Welcome to Wild Harvest Life

 

Young bracken ferns—one of Korea's most beloved wild spring vegetables. 🌿

If someone had told me years ago that I would one day be harvesting wild plants, mushrooms, shellfish, seaweed, and fish from the mountains, forests, rivers, and coastlines of Washington State, I would never have believed them.

I grew up in Seoul, Korea, as a city girl who studied music. Yet some of my happiest childhood memories were spent with my grandmother and mother, enjoying wild mountain greens and seasonal foods. Because I was born prematurely and struggled with health issues as a child, my mother was always searching for nutritious foods, herbs, and traditional ingredients she believed would help me grow stronger.

Years later, life brought me to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Today, I live in the mountains of Washington State, surrounded by nature that often reminds me of a larger version of Korea. The mountains, forests, rivers, and many of the plants growing here feel surprisingly familiar.

Wild Harvest Life is where I share that journey.

Here, you'll find wild edible plants, mushrooms, shellfish, seaweeds, berries, fish, and seasonal harvests from the Pacific Northwest. Most importantly, you'll see how I turn many of these ingredients into Korean-inspired meals. Whether it's spring greens prepared as namul, shellfish soups, mushroom dishes, seaweed recipes, or seasonal harvests preserved for winter, food is where my Korean roots and American life come together.

My very first Matsutake Mushroom: The mushroom that started a whole new adventure.

At the same time, my husband, family, and many of our friends are American, so you'll also find recipes and ideas that bring both cultures to the table.

Throughout the year, we'll explore spring greens and clams, summer berries and fishing, autumn mushrooms and seasonal harvests, and winter meals made from preserved foods gathered during the warmer months.

Most posts will focus on plant identification, seasonal harvesting, preparation methods, traditional uses, and nutritional information. I am especially interested in how many plants have been valued in Korean culture for generations.

However, nothing on this blog should be considered medical advice. Every person has different health conditions, allergies, and sensitivities. Never eat any wild plant, mushroom, or seafood unless you are completely certain of its identification and safety. When I discuss toxic plants, it is not to encourage fear, but to help people avoid dangerous mistakes and better understand the natural world around them.

This blog works together with our YouTube channel, Wild Harvest Life PNW. Many blog posts will provide additional details, photos, identification notes, recipes, and information that go beyond what can fit into a video. Likewise, many videos will bring these written guides to life through real-world harvesting and cooking experiences.

🌿 Start with My First Wild Harvest Story

If you would like to begin with my first wild harvest story, I invite you to visit my Bracken Fern (Gosari) post.

Bracken fern, known as gosari in Korean, is one of Korea’s most beloved spring wild vegetables. It was also one of the first wild foods that helped me feel deeply connected to the mountains of Southwest Washington.

👉 Bracken Fern (Gosari)

🎥 Continue the Journey on YouTube
Wild Harvest Life PNW
https://www.youtube.com/@WildHarvestLifePNW

If you have questions, experiences, or knowledge you'd like to share, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to connect through YouTube Community posts or video comments.

All written content, photographs, videos, and original materials on this blog and associated platforms are protected by copyright and may not be copied, reproduced, or republished without permission.

Thank you for visiting Wild Harvest Life.

Let's continue discovering the gifts of nature together—one season at a time. 🌿

— Winter Family