right click on the rocks to get the items.

use levequests to level, manually grinding it out will drive you batshit insane and is absurdly slower. at level 55-56 you start using collectables to level up instead.

make sure to keep gear that gives +gathering up to date. you won't need to bother with the +perception gear slots until level 55, as you cannot HQ levequest items.

it's seriously simply stuff so don't worry about it.