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Morningside Park (Teens/ Adults) is unfortunately unavailable

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Discover the hidden culinary treasures of Prospect Park as you learn to identify and harvest edible and medicinal plants, mushrooms, and berries. Join us for a unique foraging experience led by an expert guide. Don't miss out on this opportunity to explore the park's natural wonders and enhance your knowledge of wild foods.

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Morningside Park (Teens/ Adults)

Discover the incredible array of edible and medicinal plants that can be found in Morningside Park during this unique foraging experience led by renowned forager "Wildman" Steve Brill. Uncover the hidden wonders of nature and learn how to incorporate these wild greens into your meals. Join us for an unforgettable adventure!

  • All levels
  • 13 and older
  • $20
  • Morningside Dr, New York, NY
  • 2 hours

Start Dates (0)

  • $20
  • Morningside Park @ Morningside Dr, New York, NY 10026
  • 2 hours
  • 120th St. and Morningside Ave.
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Class Description

Description

What you'll learn in this nature tours class:

The 2024 foraging season, "Wildman's" 42nd, continues with his second public tour of Morningside Park, beginning at 2 PM, March 10, "Wildman's" 75th birthday, and meeting at 120th St. and Morningside Ave. This 2-hour foraging tour will be held in conjunction with Friends of Morningside Park, and it will cover the first edible/medicinal plants to appear in early spring.

These cold-resistant greens include field garlic, with spicy, onion-like bulbs, plus the tender young leaves which you use like chives.

Chickweed, which tastes like corn-on-the-cob, grows in sunny spots throughout the park. It tastes like corn, and has more vitamins than a health food store.

Sunny spots will also feature lemony-flavored sheep sorrel, one of the tastiest edible "weeds." Wet lawns could feature spicy hairy bittercress, which tastes like its relative watercress, as well as intensely-flavored winter cress.

Other sunny, grassy spots may produce shepherd's purse, the most mild-flavored of the mustard greens, while partially-shaded spots will feature its strongly-flavored relative, garlic mustard, with garlic-flavored leaves and horseradish-flavored roots. 

Dandelions will be abundant too, with the savory leaves at their best now. "Wildman" hasn't been arrested and handcuffed eating one of these since undercover park rangers infiltrated his tour in 1986, but there's always hope that this could recur and go viral again!

Edge habitats will feature bitter dock, so bad-tasting raw, it took "Wildman" 29 year to try it cooked, only to discover that this super-abundant member of the buckwheat family is one of the best-tasting and versatile wild potherbs, used sparingly, so as not to overpower the other ingredients. It's also excellent coated with herbs and roasted into chips. Its lemony-flavored relative, curly- or yellow dock, should be coming up too.

Ground ivy, a.k.a. gill-over-the-ground, is an attractive member of the mint family that's tolerant of the cold. This resident of lawns makes a delightful tea that's used in herbal medicine for water retention. 

Sassafras, the original source of root beer, is in season all year, and it could be growing in thickets. Since this is "Wildman's" second public tour here, there could be a variety of surprises as well.

Mushrooms are not common in early March, but on the 2023 tour, we found large quantities of wood ear mushrooms, one of the few cold-tolerant fungi. Familiar in soups in Chinese restaurants, you can also coat these gelatinous mushrooms with with herbs and bake them, to make "Wildman's" Gummy Ears.

Since this is only "Wildman's" second public tour here, there could be a variety of surprises as well.

Note:

  • Participants should be dressed for the weather, and be aware of very bad subway service. Trains are often canceled due to track work.
  • No sandals (there are mosquitoes, thorns and poison ivy). Everyone should have plastic bags for veggies and herbs, paper bags for mushrooms, which spoil in plastic, containers for berries from late spring through fall, water and lunch, and extra layers when it's cold. Digging implements and pocket knives are optional.
  • Dogs are permitted. Children are encouraged to attend.
  • There's no smoking whatsoever at any time.
School Notes:
If you can't attend the class you signed up for, please call or email "Wildman" Steve Brill a day before the start of the class. No-call/no-show creates an inconvenience to all participants since we can’t tell if absentees are having transportation issues, and this delays the start of the tour/class.

Kindly note that price posted is our suggested donation only.

Refund Policy

  • Participants can cancel 2 business days before an event and get a refund less a 5% nonrefundable registration fee.
  • If the participant failed to show up in the tour or failed to notify about their absence 2 business days before the class, they will be required to pay a $25 penalty per person before being allowed on another tour.
  • In any event where a customer wants to cancel their enrollment and is eligible for a full refund, a 5% processing fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

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"Wildman" Steve Brill

Foraging expert Steve Brill has shared his foraging wisdom at schools, museums, parks departments, environmental organizations, and with scout troops since 1982. He’s written three books and an app, stars in a DVD and maintains a website.

His History with Foraging

As part of his exercise regime, he...

Read more about "Wildman" Steve Brill

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"Wildman" Steve Brill

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