Brill will lead Putnam foraging tour

Thursday, 26 August 2010 10:53

Naturalist and author “Wildman” Steve Brill will lead a foraging tour of Putnam State Park at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12.

An abundance of edible and medicinal wild plants and mushrooms makes it an ideal venue for foraging in the fall, Mr. Brill said.

Common edible weeds such as Asiatic dayflower, chickweed, wood sorrel, and sheep sorrel grow in sunny areas throughout. An area near the parking lot features large burdock roots. The trails are full of sassafras and black birch trees, while rocky slopes provide mullein and northern bayberry leaves.

The group will hunt for berries such as the sweet-sour autumn olive and the mild-flavored but colorful partridge berry. The ground will also be littered with shagbark hickory nuts, black walnuts and white oak acorns. Foragers will learn how to collect, process and use these foods.

The three-hour walking tour begins at 1 in the parking lot by the statue (not the lake) off Route 107. The suggested donation is $15 for adults, and $10 for children younger than 12.

For more information, visit wildmanstevebrill.com.

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