In Finland, there is a law called the "Freedom to Roam," or "Everyman's Right" (in Finnish: Jokamiehenoikeudet). This law says that anyone may walk, ski or bike on land that is not being used as a yard, garden or farming field. Everyman's Right also allows people passing through to pick wild berries, mushrooms and flowers, and even put up a tent to camp for the night, as long as it is not close to anyone's house. My first time in Finland, I saw someone's bike stopped by the side of the bike trail. I thought that their bike was broken, and stopped to help. It turns out that they were about ten yards off in the forest picking blueberries!
When I went hiking, I had the chance to see how Everyman's Right works. As part of our hike, we stopped to make hot dogs over a camp fire, and I had the chance to pick different kinds of wild Finnish berries. These were a wonderful treat after a long hike!
Many berry plants grow low and close to the ground. They are usually small bushes or vines with small leaves. Want to be sure it is a berry plant? Look for berries that you recognize!
It is very important to know the difference between different types of berry plants. While some berries are safe to eat, others might give you a tummy ache!
