Is your lawn overrun with invasive weeds like dandelions? Having trouble getting rid of them? Why not eat them?
Wildsight is hosting Nature’s Wild Edible Foods, a seminar that teaches people what wild plants are edible, as well as how to harvest and prepare them.
“These foods are literally in our own backyards,” said Rachel Darvill with Wildsight. “People generally aren’t aware that these wild foods are edible.”
They have brought in an expert from Slocan, Shannon Leigh, to teach this all-day seminar. It has already garnered so much interest that it has filled up, and currently has a lengthy wait list.
“It seems to be a topic that has been gaining a lot of interest lately,” said Darvill. Leigh had come to Golden previously and did an informal nature walk, talking about what wild plants are edible. Wildsight and Darvill were very eager to bring her back.
“This is not meant as a way for people to sustain themselves. But it’s a way to supplement your diet, and get people to take advantage of these invasive plants that are already in our backyards.”
The seminar will take attendants on a walk to collect wild foods, and Wildsight is putting an emphasis on how to minimize disturbance when they harvest. Then they will prepare the foods together, and end the day with a wild foods feast.
Some of the plants likely to be included in that feast are dandelions, fireweed, thimbleberry, burdock, rose, oxeeye daisy, sorrel, chickweed and chicory.
Although the event is full, Darvill is happily surprised with the response they have received.
“It is definitely something we’d like to look at bringing back,” she said. “I think it’s important to educate the community about this.”
