Introducing The Field Guide for Wild Flower Harvesting
Glossary
What is Fynbos?
The Cape Floral Kingdom
South Africa’s Plants
Threats to Fynbos
The Value of Fynbos
Fynbos and Fire
Classification of Plants
Naming of Plants
The Market for Fynbos
Picking Fynbos with Care
The Sustainable Harvesting Programme
The SHP Code of Best Practice for Wild Harvesters
Ten Principles of Good Harvesting
The Vulnerability Index and the Red Data List
Know How Much Fynbos You Have
Fynbos Plants of the Agulhas Plain and Beyond
Plant Descriptions
Ten Principles of Good Harvesting
Picking teams should follow these Principles of Good Harvesting when picking flowers in the veld, as set out in the SHP Code of Best Practice for Wild Harvesters:
- Always have a valid license from CapeNature.
- Use maps and know the areas where you are picking.
- Avoid damaging species that you are not harvesting.
- Never take more than 50% of this year’s flower heads
or stems from the plant. - Make sure that your secateurs are clean and sharp.
- Make sure that you cut the stem at an angle.
- Do not leave litter (including twine) in the veld.
- Only harvest what you need. Follow market criteria to
avoid rejects. - Dispose of plant waste properly. Do not dump it in piles
in the veld. - Keep records of where and how much you have harvested.