Classes & Appearances 2023
Welcome foragers! Below are the current classes, and I will continue to add more. If you would like an alert, please join one or both email lists. I also offer some private classes in Colorado–in Fairplay or on your private property. Please use the contact form for inquiries.
Online Classes – NEW!
UPCOMING:
Edible Weeds II (Sat, Sept 23, 9:00 am) – So many “weeds” are edible and nutritious! This live online class is the 2nd in a series. In it we will learn amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), horseweed (Conyza canadensis), quickweed (Galinsoga spp.), chickweed (Stellaria spp.), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), and pineappleweed (Matricaria discoidea) as time permits. We will discuss what and when to pick, and what to make. Stock up for winter! $20/household.
Piñon / Pine Nuts (Sat, Oct 14, 9:00 am) – Piñon pines produce delicious pine nuts similar to those we purchase in the grocery store. The various species cover 60-100 million acres of the Western U.S., and yet we import most of our pine nuts. In this class we will learn all things piñon, pinyon, and pine nuts—including what trees make them, both here and abroad; the history, lore, and commerce of pine nuts; concerns like “pine mouth” and hantavirus; when, where, and how to harvest; and what to make with them. $20/household.
REPLAYS:
Wild Berries II (replay) – Are you wondering what berries are on your hike? This class is the 2nd in a series on berries in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. It includes chokecherries (Prunus virginiana); smooth, staghorn, and three-leaf sumac (Rhus species); Oregon grape and relatives (Mahonia species); river grapes (Vitis riparia); and junipers (Juniperus species). We discuss how to identify and distinguish these from common lookalikes, as well as how to process and use the berries. $20/household. Use the link to purchase access to the replay.
Wild Berries (replay) – Are you wondering what berries are on your hike? This class is the first in a series on berries of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region. In it we will learn “huckleberries” (Vaccinium species), serviceberries (Amelanchier alnifolia), currants and gooseberries (Ribes spp.), strawberries (Fragaria species), raspberries, Boulder raspberries, and thimbleberries (Rubus spp.), and a few poisonous ones. $20/household. Use the link to purchase access to the replay.
Colorado Mushrooms II (replay) – This is a sequel to Intro to Colorado Mushrooms. In it, we focus on 5 more edible mushrooms of Colorado and the Rocky Mountains: chanterelles (Cantharellus species), hedgehogs (Hydnum repandum), morels (Morchella species), Albatrellus species, and other boletes (Boletus, Leccinium, Suillus species). We will discuss related species, similar-looking mushrooms to avoid, and where and when to pick. Length: 1-1.5 hours. $20/household. Use the link to purchase access to the replay.
Intro to Colorado Mushrooms (replay) – This online class covers 5 major edible wild mushrooms of Colorado and the Rocky Mountains: porcini or king bolete (Boletus rubriceps), puffballs (various species), oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species), wood ears (Auricularia americana), and hawk’s wings (Sarcodon imbricatus). We discuss safety topics including similar-looking mushrooms to avoid, and where and when to pick. Length: 1 hour. $20/household. Use the link to purchase access to the replay.
Intro to Edible Weeds (replay) – So many “weeds” are edible and nutritious! Find them in your yard or garden, and you will have free organic greens for a lifetime. This class introduces 6 edible weeds in the U.S. and much of the world: lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium species), purslane (Portulaca oleracea), salsify (Tragopogon species), dock (Rumex species), mallow (Malva species), and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). We discuss related species, when to pick, and what to do with them. $20/household. Use the link to purchase access to the replay.
Colorado classes:
September 2023
Huckleberry Hunt fundraiser – Thursday Sept 14, Fairplay, CO (9:30 am) – In this small, semi-private class (max 5 participants), we will learn and pick Colorado “huckleberries,” also known as blueberries, bilberries, whortleberries, or grouseberries (Vaccinium myrtillus, possibly Vaccinium scoparium). They are fruiting prodigiously near me! This is a fundraiser for research and travel costs related to the book I am writing. It should be a fun, intimate adventure. $100 donation/person. Please click through for tickets and details. Hosted by WFG.
TOWN WALK: Berries, Seeds & More – Saturday, Sept 16, Fairplay, CO (9:00-11:00 am) – In this class we will walk a route around Fairplay Beach examining edible plants in fall, including berries and seeds, and discuss what to do with them. Signs with plant names aid in note-taking. There will be an opportunity to pick wax currants (Ribes cereum), which are very plump, red, and plentiful this year. $50/person. Kids are always welcome, at the regular ticket price, or check out the family class in the afternoon. Please click through for tickets and details. Hosted by WFG.
FAMILY CLASS: Currants & Gooseberries – Saturday Sept 16, Fairplay, CO (1:00 pm) – In this class, parents and children will learn how to identify an edible currant or gooseberry (genus Ribes). We will learn botanical terms and a simple 3-step ID process. We will then apply our learning in the field by examining one or more species. After that we’ll pick berries and sample them in a healthy fruit salad while we talk about safety and review what we learned. $50/adults; $30/kids. Please click through for tickets and details. Hosted by WFG.
