Description

The North Shore is home to over 100 species of edible wild plants, many of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. These include native species, like Shagbark Hickory and Beach Plum; non-native weeds, like Chicory and Burdock; and invasive species, like Autumn Olive and Japanese Knotweed. Join Russ Cohen, author of the book Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten, for a 60-minute presentation to learn about at least two dozen of the tastiest wild plant species the North Shore has to offer. These include species everyone knows well, like Daisies and Dandelions, to species people may have never even heard of, like Calamus and Carrion Flower. Keys to the identification of each species will be provided, along with info on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as guidelines for safe, ethical and environmentally-responsible foraging. Russ will also accompany his talk with handouts and samples of goodies made with wild foraged ingredients for guests to sip and nibble on.

About the speaker:

Until his retirement in June of 2015, Russ Cohen’s “day job” was serving as the Rivers Advocate for the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration, where one of his areas of expertise was in riparian vegetation. Now Russ has more time to pursue his passionate avocation, which is connecting to nature via his taste buds, and assisting others in doing the same. In addition to leading over three dozen wild edibles-themed walks and talks each year at a wide variety of venues throughout the Northeast, Russ has now taken on a role of Johnny Appleseed for edible native species. He has set up a small nursery (in Weston, MA) where he grows/keeps plants that he propagates from seed (some of which he collected himself). He is then collaborating with land trusts (including The Trustees), cities and towns, schools and colleges, state and federal agencies, Tribal members and groups, organic farms and others to plant plants from his nursery in appropriate places on their properties. Russ has collaborated on over two dozen such projects in the past seven years. Read more in Russ’s online bio here: http://users.rcn.com/eatwild/bio.htm

Our foraging programs are led by knowledgeable guides and focus on the ecology of wild edibles and their vital role in the ecosystem and our food system. Consuming wild edibles on your own should be done at your own risk and discretion. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have accurately identified any plant before consuming it. If there are any doubts about the identification it is best not to eat it.