Class Shows How To Find Food Among Forest Plants

Tara Bal’s Wild Foods class is changing the definition of “field testing.” The online-based class met this weekend to continue their studies of the people and plants of the boreal forest.

“We’re giving people sort of an introduction to the local plants and indigenous people’s way of using different plants in the area here,” said Bal. “It’s about appreciating the plants that we have here and finding more of a use for them other than just something to look at.”

Bal said the students did look at plants over the three days worth of field trips to local nature areas, but they also found themselves eating the plants they studied all semester.

“We just went for walks, practicing the identification of plants and foraging for different things from gardens, from stuff that was just even in the parking lot that we could find. Then, we tried a sampling of a whole bunch of different local teas from plants and different things that we have growing in our gardens or in our own backyards,” said Bal.

The Sunday potluck featured many of the plants they had searched for over the weekend, including the crowd-favorite lily stuffed with mascarpone and cream cheese.

Some people may be hesitant to try unknown plants, but these students were more than thrilled to taste-test their findings, like Laurie Stark.

“Prior to this, I didn’t have a whole lot of experience with foraging, I’ve maybe went and picked some blueberries and raspberries out in the wild, but I’ve been able to try different things like serviceberries and dewberries, which are very good and they’re all local foods you can find out in the woods,” said Wild Foods student Laurie Stark.

While this summer’s class was full, Bal said they are hoping to offer the course again next year.