Wild Edibles Walk

$45/$30 for PHA members. Pre-registration is required. Please call 508-693-9426 to sign up.

Martha’s Vineyard is home to over 100 species of edible wild plants, ranging from native species like bayberry and beach plum, to weeds like chicory and burdock, and even invasives such as Autumn olive and black locust. Many of these species are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. Join Russ Cohen, wild foods enthusiast and author of Wild Plants I have Known…and Eaten, on a guided walk to learn about edible wild plants of Martha’s Vineyard. Learn plant identification, seasonal availability, preparation methods, and guidelines for safe and environmentally responsible foraging.

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 riparian vegetation. These days, Russ has more time to pursue his passionate avocation: connecting to nature via his taste buds. 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 as a “Johnny Appleseed” of sorts for edible native species. He has set up a small nursery in Weston, MA where he grows plants that he propagates from seed. He partners with land trusts, cities and towns, schools and colleges, state and federal agencies to introduce plants from his nursery on their properties.