Foraging for Wild Edibles - Fall Survival Skills Class

This moderate difficulty hiking class is designed to introduce students to a number of wild edibles that are found in Central Illinois and throughout the Midwest. This class will cover an array of local wildlife plant species that are edible and some that are medicinal. Learn how these plants can be harvested and prepared, what their reported medicinal qualities are, and how they might have been used in traditional medicine. Discussions will include Jerusalem artichoke, sassafras, goldenrod, wild ginger, black walnuts, black cherry, and host of others. The class will hike 3.4 miles of the Flood Plain Trail that contains elevation changes and uneven terrain. Topics covered also include:

Legal considerations that govern foraging
The Universal Edibility Test for survival
Wild edible plants that are common
Where to find and when to harvest
What to avoid in wild edibles
How to ensure positive identification