at Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust
On Saturday, October 6, America's go-to guy for foraging, "Wildman" Steve Brill will lead one of his world-famous foraging tours of the Pennypack Trust in Huntingdon Valley, PA, a walking tour sponsored by Pennypack Farm.
This is the best time for wild mushrooms, and if there's been enough rain beforehand, we could make some spectacular finds. Chicken mushrooms, hen-of-the-woods, honey mushrooms, brick tops, blewits, shaggy manes, pear-shaped puffballs, beefsteak mushrooms, and giant puffballs can come up in quantity in various locations.
Wild fruits do well in autumn too. We'll look for the black haw, a berry with the texture of banana and the flavor of prune butter. The common spicebush, on the other hand, is a bush with leaves that are great for tea, and the berries tht replace allspice—an indispensable seasoning for main courses, side dishes, and desserts.
Root vegetables are in season too. We'll look for wild parnips, burdock, anise-flavored sweet cicely, and wild carrots.
Nuts are at their peak now too, so we'll be on the lookout for black walnuts, butternuts, hickory nuts, and white oak acorns, all delicious in different ways.
And there will be plenty of wild greens. Lamb's-quarters, Asiatic dayflower, wood sorrel, and lady's thumb are but a few we might find.
The 2-hour walking tour of Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust begins at 1 PM, Saturday, October 6, at 2955 Edge Hill Road Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. The fee is $20/adult, $10 for kids.
Open to the public. Registration and payment required in advance. Refunds are not available for missed classes.