Spring Foraging Workshop
This spring foraging workshop is intended for beginning foragers ages 6 to adult, or for anyone who is interested in learning how to safely identify various, wild edibles that are hiding in plain sight.
Spring is a great time to get back to nature, especially if you’ve been cooped up inside all winter. Karen Bento will show you how to recognize delicious, invasive weeds, such as garlic mustard, and help you gain a new appreciation for the not so lowly dandelion. If you think flowers are just for bouquets, think again. There are even some tasty edibles that can be found in manicured gardens. And pine trees? You’ll never look at them the same again. Karen will discuss the nutritional and medicinal value of the wild spring edibles we find, explain various ways to prepare and preserve them, and share a few wild edible recipes she’s developed over the past few years.
Because weather in New England can be very unpredictable, dress in layers, and wear comfortable walking shoes or boots. Be sure to bring bug spray. To help you document what you’ve seen or learned, bring a camera, a notepad, and a paper or cloth bag to collect samples.
The workshop will be split into two parts: foraging and cooking. The first half will be spent outside foraging around The Wayside Inn’s historic grounds. The second half will be spent indoors, in the Ford Room, making garlic mustard pesto for you to bring home with you. Handouts and original recipes will be provided.
Cost:
$50 per person / $40 for members
Registration is limited to 15 participants. Children ages 6-12 must be accompanied by and adult.
Karen B. Bento is a School Library Teacher, avid gardener, recipe developer, forager, and freelance writer and photographer whose work has been included in local Edible Communities publications (Edible Boston, Edible Worcester, and Edible Cape Cod). Her love of foraging, and creating recipes incorporating the wild edibles she finds, has helped elevate her home cooking experience, and has made for some very lively discussions around the dinner table. You can follow her on Instagram @karenskindredspirit.
