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Instructor: Patricia Armstrong

Learn over 70 edible wild plants that you can forage in the fall during this five week course that includes both classroom instruction and field trips. Prepare food with what you forage and share with the class. This course is part of our Edible Wild Plant Certificate Program, so with just three additional courses and passing exam scores you can join our first five graduates and begin to lead your own foraging walks.

This course will concentrate on edible berries and teas in the Aster, Grass, Heath, Honeysuckle, and Rose families. This is the fall class for those earning their Edible Wild Plants Certificate.

Sup on Shrubs will meet 4 Wednesday evenings from 7-9:30 pm at the Clow House (Sept 24, Oct 1, 8, 22) plus one field trip to the instructor’s yard on Saturday, October 11th from 2-4 pm.

Session One: September 24 7-9:30 pm Introduction, reference book recommendations, reasons for eating wild plants, collecting etiquette, cooking tips, fall species list, common families of fall wild edibles, plant specimens to identify.

Session Two: October 1 7-9:30 pm
Continue study of plants in the Aster, Grass, Heath, Honeysuckle, and Rose families.

Session Three: October 4 2 - 4 pm
See and identify edible plants in a Naperville home landscape. Insect repellant recommended. Dress for the weather.

Session Four: October 8 7-9:30 pm
Learn about and identify plant specimens, quiz on plants, enjoy some wild edible treats.

Session Five: October 22 7-9:30 pm
Review summary, bring personal wild edible food evaluation, and take final exam for certificate

CLASS REQUIREMENTS:

• Students should have an inquiring mind and willingness to try new foods.
• Students are expected to take notes and participate in class activities, including field trips, regardless of weather.
• Students are required to prepare at least one wild plant and evaluate it as a food plant.
• Students desiring to earn a Edible Wild Plants Certificate will have to pass an exam identifying wild plants.

SUGGESTED MATERIALS:

• One book to identify edible plants
  • Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern & Central North America, Lee Peterson & Roger Tory Peterson, Peterson Field Guide Series, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, MA, 1999
  • Edible Wild Plants, Thomas S. Elias & Peter A. Dykeman, Outdoor Life Books, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., NY, 1982
  • Abundantly Wild, Teresa Marrone, Adventure Pub., Inc., Cambridge, MA, 2004
  • The Forager’s Harvest, Samuel Thayer, Forager’s Harvest, Ogema, WI, 2006
  • Nature’s Garden, Samuel Thayer, Forager’s Harvest, Birchwood, WI 2010
• A comprehensive recipe book
  • Wild Plant Family Cookbook, Patricia K. Armstrong, 1997

Cost: $160
(Save $60 when you sign up for the Edible Wild Plants Certificate which includes a full year of courses)