Food forage tour in Forest Park, New York

The purpose of this hands-on program is to learn about the environment and get back in touch with nature. By studying foraging and nature, we enjoy our renewable resources and reaffirm our commitment to preserving and rebuilding our ecological riches.

This is one of the best places in the world for early spring foraging, with a wide selection of wild herbs, greens, roots, and even some cold-weather mushrooms. Habitats include miles of mature forest, as well as the trail edges and the disturbed, overgrown, and cultivated habitats that provide homes for all sorts of diverse species.

Root vegetables include wild carrots, growing on the hillside adjacent to the meeting place, right in front of the Parks Dept. administration building.

Another choice root vegetable is sweet cicely, which tastes like black licorice. This one's easy to unearth, and there's so much in Forest Park, you can't harm the habitat by collecting reasonable quantities.

Herbs and greens we'll be looking for include honewort or wild chervil, which tastes like parsley, celery, and carrots; sassafras, the original source of root beer; black birch, which tastes like wintergreen, garlic mustard, with garlicky leaves and horseradish-flavored roots; and onion/garlic-flavored field garlic leaves and bulbs.

The forest is one of the best for mushrooms. We'll be looking for early-season species such as oyster mushrooms and tree ears.

Another choice root vegetable is sweet cicely, which tastes like black licorice. This one's easy to unearth, and there's so much in Forest Park, you can't harm the habitat by collecting reasonable quantities

Herbs and greens we'll be looking for include sassafras, the original source of root beer; garlic mustard, with garlicky leaves and horseradish-flavored roots; and onion-flavored field garlic.

The forest is one of the best for mushrooms. We'll be looking for late-season species such as oyster mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, brick tops, and tree ears.

The 4-hour walking tour begins at 11:45 AM, at the stone wall at Union Turnpike and Park Lane, near the Parks Dept.'s Overlook building. Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance to reserve a place.

"Wildman" Steve Brill is America’s best-known forager. He has an impressive and extensive resumé, covering everything from environmental educator to natural foods cook. Steve is also an author, having written books such as The Wild Vegetarian Cookbook (2002), Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal plants in Wild and Not-So-Wild Places (1994), and Shoots and Greens of Early Spring (1986, revised 2008).

He has been mentioned in numerous newspaper and magazine features and has written his own editorials too. Aside from being famous for running the Wild Food and Ecology tours in New York, Steve has additionally appeared on the radio and on dozens of local, national and international TV programs. Such examples include appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, The Today Show and CBS Evening News with Dan Rather.

But he’s best-known for having been arrested and handcuffed by undercover park rangers for eating a dandelion in Central Park!