When nature isn’t giving you what you want, maybe you have to re-think what you want from nature. Such was the case for us a few years ago on Labor Day weekend. Raspberries and others were a disappointment that year, and I had wanted to try making some jellies or jams. Continue reading “Foraging in Minnesota: Chokecherries”
national forest
Foraging in Minnesota: Thimbleberries
August 2005, Isle Royale My wife and I went ashore from the ferry as it stopped at Windigo. With half an hour until the ferry continued around the island, we went into the visitor center to get our book stamped and ask about what we might find on the trail. We learned about the wolves, moose, and thimbleberries. “Whatberries?” I wasn’t sure if I’d heard correctly. “Thimbleberries,” repeated the Park Service employee. She described the berry she was talking about, and sure enough, we found plenty over our 6 days of hiking the island. Continue reading “Foraging in Minnesota: Thimbleberries”
Foraging in Minnesota: Chanterelles
The young jack pines were thick and visibility was limited where my dog and I searched for the elusive spruce grouse. Lush moss covered the ground and made for easy walking. All at once, my eyes were drawn to a handful of bright yellow spots off to my left; they glowed, almost as if lit from within. I knew instantly they might very well be the other prize I was looking for: chanterelle mushrooms. Continue reading “Foraging in Minnesota: Chanterelles”
Foraging in Minnesota: Know Your Public Lands
Among online groups, I have noticed there seems to be a lot of misinformation and non-information regarding public lands and what may be harvested, and where. For my own benefit, I dug into resources to compile what information I could that will be of pertinent to foragers. In the interest of cooperation among foragers, as well as helping to protect the resources, I would like to share what I have learned, organized by land ownership and management type. Continue reading “Foraging in Minnesota: Know Your Public Lands”
About Roy and NAGC
Roy Heilman is a lifelong outdoorsman with a love for storytelling. His unique voice conveys a passion for all the outdoors—especially of his home state of Minnesota. Fishing, hunting, and foraging topics are of special interest to him, especially when those topics intersect with getting kids outdoors, public lands, and Minnesota’s natural resources. An adventurer at heart, he is always looking to do something new.
In addition to writing exclusive content for Never A Goose Chase, Roy also produces material on wide-ranging topics for newspapers and magazines. Publications where his work has appeared include American Hunter, Pointing Dog Journal, Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, Whitetails Unlimited Magazine, Outdoor News, MidWest Outdoors, and MDHA’s Whitetales Magazine. He has been a freelance contributor to Press Publications newspapers since June 2021, and Mankato Free Press since September 2021.
Roy is an award-winning communicator and an active member of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) and Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA). A naturally curious lifelong learner, he is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and the New England Conservatory of Music.
This website is dedicated to the idea that when we venture outdoors, it doesn’t matter if we return with a stringer full of fish, a basket full of mushrooms, a belly full of berries, or nothing at all. What does matter is that we go out, we make memories, and we make our lives richer. No matter what, it’s Never A Goose Chase.
Partner with Roy
Whether you are an editor, webmaster, marketing specialist, or other industry professional, Roy would love to hear from you. He is always open to new ideas and partnerships. It doesn’t matter if you have a specific proposal or one still in the brainstorm stage— Roy is a creative collaborator who brings his genuine nature and dogged determination to bear on every project. Use the contact form below for inquiries, proposals, or to request a link to a portfolio of his work.