Germany: Police sniff out illicit wild garlic operation

[triflingtoad@sh.itjust.works]

why is that illegal? The article says that picking it naturally can be dangerous because it looks like some poisonous plants, so why not just let them grow it normally? or better yet since apparently it's invasive, why not a dedicated farm?

[sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone]

Some species don't grow very well in agricultural settings -- especially forest products.

If you harvest too much from public property, then you're breaking the law.

Maybe people will figure out how to farm it, which would probably lower the price enough so that people stop poaching it.

[hiobstriops@lemmy.world]

Wild garlic (Allium ursinum, German: Bärlauch) is a native plant and not invasive in Germany. It's not like it's everywhere as it usually needs alluvial, deciduous forests but common enough that most locals usually know a spot or two. It may look like lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis, German: Maiglöckchen) or autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale, German: Herbstzeitlose) which are both poisonous but that's not the reason why you're not allowed to pick large amounts. The Federal Nature Protection Law (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz, see paragraph 39 for details) forbids the collection of any wild plants or animals, independent of their protection status to disturb natural processes as little as possible. However certain exemptions are possible, think hunting, fishing, or the collection of wild herbs for example. While the former two require a license and are restricted to certain area or seasons, the latter is limited by the amount you may take. It explicitly states to only take amounts that are for personal use and that commercial collection is prohibited. It's obviously to prevent overexploitation. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon that naturally occurring stocks of wild herbs, mushrooms or berries are used up and destroyed by illegal and unsustainable usage. Also, yes wild herbs are commercially grown on farms but as you can imagine, they don't come cheap at all.

[quarterswede@lemmy.world]

I knew this was coming and it still made me laugh. Well done.

[n3m37h@sh.itjust.works]

Wild garlic is more like onion chives, but smell like garlic

[_stranger_@lemmy.world]

Call them what they are: Poachers.

And probably roasters and aioli makers too.

[misterdoctor@lemmy.world]

Asking my garlic head friends if they’re more into ursinum’s or sativum’s

[w3dd1e@lemm.ee]

Ironically, I have so much garlic growing in my yard, I can’t give it away. It’s spreading everywhere and taking over everything.

I’m guessing this garlic is different than mine though.

[werefreeatlast@lemmy.world]

Behind the avocado, you got the Mexican cheese Mafia.... Hey! I smell cotija all over this guy! Can you believe it!? Ahh! Forget about it! I thought we was Mexican boss! Yeah I thought that same way Bobby! But the guy on the phone likes the good feathers from the aninaniacs too much. Too much? Too much! Come here! I'll give you too much you sonobabish! Too much cheese! Is that it! I'm just here to entertain you or something? That's it!! ?!;:%££¥!

[idiomaddict@lemmy.world]

Garlicle

[_edge@discuss.tchncs.de]

See HiobsTriops excellent answer

It's not illegal to harvest from your own ground, garden or farm. This is about wild plants picked in the woods. Woods have special regulations.

[zannsolo@lemmy.world]

Should be in not the onion

[barsoap@lemm.ee]

Ohh. Bärlauch. Which yes is an allium but just using "wild garlic" makes you think we're talking about garlic that happens to be wild, and bulbs. Taking the bulb with you with this stuff is culinarily pointless and hurts the population. Which is also why the stuff out of supermarket, which isn't wild but grown on fields, comes as leaves and flowers without bulbs.