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KIRKWOOD, Mo.—The outdoors holds a bounty of food, especially in and near the water, if you know what to look for. Harvesting from nature can also be a delicious treat and a great way to get into the locavore movement.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites you to discover the many benefits of naturally-sourced foods by attending a special event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood. Harvest Wild: Water will be held Saturday, Sept. 28 at the nature center from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages. Visitors are especially encouraged to attend and share the experience with the whole family. Hunting and gathering from nature is the ultimate expression of locally-sourced foods.
The focus of this Harvest Wild event will be on the many benefits and resources water provides us, including a rich variety of foods. Water and wetlands support plentiful forms of hunting, fishing and edibles gathering. Participants will learn what to look for and where to go to find foods in nature. Demonstrations will show visitors how to prepare wild foods and game, and free samples will offer the chance to taste the results.
Celebrated mushroom expert Maxine Stone, author of the book Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms, will also give a presentation during the event.
Waterfowl, crayfish, and river fish are a few items from the evening’s menu. Participants will get to sample dishes made from wild mushrooms, cattails, and cactus. Sumptuous desserts made from paw paws and wild berries will also be available to taste. Visitors can leave with the recipes to their favorite dishes to try for themselves at home. They’ll also have a better understanding of the path of food from the field to the fork.
Harvest Wild: Water is a free event; however, advanced online registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/y4yoj3d5. Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is located at 11715 Cragwold Road, near the intersection of I-270 and I-44.
MDC offers many free educational events and programs in the St. Louis region to help people discover nature, fishing, hunting, and the outdoors. Stay informed by subscribing to the free monthly Conservation Connections e-newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/y6auvxmm.
