Press K, do you have the extraction skill in there?
If so then look for the green grass icon on your minimap and when you find it just click it, your skill will increase the more you gather.
The newbie pet is there just to give you a mini gods redemption ticket (only usable if you are below lv 30) and to whisper you annoying nonsense of what you should be killing at your level xD
The food part is actually for a magic pets
http://runesofmagic.gamepedia.com/Magic_Pets
Have fun