Carlisle and surrounding communities are home to over 100 species of edible wild plants, many of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. These include native species like Elderberry and Black Raspberry; non-native weeds, like Burdock and Chicory; and invasive species, like Autumn Olive and Black Locust. Join Russ Cohen, author of the book Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten, on a 2+ hour ramble through Great Brook Farm State Park to encounter and learn about at least 18 species of edible wild plants. Keys to the identification of each species will be provided, along with info on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as guidelines for safe, ethical and environmentally responsible foraging. We will meet at the Interpretive Center at Great Brook Farm State Park, located at 165 North Road in Carlisle. We recommend bringing water and sunscreen, and wearing a good pair of walking shoes.

Until his retirement in June of 2015, Russ Cohen’s “day job” was serving as the Rivers Advocate for the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration, where one of his areas of expertise was in riparian vegetation. Now Russ has more time to pursue his passionate avocation, which is connecting to nature via his taste buds, and assisting others in doing the same. In addition to leading over three dozen foraging walks and talks each year at a wide variety of venues throughout the Northeast, Russ has now taken on a role of Johnny Appleseed for edible native species. He has set up a small nursery (in Weston, MA) where he grows/keeps plants that he propagates from seed (some of which he collected himself). He is then partnering with land trusts, cities and towns, schools and colleges, state and federal agencies, tribal groups, organic farms, and others to plant plants from his nursery in appropriate places on their properties. Russ has initiated over two dozen such projects in the past six years.

You can find out more about Russ on his website: http://users.rcn.com/eatwild/bio.htm