Edible Wild Plant/Mushroom Walks and Talks -
Schedule for the Year 2022.
Dulse Seaweed - Photo by Russ Cohen
Please contact Russ at eatwild@rcn.com or (781) 646-7489 (h) for more information.
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 "in person" events below.
FYI, an excerpt of Russ' book can be read on-line
in the Jan/Feb 2005 edition of
Spirit of Change Magazine.
Click here to see and listen to Russ' October 2013 appearance on NPR affiliate WGBH, including video clips and an interview on Boston Public Radio, about fall foraging opportunities in eastern Massachusetts. Click here to read "Outdoor Dining: Foraging with Russ Cohen", a profile appearing in the September/October 2014 edition of the Appalachian Mountain Club's AMC Outdoors magazine. Read a profile of Russ appearing in Northern Woodlands Magazine's Community Conversations, October, 2020. NEW! Watch a segment about Russ that aired on the Chronicle TV show on 7/27/21.
| Date | Time | Sponsor(s) | Location |
|---|
| Wed. April 6 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Newton Conservators
(slide show) | online |
| Thurs., April 14 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Hooksett Public Library
(slide show) | Hooksett, NH |
| Thurs.,April 21 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Rensselaer Plateau Alliance
(slide show) | online |
| Mon., May 9 | 12 Noon - 2:00 PM | Middlesex Conservation District*
(walk) | Acton, MA |
| Mon., May 9 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Groton Conservation Trust
(slide show) | Groton, MA |
| Thurs., May 12 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Farrington Nature Linc*
(walk) | Lincoln, MA |
| Sat., May 14 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon | Columbia Land Conservancy*
(walk) | Canaan, NY |
| Mon., May 16 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Citizens for Lexington Conservation
(walk) | Lexington, MA |
| Tues., May 17 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Metacomet Land Trust
(walk) | Uxbridge, MA |
| Sun., May 22 | 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Hildene - The Lincoln Family Home
(slide show and walk) | Manchester, VT |
| Tues., May 24 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Northfield Public Library
(walk) | Northfield, MA |
| Thurs., May 26 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Flint (aka Middleton Public) Library*
(walk) | Middleton, MA |
| Wed., June 1 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Waltham Fields Community Farm*
(walk) | Waltham, MA |
| Tues., June 7 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM | Tower Hill Botanic Garden*
(walk) | Boylston, MA |
| Wed., June 8 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Buzzards Bay Coalition*
(walk) | Acushnet, MA |
| Fri., June 10 | 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Housatonic Heritage
(slide show) | online |
| Mon., June 27 | 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Holly Hill Organic Farm
(walk) | Cohasset, MA |
| Tues., June 28 | 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Audubon Society of Rhode Island*
(walk) | Bristol, RI |
| Sat., July 9 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | The Nature Museum*
(walk) | Grafton, VT |
| Tues., July 12 | T.B.A. | Bedrock Gardens*
(walk) | Lee, NH |
| Wed., July 13 | T.B.A. | Westport Conservation Land Trust
(walk) | Westport, MA |
| Fri., July 15 | 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM | Essex National Heritage Area*
(walk) | Salem, MA
(Bakers Island) |
| Tues., Sept 6 | T.B.A. | Mattapoisett Public Library
(slide show) | Mattapoisett, MA |
| Wed., Sept. 14 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Waltham Fields Community Farm*
(walk) | Waltham, MA |
| Thurs., Sept 15 | T.B.A. | Housatonic Heritage
(walk) | Pittsfield, MA |
| Thurs., Sept 22 | T.B.A. | Wilbraham Public Library
(walk) | Wilbraham, MA |
| Thurs., Sept. 29 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Tower Hill Botanic Garden*
(walk) | Boylston, MA |
| Thurs., Oct. 6 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon | Bedrock Gardens*
(walk) | Lee, NH |
Other events may be added to this schedule as details are worked out with respective 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. Click on the link(s) provided for each respective event for more info, or contact the sponsor via the following telephone numbers or emails:
Farrington Nature Linc (Zach@naturelinc.org); The Nature Museum: Jay DeGregorio, (412) 719-1080; Columbia Land Conservancy (Craig Wescott, (518) 392-5252 x 222); Waltham Fields Community Farm: (Jessica Herwick, (781) 899-2403); Allandale Farm: (617) 524-1531; allandale@allandalefarm.com; Tower Hill Botanic Garden: (Kyle Jacoby, (508) 869-6111 x101); Essex Heritage: (978)-740-0444); Middlesex Conservation District (Susan Thomas, (978) 303-8272); Flint (aka Middleton Public) Library: Charlie Pope, cpope@flintpublib.org; Buzzards Bay Coalition (Laura Lamar, lamar@savebuzzardsbay.org); Wild Seed Project: (info@wildseedproject.net); Bedrock Gardens (Roanne Robbins, education@bedrockgardens.org).
[Note: For those of you who haven't as yet attended one of the outdoor walks/courses,
we usually encounter 25-40 different species of edible
wild plants (and, in season, pending favorable weather conditions, mushrooms). 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: 4/18/2022
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, AMC Outdoors Magazine, etc.
Russ Cohen's Biography
Comprehensive (as of 1999) Edible Wild Plant etc. Bibliography, plus updated excerpt
Recipes, including "Faux Gumbo" and "100% Wild Salad" as prepared on the PBS Victory Garden TV program
List of Sponsoring Organizations of Russ' foraging programs