4 in exploration means you should see a few. 10 would be better and 20 ideal.
Also, if you get foraging-plant lore -farming, you should then be able to pick any wild onions you find, and maybe even get carrot seeds and wheat seeds too. This will lead to a secure food supply. Just don't eat the onions raw above q9 or the bunnies raw at any time.
If you have access to any open water you can dig for clay in the shallow water, the place where you can wade. This is where you get the clay, which you can use to build a tree planters pot to plant an apple core in, although you need an herbalist's bench gained through the plant lore skill to do that.
Are you hearthing home from expeditions rather than burning calories walking back? This can also make expeditions more productive.