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Kansas City, Mo. – The word foraging has become a common term for gathering food from wild places such as forests and woodlands. A walk in the woods while gathering walnuts or persimmons is a fine autumn trek. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer free programs in October to help people learn about fall wild edibles, how to use them and where to find them.
MDC’s Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City will host three foraging for wild edibles sessions on Saturday, Oct. 2. The classes are in one-hour sessions. A 10 a.m. session is already full. But seats remain for sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. MDC staff will forage ahead of the sessions in the center’s native plant garden and out in the wild. They will have on hand for viewing wild mushrooms, hickory nuts, walnuts, and forest fruits such as pawpaws, persimmons, and wild grapes. Taste tests for some items will be available.
These sessions are for participants age 12 and older. COVID-19 precautions will be followed. Registration is required. To register for 11:30 a.m., visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZyB. For the 1 p.m. session, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zy2.
MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center will host a foraging session from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19. This session will focus on preparing for next year’s wild edible harvest, including plants that can be added to home gardens. This class is for participants age 18 and older. COVID-19 precautions will be followed. Registration opens on Sept. 28. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zy6.
