Take a walk on the sprawling Miller-Welch Wildlife Management Area (close to Berea and Richmond) and discover the abundance of native and non-native edibles to be found. Join local wild food enthusiast and forager Megan Martin for a moderately paced hike through fields and trails to search for seasonally available treats such as autumn olive, persimmons, rose hips, and more. Megan will share her knowledge of edible plants as frequent stops are made to learn about and collect nature’s bounty. You will also meet other wild food enthusiasts from different walks of life and learn how to confidently identify at least a dozen different plants.
In the morning we all gather at 9am, aiming to make a start at 9:15 after meeting each other over some sumac lemonade and fresh pawpaws. Then we will set off as a group to forage, first right off of the parking lot and then extending into surrounding woodlands, hedgerows and anywhere else we can discover hidden treasures. Once you see just how much is to be found, be sure you will have the foraging bug! You’ll then be surprised, if not astonished, at just how much food is growing all around you and will leave with skills to continue your new-found interest in foraging. Each participant will receive a booklet detailing 12 of the most common wild edibles to be found in this region during the fall season.
Berries, fruit, and greens will hopefully fill our bags and containers while we cultivate new skills, make friends, and learn about this ecologically sustainable, interactive, and immersive hobby.