasonally delicious recipe everyone needs freezie in their life. With this recipe you can make it sober and delicious or make it a boozy treat.

This has been an awesome treat to have in my freezer when I feel like cooling down. Either booze free or enjoying one with some spirits, it’s the perfect summer indulgence. How are you going to make yours?

For The Base (Make Ahead) Combine in a bowl:
* ½ a seedless watermelon, chopped
* Juice + skins of 3 limes
* 2–3 whole sprigs of mint
* ½ cup sugar 
Muddle gently and pop it in the fridge overnight. Let those flavours hang.
 Next day: Remove lime + mint (for colour) and blitz the watermelon Strain it through a fine sieve  Save a bit for non-alc freezies at this point if you want to!  Set aside 3½ cups for the cocktail batch.
Make it a cocktail Freezie To your 3½ cups of base, add:
5 oz limoncello 🍋 2.5 oz Metaxa (or your fave spirit – vodka/rum works too) 2 oz simple syrup ¾ cup cold water
Taste and tweak for sweetness and acidity. Then pour into zip-top freezy sleeves or molds.

Freeze overnight and serve straight from the freezer, the alcohol makes them melt a bit faster. But rest assured, with a couple of ice packs they will make it to the park or a BBQ just fine.

*Note I purchased these ’compostable’ sleeves from Amazon, but they are suspiciously very plastic seeming… Compostable sleeves are still in the works, I just have about 150 of these to work through first haha.

#cocktailfreezie
#Summercocktails
#summerseasonal
#watermelonlime
#cocktails
#NonAlc
#thehonourableharvest
#wildbychoice
#curiousbynature

A super easy must try recipe to cool those hot summer days 🫠.

I ordered these compostable freezie sleeves on Amazon!

I want to see all the creative freezie recipes! Tag me if you try it!

#freezies #cocktails #summercocktails #cooldown #wildbychoice #thehonourableharvest #curiousbynature

If you make one thing this summer, let it be these.
Sweet, spiked, and frozen, they’re a total vibe.

I knew that these cocktail freezies would hit the spot and add to the fun of my cousin’s bachelorette party. It has been so hot in Toronto, and I wanted something that would refresh and celebrate all at once.

Made with fresh watermelon, lime, mint, and a splash of something fun, sweet, a little cheeky, and perfect for those sticky summer days when a regular drink just isn’t enough.

These were such a hit I had to write down the recipe and share it with you. Whether you’re planning a party, a picnic, or just trying to survive the heat, these baby’s can cool you right down.

You can totally make these your own as well, just add the ratio of booze to base that I outline and you will be good to go!

Swipe through for the full recipe →
 And tag me if you make them! I’d love to see your versions!

#TheHonourableHarvest #WildcraftedDrinks #cocktailfreezie #watermeloncocktailfruit #cocktails #summercocktails #wildbychoice

Elderflower spritz but make it non alc!

Traditionally Hugo Spritz is:
1/2oz of elderflower liqueur
4 ounces of Prosecco
Garnished with a sprig of mint (and lemon or lime)

This non-alcoholic version I am using my elderflower soda with an elderflower syrup and mint and lime to pump up the refreshing acidity.

1/2 oz elderflower syrup (1:1)
Two sprigs mint
Top with housemade elderflower soda
Garnish mint and lime wheels

Muddle mint and syrup together and let that baby marinade for a few minutes in the cocktail glass. In your wine glass fill half way with ice and add two lime wheels and your mint and syrup mixture. Top with ice to the top and pour the elderflower soda over the top. Garnish with a wheel of lime and sprig of mint. Yum!

No one is saying you can’t add a cheeky ounce (or four) of something yummy in here, but the moral of the story that you don’t need alcohol to make it delicious.

#cocktails #cocktailsathome #nonalc #nonalcoholic #nonalcoholicdrink #wildbychoice #wildsoda #foraged #thehonourableharvest

Cocktail freezies are easy peas!

Watermelon, Lime & Mint Cocktail Freezie.

Oh so yummy, hydrating and a bit cheeky with a splash of Lemoncello and Mataxa (maybe…I’m going to play around with it this afternoon!).

Stay tuned for the recipe!

#summercocktails #cocktailfreezie #wildbychoice #heatwave #sips #summersips #foraged #andnot

This is what happens when my toddler is sleeping. Hustle to set up, snap shots and then make sure I eat something. Or I just rabbit hole and make things the whole nap time. Balance…🫣😏

#wildfood #photoshoot #getthemshots #season #foraging #momlife #naptimehustle

Making soda from your favourite breakfast food?

I’m talking about Yogurt! When separated, the liquid from organic yogurt is filled with all sorts of the right stuff to bubble up some soda with the right recipe (and even the wrong recipe sometimes haha). I will tell you how! It’s super easy peas.

But why whey?!
Making soda with whey gives you such a rounded, integrated flavour. It softens bitterness, brings everything into harmony, and adds this gentle smoothness to the texture. The bubbles are super fine — which makes delicate ingredients like flowers really shine.

• Naturally probiotic
• Gut + immune support
• Gentle fizz, easy to digest
• Hydrating & mineral-rich

Let’s start by hanging some organic plain yogurt so we can get the whey (liquid) out. This will leave you with the most beautiful thick yogurt which has higher protein content which you can make into sweet or savoury dips, spreads and yogurt bowls... basically choose your own adventure.

Use as much yogurt has you’d like but at least 1/2 cup and hang it in a couple layers of cheesecloth. (See tip below)

Hot tip: I tie the cheesecloth around the middle of a chopstick and rest it across the top of a 1L jar — that way, the yogurt can hang and strain right inside the jar. Super easy!

Adaptable Base Recipe For Whey Soda
For every 1L of water, add:
• ¼–½ cup whey (or the liquid from strained yogurt)
• ¼–½ cup sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)
• A flavour base of your choice — think herbs, flowers, fruit scraps, or a combo!

Give it a good stir, cover with a cloth or loose lid, and let it ferment at room temp for 2–5 days. Taste daily and bottle when lightly bubbly.

#WildFermentation
#ForagedSoda
#WheySoda
#FermentTheSeason
#TheHonourableHarvest
#WildCraftedDrinks
#GutHealth
#NaturalFizz
#ProbioticSoda

This protein packed superfood is not only cleansing for your liver, hormone balancing (especially for symptoms of menopause).

These clovers are also oh so delicious. Fresh in salads, in teas, in vinegars, syrups, in honey, the list goes on! With the season being so full and wanting to prolong it as much as possible. I have used some to add to my wild yeast starter and I’m going to dehydrate the rest to use them later!

How do you use yours? Let me know in the comments below!

#redclover #clover #superfood #tea #tryingtokeepup #foragedbutnotforgotten #preservingtheseason #wildfood #wildmedicine #makeitwild #curiousbynature #wildbychoice

The best way to elevate your cheeseboards, desserts drinks, and your immune system. Say waaaaat??

This is the most magical treat and a perfect way to capture the taste of the forest. And it’s like the best friend with benefits. Enjoy!

#honey #elixr #wildcrafted #pineconepower #pinemedicine #bringtheforesthome #naturesapothecary #foraged #foragedremedy

Have you ever made your own soda?

Dandelion soda is such an approachable soda to start with because most people know what they look like! If you aren’t sure or don’t know where to start I can totally help!

Visit my website (link in bio) or dm me and I can send you a wild yeast starter recipe to get you in your way! This recipe can be found on my blog!

#ferment #soda #homemade #wildsoda #wildbychoice #foraging #foraged #fizz #fizzy #yum

Pheasant back mushroom smells like fresh cucumber or watermelon rind. It sort of tastes similar too.

It’s high in protein, and a source of vitamin B3, potassium and trace minerals.

It has a lot more texture than a lot of mushrooms so it’s good sautéed as an animal protein substitute in tacos for example.

In my case I thought it would be fun to try to make a mint and “watermelon” soda. I had found the most beautiful mint and ground elder on the same walk I found the mushrooms so it seemed to make sense.

The cover photo is day one of fermentation. Let the magic begin!

#pheasantback #dryadssaddle #wildmint #groundelder #soda #lactofermentation #wildbychoice #wildsoda #foragedcocktails

So grateful for yummy treats in the mail! Thank you so much to @drink.ones for the surprise pack of the new small format bottles of your non alc sparkling wine and a beautiful pair of Ones flutes 😍.

Wine in the fridge chilling. I am looking forward to popping those bubs!

#imbibe #withoutthehangover #nonalcoholicwines #nonalc #drinkones

Ramps + Honey
Once again the gracious folks @ladybankfarm have shared the incredible bounty from their farm. I couldn’t be more full of gratitude. Thank you for opening your farm and forest for us to explore and harvest. Another year passes and our pantry is full of delicious food to nourish us.

Thank you to the @ladybankfarm family. We couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity.

#rampseason #ramps #honey #wildflower #foraging #harvest

Going a little out there with the next soda…

And did some cocktail playing around with the dandelion soda. I will post a recipe sooonn!

#phesantback #mushroom #wildmint #soda #curousbynaturewildbychlice

Blog Launch!
I’ve been slowly building out a space to hold recipes and little projects I’m working on and working through. I’ve always loved writing and blogging. I’ve always been a journaler I carry my leather bound journal on every outdoor adventure and record all of my creations in there. This little book has seen some things. There is bear blood, fishing flys, unspent hunting tags and pages and pages of brainstorm ideas and recipes from friends, myself and all of my crazy lab creations.

I can’t wait to share more with you! There is plenty more where this came from.

Join the journey:
https://www.thehonourableharvest.com/my-blog

Dandelion flower + burdock root soda

Made yummy and full flavoured to enjoy on its own or added to cocktails - cocktails coming soon…

You’ll need:
~ 4 cups dandelion flowers (just the petals!)
~ 1 Tbsp dried burdock root
~ 2 strips grapefruit peel
~ 90 mL raw honey
~ ½ cup wild yeast (DM me for the starter recipe!)
~ 1L water

How to:
1. Gently simmer burdock + grapefruit peel in 1L of water, covered, for 15–20 min.
2. Remove from heat and let cool to room temp (lukewarm is fine).
Strain out the burdock + peel here.
3. Stir in honey — make sure the tea isn’t too hot or it’ll kill your yeast!
4. Add flower petals + wild yeast.
5. Pour it all into a large jar, cover with cheesecloth, and let it sit at room temp for 1–2 days.
Taste as you go!
6. When it’s lightly fizzy + fermented to your liking, strain + bottle.

Optional: add more sugar to taste — it’ll fizz up a little more, but mostly just sweeten.

#wildbychoice #curiousbynature #wildsoda #dandelion #burdockroot #wildyeast

Spruce tips taste like forest citrus. It can be hard to find acidity in nature in Canada, and this is a perfect little taste of time and place. It gets sweeter when you dry it out, it preserves well in the freezer and you can eat it fresh. It’s such a treat.

No earth shattering news here. I plan to make some sort of beverage with this. Not sure yet what!!

#wild #spruce ##wildbychoice #foragedfood #foragedcocktails

Cold-Infused Hopped Soda
Spring in a bottle: dandelion, coltsfoot, nettle & wild fizz.

Here’s the loose recipe:
• 1L cold water
• Dandelion flowers, coltsfoot + blanched nettle
• 2 tbsp honey
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup wild yeast starter (like ginger bug)

Cold infuse for 24 hrs.
Brew nettle separately, cool to room temp, then add.
Sweeten, stir in your starter, bottle & let it bubble!

Sip the forest. Cheers to wild fizz!

#wildsoda #forageddrinks #botanicalbrews #fermentthis #dandelionlove #drinkwild #wildcrafted #forestfizz #herbalferments #springinabottle

✨ Calling all little explorers! ✨
Join me this Thursday, May 15 from 4–5:30pm at @thecompanywekeep_to for a cosy after-school adventure filled with wild stories, nature crafts, cookies, juice (for the kiddos), coffee (for you), and a copy of The Little Explorer’s Foraging Field Guide to take home 🌿💫

We’ll be making beautiful foraged crafts, talking about the magic of the forest, and connecting with other families who love a little wonder and a lot of wild. Perfect for ages 4–10 (and their grown-ups too).

📍The Company We Keep – 634 Saint Clair Avenue West Toronto, ON M6C 1A9

🎟️ Grab your tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/wild-about-nature-a-nature-craft-hour-for-little-explorers-tickets-1330551167359?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadO7qWScOmpTZWzv3wzyXZNqYTyA9Bjz-ag0wpKpcZ3r3LwSzsxJjgfHeMWpg_aem_TNWKqUBEIYM2DHWJckbiVQ

Space is limited!

#ForagingWithKids #TheHonourableHarvest #TheCompanyWeKeep #TorontoMoms #WildCrafts #AfterschoolMagic

Magnolia Royale, .5oz magnolia simple syrup (recipe below), 5oz prosecco, garnish: magnolia bud

2 cups magnolia petals (lightly washed)
2 cups water
1.5 cups sugar

In a saucepan, heat water to a gentile simmer and add magnolia petals and cover. Make sure the water doesn’t go into a hard boil you don’t want to cook the flowers aggressively. Cook for 5-10 minutes and remove from heat. Let sit for another 15-20 minutes and then strain petals off. Once cooled pour syrup into clean bottles and refrigerate. Keeps for around 2 weeks in the fridge.

#magnoliasyrup #foraged #cocktails #springflowers

Wild spring soda:
this cold-infused brew of blanched nettles, dandelion, coltsfoot, and hops is mineral-rich, calming, and supports digestion + detox. Earthy, bitter, grounding — a taste of spring with benefits.

#WildFerments #ForagedFizz #SeasonalSips #FizzWithBenefits #ForagedNotFound #TheHonourableHarvest

Spring is in full swing and I’m loving all the yummy greens. I’m not sure if my body just needs the extra boost or if I’m just more engaged this year but it is seriously hitting the spot.

#springgreens #foragedfood #getoutside #freefood

The fermentation process usually takes a few days so it’s not too satisfying popping the lid open at this point. It’s still important to do so to release the gas - you never know how quickly things will ferment!

Wild Fermented Bush Soda. 🫧
Sumac, cedar and white pine inoculated with a wild harvested yeast yeast made with the forest.

I can show you how to make your own! Follow along and if you are in the Toronto area I can show you how!

Links to my upcoming events are in my bio! Let’s go for a walk!

Making a foraged soda with sumac evergreen and made bubbly with a wild harvested yeast from the forest.

Spring has sprung and the forest is alive! Come for a walk with me! I have a number of upcoming dates for foraging walks. If you are wanting to discover more about the food in our backyard and how to use it let’s take a walk!

Link in my bio 👆

First foraging walk of the season! More walks coming up in the next few weeks! Check out my website and I will be doing some walks with @fromthewild so check out the dates on their website as well! Links below!

I’m working on being better at celebrating. It’s easy to downplay events or accomplishments—but that’s no fun. We work hard to get there. So celebrate unapologetically.

My heart is full to overflowing with the life I’m building. It deserves a tip of the glass.

Let’s celebrate 🎉

| CURIOUS ABOUT WILD FOOD? |
...not sure where to start?

Join me in the forest this spring for a gentle, hands-on Foraging Adventure where we’ll explore how to bring wild flavours into your kitchen and your glass.

Think pine tip infusions, forest teas, and ingredients hiding in plain sight.

Whether you’re totally new or simply looking to deepen your connection with the land, this walk is a beautiful entry point into the world of foraging.

Upcoming dates:
Saturday, April 27
+
Saturday, May 4
9 AM – 11 AM

Near Bradford, Ontario (location shared prior to event)

Tickets + details at https://www.thehonourableharvest.com/foraging-walks

Fermentation Day 4:
It was consistently bubbling. The flavours were all mingling super nicely. There was still a lot of sugar left to ferment but I didn’t want it to fully ferment out so I put it in the fridge to slow it down.

I will now make a base flavour for a soda and add some of this yeast starter to get it fermenting. This will help with carbonation and add complexity of flavour.

I will keep adding foraged items to this wild yeast starter throughout the season and the flavour will evolve. It’s very exciting.

#fermentation #wildfood #foragedfood #wildsoda

This isn’t just a jar of botanicals—it’s the beginning of something delicious. It is destined for some sparkling soda!

I made it using ingredients I foraged on my last walk, and it’s the first step in a new series I’m calling The Wild-Crafted Pantry.

These foraging walks aren’t just about what’s edible—they’re about connection. To the land, the seasons, and the forgotten magic of making things from scratch.

Curious? Come walk with me.

#foragingwalks #wildcraftedpantry #wildyeast #fermentation #foragedfood #ediblewildplants #thehonourableharvest

🌿 Let’s Forage & Ferment! 🫧

I’m SO excited to share my new foraging & fermentation series! We’ll head out on a guided forage, learning to identify wild edibles—focusing on those that can help you create a wild yeast starter.

This bubbling, living starter can be used to:
🍹 Fizz up wild sodas
🍞 Leaven beautiful, naturally risen bread
🥖 Kickstart a sourdough starter
… and loads more!

This is the perfect intro to wild fermentation—hands-on, beginner-friendly, and a great way to bring the magic of the wild into your kitchen! 🌱✨

More details on www.thehonourableharvest.com—who’s ready to get fermenting? 👀🫧

| G R A S S L A N D S |
This was the year they stole my heart. An unassuming seemingly harsh environment that is full of all the magic and potential for creative inspiration and beauty.

And when you have the opportunity to appreciate all of the taken for granted pieces laying around, making them inspiring and beautiful that is pretty magical too.

I’m so grateful to @kevinkossowan for introducing me to this place and space.

@fromthewildca #opperationfindallthefood #belairefresh #prairiewhitesage #vermouth #whitefrontedgoose #pronghorn

| M E N T O R S H I P |
I’m so grateful for the incredible gift of mentors. Knowledge carriers who share the gift of their experience. What a humbling thing.

Fly fishing was on my bucket list for the last 10 years and this was a perfect trip and make than I could have imagined.

Thank you to @johnfraserswildlife for sharing your knowledge with me. @kevinkossowan thank you for all of your knowledge sharing and the bringing friends together.

Watch this episode of @fromthewildca this Saturday on YouTube free!

A little peek into my quickie kombucha! Not pictured here is the add of the sugar. I always add 50g sugar to 1000ml water. Happy Kombucha making!

| P O S T F I S H F O O D P R E P |
Love love how many delicious treats we have the pleasure of eating while out at camp. Even in its simplest form the most basic things taste delectable. I love food.

#campfood #shorelunch #fryup #wildfood #cookingwithfire #yumyum

| B O T A N I C A L S P R E A D |
Mise en place for our mountain liqueur. I think about this concoction often. I have all of the individual tinctures at home and I wasn’t able to blend them before I got pregnant! I’m excited to get that blend underway!

| G R O U S E R I L L E T T E |
The cold weather makes me want to cook all the holiday food. This one was prep for a Québécois cretons which is a staple in my family at Christmas.

We used the grouse legs as these often get left behind or forgotten. They are small but flavourful and delicious. I braised them with onion and garlic and then seasoned with allspice, nutmeg, clove, salt and pepper. I made a cracker on the wood stove and voila.

So grateful to be able to make these family staples with wild foods.

#wildfood #familyclassicsdonewild #bushcampatnight #whitetailhunting #cooking #cookingwithgame

| 23 B E L O W |
Hunting +camping + pregnant was hard but it was more fun than it was hard. Excellent food outcome. Love the process so much. Grateful + full heart.

#fielddressingpregnantwashard #huntingpregnant #wildfood #whitetail #hotchocolate #chagahotchocolate

| W I N T E R Y F A I R Y L A N D |
Last years whitetail hunt was a snowy cold one. It is so gratifying to do something hard like this. We really did it well. We ate the most delicious food, and I was three months pregnant and ate alll the snacks haha.

New episode is out @fromthewildca you can watch @maycuan cook up a storm with a delicious dish from her childhood. It was so amazing.

#wildfood #huntinginsnow #camp #nightviews #bushcamp #november #whitetail #huntingpregnant

| M O U N T A I N L I Q U E U R |
This was one of my favourites. Bright green chartreuse vibes. Anise, mint, evergreen. Wowzah do I wish I could have made vats of it. It almost didn’t make it off the mountain.

_______
#wildfoodliqueur #mountainforaging #makingdeliciousness #catchinguponposts

| F L Y I N G H I G H |
Staying open + curious. Seeking new ways to be outside, connect with nature, food + tribe has always paid off.

#alwaysastudent #explore #curious #wildfoodlove #wildfood #canadanianwild #waybehindinposting

| C U T T H R O A T|
Lucking out with this perfect lady. What an honour to have the opportunity + time to wait for her.

#flyfishing #womenwhoflyfish #wildfood #honourableharvest

| P R E T T Y F L Y |
Connecting + learning is the best. Thank you to my friends @foodafieldjohn + @kevinkossowan for wonderful adventures + sharing of wisdom.

| M E N T O R S |
So grateful for the beautiful group of friends + mentors that share wisdom and knowledge of the food process. I’m so humbled by the generosity of this sharing + cannot wait to pass it along one day.
__________
This episode @foodafieldpodcast shares the ins + outs of fly fishing in this special place. Loved every minute. Grateful for you friend.

#wildfood #flyfishing #huntgather #learntheprocess #mentorship #wisdom #honourableharvest

| DREAMING OF MOUNTAINS |
Long walks, talks, + adventures with friends.

_____________
Last summer we had the privilege of adventuring in the Rockies, soaking in the beauty, persevering the longer than anticipated road. It was perfection.

#fromthewild #season9 #rockiemountains #troutfishing #wildfood #wemadechartreuse

| T H E S T R U G G L E |
Was so real but so worth it. Nothing worth doing is easy. This was not easy at all. It was one of our most difficult adventures but ohhh so worth it. New episode out @fromthewildca
_______
In this episode I make a mountain liqueur + we hike over 20km in back country to go fishing in a mountain lake. This was a special one for sure.
______
#getoutside #goforawalk #thereandbackagain #wildfood #hiking #rickies

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Dive Into Foraging With Confidence

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