Russ Cohen teaching wild edible plants, including Sumac

Please join us for an outdoor visit to a conserved property in Uxbridge with the expert guidance of Russ Cohen, longtime friend of Metacomet and the Bay State’s unofficial ambassador for the bounty of edible wild plants, on Tuesday, May 17th at 5:30 p.m.

Please Note: We have reached capacity for this event. If you would like to be placed on a wait list, please register and we will notify you if space is available. Signup Link is at the bottom of this page.

Group size is limited to 30 adults plus accompanied children.

The program will feature Russ Cohen, who for many years has introduced local residents to the bounty of edible plants in the region. Southern Worcester County is home to over 100 species of edible wild plants, many of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. Advance registration is required. Interested residents may email info@metacometlandtrust.org or call (508) 271-7131 for more information.

Cohen, the author of “Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten,” will take participants on a two-hour ramble through the gentle landscape of Foxfire Farm to learn about more than a dozen species of edible wild plants. Keys to the identification of each species will be provided, along with info on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as guidelines for safe and environmentally-responsible foraging.

Until his retirement in June of 2015, Cohen’s “day job” was serving as the Rivers Advocate for the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration, where one of his areas of expertise was in riparian vegetation. Now Russ has more time to pursue his passionate avocation, which is connecting to nature via his taste buds, and assisting others in doing the same.  Russ is now playing the role of “Johnny Appleseed” for edible native species. He has set up a small nursery in Weston where he grows over 1,000 plants that he propagates from seed and or obtains from other sources such as the Native Plant Trust.  He partners with land trusts, cities and towns, schools and colleges, state and federal agencies, organic farms, tribal groups and others to plant plants from his nursery in appropriate places on their properties.  Russ has initiated over two dozen such projects in the past five years. 

Foxfire Farm is a privately owned small farm which has been permanently conserved by the owner’s generous donation of a conservation restriction. The property includes several types of habitats, including meadows, wetlands and streams and woodland.

Metacomet Land Trust is a nonprofit land conservation organization which holds the easement on the farm. Metacomet was founded in 1988 and currently protects nearly 1,000 acres in the Worcester and Norfolk Counties.

This late afternoon walk will be conducted with current COVID precautions and participants should be prepared to protect themselves with masks, insect repellent, etc. 

Please visit this Google Form and register. Location will be sent to participants in advance.