# Gathering Moss **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gathering-moss/125830 "2002-08-27T20:52:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bindlestiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bindlestiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bindlestiff)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gathering-moss/125830/1 "2002-08-27T20:52:45Z")
We’ve probably all heard the old adage, “a rolling stone gathers no moss.” I’ve wondered for decaded whether gathering moss was good or bad. Should one strive to be a rolling stone (lower case) or resist it. I’ve asked a lot of people and had a lot of conversation but never gotten an answer I can accept as final. But, up till now, I didn’t have the teeming millions to help me out. How about it, Dopers, should we endeavor to gather moss? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gathering-moss/125830/2 "2002-08-27T21:32:35Z")
As a practical matter, moss is useless stuff. I’ve never heard of anyone eating it or intentionally cultivating it. It makes a fair filler in a brick patio, but if it gets out of hand it’s slick. Philosophically, it’s a sign on permanence. It says, “I have been here awhile. I belong here. I have roots.” Bony supermodel Kate Moss has many fans, of course, and many of them would love to gather Kate. ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gathering-moss/125830/3 "2002-08-27T21:36:34Z")
Moss gathering, when done to excess, can be destructive. There was a moratorium placed on moss gathering in the Monongahela National Forest last year. According to the story at [http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2001103046/:](http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2001103046/:) > [@](#): > > Jan Garrett, a botanist and ecologist for the U.S. Forest Service, said mature log moss has grown so rare in the forest that commercial harvesters have switched to rock moss. ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gathering-moss/125830/4 "2002-08-27T22:02:56Z")
My mother used to gather Spanish moss to send to a cousin of mine who managed a flower shop. My cousin seemed to think it was a good thing, though she had to dry it and shoo the bugs out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Bindlestiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bindlestiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bindlestiff)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gathering-moss/125830/5 "2002-08-28T00:20:13Z")
This is a hoot! I’m intrigued that moss is useless but so much of it is being gathered that a moritorium had to be declared. Is Spanish Moss actually moss? Still, I don’t know what the adage means. ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gathering-moss/125830/6 "2002-08-28T01:51:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bindlestiff \* > **Is Spanish Moss actually moss?** No. It’s actually more closely related to…the pineapple. [Here’s](http://www.co.beaufort.sc.us/bftlib/spanish.htm) a good page about it. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gathering-moss/125830/7 "2002-08-28T04:25:37Z")
Well, if you’re a ‘rolling stone’ you’re active, moving about achieving things. If you’re gathering moss you’re lethargic, depressed, not advancing yourself. Better to be a rolling stone. Better still to be a Rolling Stone.