Notes/Photos From My "Urban Foraging Class"

[steveoregon]

Not sure if this kind of class is common, but it sounded like an interesting way to learn about gathering wild raw food in my area.

This class was offered in Portland Oregon by Wild Food Adventures (http://www.wildfoodadventures.com/)(John Kallas). John's website shows a lot of impressive knowledge in this field.

The class was last Sunday. The weather was a near perfect ten - clear and about 85 for a high.

20 adults and 2 children showed up for the three-hour class. If you ever take this kind of class, bring along a notebook for taking notes, it's easy to forget later.

See notes below photos.

http://justmyfolder.com/WildFood.JPG
John runs this business out of his home. I suspect this is a labor of love, rather than making a lot of money. The class was a reasonable $20

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http://justmyfolder.com/WildSpinach.JPG
Here we are in John's back yard looking at some wild spinach (Lambs Quarters). After looking at many other things growing in his back yard, the class continued as we all walked around his neighborhood. On one occasion, the owner of a house come out and was curious why all the attention was being paid to one of his plants.

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http://justmyfolder.com/WildFlower.JPG

Here's the class looking at some kind of wild flower. Earlier, we had sampled some berries and apples.

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http://justmyfolder.com/WildFood1.JPG
Here we found some Hemlock (very poisonous). Willamette river just barely visible in background.

All in all, I had a good time. Might do it again next year.


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[annavon]

Seeing this makes me want to move to Oregon. I was there for a week in May and it was so beautiful. I'm soooo jealous.;)

I wonder what kind of urban foraging they would have here in Arizona (saguaro cactus fruit anyone?)

[spicyfull]

Now that's RAW-oool........

[Eva]

Wow, that is really neat! Thanks for sharing and posting the pics! :)

[cavany]

That foraging course looks brilliant, I wish one was run closer to where I live dealing with plants and fungi. I worry that this knowledge is being lost and I have read some books about it but still a little afraid of eating something that I might not have identified correctly. You can’t beat someone just bringing you out and just showing you which plants are right and which should be avoided. Obviously it would be different depending on what part of the world you live in.

Why are we not educated in schools about this, it might increase respect for our natural environment.

[Bodhi]

That's cool. I've gotten to the point I'm looking at all the plants around my house and wondering how many of them are edible. I haven't got to the point where I harvest and eat them yet. Thanks for the tips and links. :D

[Riiiya]

That's cool. I've gotten to the point I'm looking at all the plants around my house and wondering how many of them are edible. I haven't got to the point where I harvest and eat them yet. Thanks for the tips and links. :D

hihihi i got to a point where i'd follow around my friend's pet bunny and try the same greens it chose lol (um..i don't tell that to many people :p)

[HolyGuacamole]

Ack, I'm crying. I miss Portland. :(

That looks amazingly cool - lucky you! :)

[Bodhi]

hihihi i got to a point where i'd follow around my friend's pet bunny and try the same greens it chose lol

I always have a couple of wild rabbits in my yard nibbling on plants...so...I fiqured it must be good stuff. :D

[shashibala]

Wow, that's neat! Thanks for sharing!