Neuro bounty - How foragers deal with Neurodivergence. Neuro bounty - how foragers deal with neurodivergence
May 20, 2024
Lisa Cutcliffe, a forager and founder of Edulous Wild Food, shares her journey with neurodivergence and foraging. She reveals that many of her foraging friends also have ADHD, discussing how it fuels her passion and offers insights into balancing special interests with hyperfocus. Lisa emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of nature and movement for mental well-being while cautioning against ADHD burnout. She highlights developing habitat intuition through experience, making a strong case for rethinking ADHD as an abundance of attention rather than a deficit.
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From One Mushroom To A Lifelong Passion
- Lisa Cutcliffe learned foraging after seeing porcini on TV and taught herself over years.
- That initial mushroom hunt expanded into plants, seaweeds, shellfish and fishing as lifelong passions.
Foraging Fits Interest-Based Neurology
- Lisa says foraging maps perfectly to ADHD because it provides an endless special interest to sustain dopamine.
- The hobby allows quick wins and infinite depth, keeping interest high and learning perpetual.
Special Interest Vs Hyperfocus
- Lisa differentiates special interests (joy-driven) from hyperfocus (ability to intensely work on tasks).
- Hyperfocus can power unpleasant tasks to completion but doesn't always bring happiness like a special interest does.
