Eastern Norway – a paradise for mushroom and berry pickers

She is a biologist who a long time ago decided to quit her job as a scientist and explore nature instead. Kirsten Winge moved to a place by Lake Osensjøen, one of the most peaceful parts of Hedmark in Eastern Norway.

Hiking and harvesting in the wilderness

“It’s quiet here, but you can keep yourself quite busy if you like to taste local ingredients directly from nature. It’s difficult to imagine a more sustainable activity. Nowhere else have I discovered such huge amounts of wild berries, fruits, mushrooms, spices, and other natural ingredients, in addition to the game my husband and I are able to hunt”, Kirsten says.

Her deep interest for real-life biology has resulted in the successful books Det smaker av høst (The tastes of autumn) and Den store høsteboka (The big harvesting book), amongst many other projects that have made her a nationwide authority when it comes to harvesting the natural way.

“To me, harvesting of everything from berries to game is based on an eternal perspective. I make sure that the quantity I take with me from the forest has not deprived me of the opportunity to do the same next year. One should never become greedy”, Kirsten says.

Kirsten keeps a well-developed vegetable garden, but her real garden is the immense nature.

“Hedmark has everything we need, and we think more people should come and make use of the ingredients that you can harvest yourself when you go hiking. Respect for the animals and nature is essential.”