Weekend of Foraging (Spring)

“Foraging for Useful Plants” is a weekend foraging adventure.

This weekend workshop is an in-depth look at local plants and their many uses. During this hands-on workshop you will learn how to identify edible and useful plants, how to sustainably harvest, prepare and use them in a range of ways.

You can attend one day or both. (Either Saturday or Sunday can stand alone)The workshops run from 9am until 4pm Saturday and Sunday. On this journey you will discover over 100 wonderful plants for edible, medicinal and other uses.

Day 1- Saturday [Wild Edibles]

The focus of our first day is Edible plants.

• Includes Native bushtucker found right here on site in a bushland environment
• Common garden and pasture weeds
• Introduced/ naturalised shrubs.
• Coastal plants

We begin by taking a foraging walk through the bush and back along the Tweed river. We will be out walking and talking for about 2 hours so make sure you bring drinking water and a pack. (The walking component is only about 2km…there is lots of stopping and learning along the way.)

• You will receive plant-id handouts to help you forage at home
• Learn about deadly/ harmful plants and the dangers of incorrect identification
• Learn to identify and correctly prepare plant material.
• Sustainable harvesting practise, how to collect plant material from native bushland without having an adverse effect on the environment.

After morning tea we talk about edible weeds of the garden and pasture and harvest some to bring back for a delicious wild-harvest afternoon tea.

In the afternoon session we cover a huge range of coastal edible plants and end with an informal info sharing session and talk about great books and other resources to extend your knowledge about foraging.

Day 2- Sunday [Foraging for plants for Cordage, Fire and Other Uses]

The focus on Day 2 is Foraging for plants for uses other than food.

Plants for cordage, plants used for tinder and for making fire drills, resins, fish poisons, weaving, dying and more.

• Harvest materials
• Learn how to process and store them
• Make cordage (string) from locally harvested plants
• Hand craft a primitive fire lighting kit
• Learn to create fire by friction utilising the tools you make
• Make a pitch stick from local plant resins, this is basically a old form of a hot glue gun. This resin mix can be used for countless applications many of which will be demonstrated on the day

Cost

Weekend of Foraging $320+booking fee

Foraging for Wild Food (Saturday only) $ 170 + booking fee

Foraging for Useful Plants (Sunday only) $170 +booking fee

100% refund or transfer to future events if you’re unable to attend due to Covid restrictions/lockdowns etc.

Course includes

• all tuition and course materials
• tea and coffee
• free camping for those attending both days

Bookings essential, Limited positions available.

***Camping available, meal Saturday night available for campers. (Please indicate when booking if you will be camping or want to order a meal)

Optional camping available for Friday night if travelling from afar.