Food forage tour in Saxon Woods 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.

Saxon Woods Park's forested areas and swamps are excellent places for early spring foraging, and we'll be very busy with a variety of native and exotic plant species as we explore these habitats.

The sunny borders between woodlands and open areas provide prime habitat for cold weather wild herbs and greens. We'll look for sheep sorrel, with its wonderful lemony flavor, and hairy bittercress, a mustard green with a bite that's neither bitter or hairy-tasting. Poor man's pepper, another common, delicious wild mustard, could also be coming up by now. And its even more abundant relative, garlic mustard, will be taking over the forest.

The edge of the woods is also full of burdock, a delicious and healthful taproot, which may or may not be up at this time. In the woods, we'll hunt for more edible and medicinal herbs and beverages such as root beer-flavored sassafras, wintergreen-flavored black birch twigs, and the first shoots of jewelweed, a preventative for poison ivy.

We'll also look for the dead, overwintered stalks of ramps, the world's best onion species, to locate the flavorful bulbs.

The woods could even have early season mushrooms. We'll be looking for oyster mushrooms, tree ears, and enoki mushooms, all gourmet treats.

What to bring:

Plastic bags for vegetables and herbs, paper bags for mushrooms, plastic containers for berries, drinking water, and a pen (to sign in).

It is also recommended you bring:

Lunch, knife, digger, work gloves, note pad, whistle (so you won't get lost), insect repellent, sun hat or warm hat, an extra sweater, rain gear or boots — Always dress appropriately.

The 2-hour walking tour begins at 10 AM, at Saxon Woods parking lot lot north of the Hutchinson River Parkway near the pool, not the southern entrance. 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!