Edible Wild Plant/Mushroom Walks and Courses -
Schedule for the Year 2008.


Dulse Seaweed - Photo by Russ Cohen

Leader/Instructor: Russ Cohen


Please contact Russ at (617) 626-1543 (w), (781) 646-7489 (h), or eatwild@rcn.com for more information. You may also want to check out the hot links at the bottom of this page, especially the foraging articles from Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine, Yankee Magazine and Edible Boston Magazine, as well as the recipes for wild dishes prepared on the "Victory Garden" PBS TV show. Click Here for information on Russ's foraging book: "Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten". Copies of the book will be available at all the events below. FYI, an excerpt of Russ' book can be read on-line in the Jan/Feb 2005 edition of Spirit of Change Magazine. Listen to a foraging segment featuring Russ that aired on NPR affiliate WBUR's "Here and Now" program on 7/12/06.
DateTimeSponsor(s)Location
Sat., Apr. 56:00 PM- 9:00 PMNashoba Conservation Trust
(slide show)
Pepperell, MA
Mon., Apr. 77:00- 9:30 PMClark University Water Watch
(slide show)
Worcester, MA
Sat., Apr. 268:30 AM- 4:30 PMCoastal Maine Botanical Gardens
(part of "The Kitchen Garden Makes a Comeback" Symposium)
Boothbay, ME
Sat., May 109:00 AM- 12 noonMass. Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary*Marblehead, MA
Sat., May 1712:30 PM-3:30 PM
6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Polly Hill Arboretum
(co-sponsored with Slow Food Martha's Vineyard)
West Tisbury, MA
Tues, May 275:30 PM- 8:00 PMEquinox Preservation Trust*/
Bennington County Sustainable Forest Consortium
Manchester, VT
Sat., May 319:00 AM-12:30 PMWestport River Watershed AllianceWestport, MA
Thurs. June 56:00 PM- 8:30 PMFarmington River Watershed AssociationAvon, CT
Sun., June 89:00 AM- 12 noonMass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
(part of Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Weekend)
Lenox, MA
Thur. June 126:00 PM- 8:00 PMFranklin Land TrustT.B.A., MA
Thur., June 196:00 PM- 8:00 PMWatertown Citizens for Environmental Safety/
Appalachian Mountain Club, Boston Chapter Local Walks Committee
Watertown, MA
Tues. June 246:00 PM- 8:00 PMCambridge Center for Adult Education*Cambridge, MA
Sat. July 122:00 PM- 5:00 PMNew England Wild Flower Society*Whately, MA
Sun., July 131:00 PM- 4:00 PMNortheast Organic Farming Association - Massachusetts*Belchertown, MA

Additional foraging programs may be added to this schedule as details are arranged with program sponsors.

§ = includes a wild foods tasting, cooking demonstration and/or dinner;
# = class is already full
* = It is necessary to pre-register directly with the Sponsor for these events. Telephone numbers:

Coastal Maine Botanic Garden: (207) 633-4333; Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts (Tom Szekely, (781) 894-4358); Polly Hill Arboretum (Karin Stanley, (508)693-9426); Mass. Audubon Ipswich River: (978) 887-9264; New England Wild Flower Society: (508) 877-7630 ext.3303; Westport River Watershed Alliance: (508) 636-3016; Equinox Preservation Trust (Shelly Stiles, 802-442-2275); Cambridge Center for Adult Education (Course Code WPLA): (617) 547-6789; Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (Ellie Horwitz,(508) 389-6300).

[Note: For those of you who haven't as yet attended one of these outdoor walks/courses, we usually encounter 25-45 different species of edible wild plants (and, in season, mushrooms), some in collectible quantity and condition. Keys to the identification of each species are provided, as well as information about its edible portion(s), season(s)of availability, flavor and nutritive value, and some tips on preparation if necessary. Guidelines for safe and environmentally responsible foraging are also provided. Participants often find a jackknife and several bags for collecting samples useful as well as a notebook and pen. Those who have already been on one or more of these walks often find a refresher course of great value. In addition, there is a constantly changing variety of edible wild plants throughout the year, even at the same location, so that different plants are typically encountered on each visit. If you are especially interested in mushrooms (edible and otherwise), you might also want to check out the Boston Mycological Club. ]

Last update: 5/1/08
Welcome Visitor #
to this updated Web page.


Information on Russ's foraging book: "Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten"
Foraging articles by or about Russ in Mass. Wildlife Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Edible Boston Magazine, etc.
Russ Cohen's Biography
Edible Wild Plant/Mushroom Bibliography
Recipes, including "Faux Gumbo" and "100% Wild Salad" as prepared on the PBS Victory Garden TV program
List of Sponsoring Organizations