|
Naturalist Conducts wild food tour of Saxon Woods May 15
Posted on Monday, April 26 @ 16:34:42 EDT by jfbailey
|
|
|
WPCNR TRAIL BLAZER. From Steve Brill. April 26, 2004: On Saturday, May 15, naturalist/author "Wildman" Steve Brill will lead a Wild Food and Ecology Tour of Saxon Woods in White Plains. Saxon Woods is a lush forest in the heart of Westchester with a rich diversity of woodland habitats--dense forest, young woods, streams, and cultivated and overgrown areas, all with their own flora. This is a great place for spring herbs and greens.
Right along the edge of the parking lot, we'll find thriving stands of lamb's-quarter (a wild spinach), and sheep sorrel, with a wonderful lemony flavor. There'll also be spicy poor man's pepper, lady's thumb, and Asiatic dayflower.
Sunny areas in the woods have plenty of pokeweed at its best, which is good. At its best, it's one of the finest vegetables in the world. At its worst, it can kill you. But there's no risk whatsoever on this tour, where you'll learn exactly how to handle this gourmet potherb.
In the woods, we'll also look for piquant greenbriar leaves at the peak of the prickly vine's season. We'll also hunt for medicinal herbs and beverages such as sassafras roots, black birch, and common spicebush leaves.
There are also lots of species of spring mushrooms in season. Our targets will include chicken mushrooms, the world's best vegetarian chicken alternative, and dryad's saddle, a mushroom that smells just like watermelon rind, and that requires marination to bring out its best. We may also find superb wine-cap stropharia mushrooms in wood chips, delicate fairy ring mushrooms on lawns, and world-famous morels, which could be anywhere.
The 90-minute walking tour begins at 10 AM, Saturday, May 15, at the parking lot by the swimming pool north of the Hutchinson River Pkwy. (not the lot south of the Hutch) in Saxon Woods. The suggested donation is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12. Nobody is ever turned away due to lack of funds.
To attend, call (914) 835-2153 at least 24 hours beforehand and reserve a place. For the 2004 tour calendar, visit http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com, send a SASE to 320 Palmer Terrace, 2A, Mamaroneck, NY 10543, or leave a fax number.
|
