August Group Events: Public Forages & Wild Food Picnic

While the smokey air from Canada has turned everything outside sepia-stained and apocalyptic, that luckily hasn’t stopped many of you from joining me in nature over the past few weeks!

July kicked off with the end of the World Cup and the official beginning of nut season. We celebrated by foraging immature Black Walnuts, then gathered to trade recipes while sipping on some of my homemade Nocino and Vin de Noix from 2025.

The middle of the month was largely spent in the hedgerows and field edges, plucking plump black raspberries and blueberries.

Then, it was back to the forests to hunt for summer fungi like Chicken of the Woods (pictured left), Berkeley’s Polypore (pictured below), and Black Staining Polypores.

This week’s downpours are sure to urge a wider variety of mushrooms to begin fruiting over the next few weeks. Chanterelles, Black Trumpets, King Bolete’s and Milk Caps each favor wet conditions and should make for some great finds in August. Soon, elderberries will begin ripening along with wild cherries and blackberries. Sumac, wild mustard, sweet fern and bay leaf all beckon, ready to be made into delicious seasoning mixes.

August’s forage and wild food picnic will be fungi-focused, from mushroom jerky and pickled mushrooms to mushroom iced tea (trust me, it’s delicious!) and mushroom scampi. Come out and taste all that summer has to offer!

August Public Forages:

August 2 – Needham, MA Foraging Walk: Summer Fungi, Berries, Trees and Herbs

August 8 – Boxford, MA Mushroom Walk: Edible, Medicinal and Poisonous Fungi

August 15: Lynn, MA Foraging Walk & Wild Food Picnic: Summer Fungi, Berries and Herbs

For those looking to schedule a private forage or use a gift certificate, I am booking out 3-4 weeks in advance. If there is a specific date you are targeting, be sure to contact me soon to avoid disappointment!