Laughing Coyote: First Foraging Class

Last month we had the first class of our Hands-on Foraging Series. Wendy, our wonderful guest instructor, passionate about all things wild and tasty, led us on a wildcrafted culinary adventure. We began by identifying several local plants-- not too many, because she believes it is better to get to know a few plants well than hundreds vaguely. Her goal throughout the class was to show us how to incorporate wild foods into our daily routine. We found dock, cattail, currant flowers, pineapple weed, stinging nettle, penny cress, blue mustard and spruce tips. For the second portion of class, the feasting began. Wendy prepared nettle "party dip", which also included toasted wild onions; a Moroccan chickpea and greens dish using dock; strawberry and dock compote; nettle "saag paneer"; hoary cress as broccoli rabe; teas incorporating nettle, dandelion and pineapple weed; compound salts and sugars.

One of the most satisfying aspects of the class was how empowered all of the participants felt at the end. We went home and recreated almost every dish we learned, as well as started preserving wild plants for the winter and adding the plants we learned into other dishes.

My mouth is already watering as we are gearing up for the next class, this Sunday, June 16th. I have heard rumors that new and varied tasty treats are in store, including Korean and Persian dishes using wild greens, cattail kimchi, cattail pollen pancakes, natural sodas using wild plants. Oh, and kids are welcome, if they bring an adult along.

These class are not to be missed for anyone interested in food or wild plants. Check it out at our website www.laughingcoyoteproject.org. Hope to see you there.

~Neal