Classes
Green Deane leading a foraging plant walk at Florida Earth Skills gathering 2013. Photo by Ralph Giunta
Foraging Class Schedule
Below is my upcoming class schedule which is updated weekly. Please make reservations. Walk-in’s are accepted if the class is not full. To make your reservation send me an email. Please include date(s) desired, number of people, and contact information. Class size is limited to assure personal attention. Cost is $30 per person over the age of 12, twelve and under no charge (private classes available as are group rate for private classes. No group rates for open-to-the-public classes.)
The class is usually around four hours long. For payment methods, see below. Classes are held hot or cold, rain or shine except for hurricanes. Descriptions of each location and where to meet are below. Times and day of week can differ with each location and time of year. Double check. Hiking and clothes requirements change with each class as do facilities. Again, double check. More details about each individual venue — such as where to meet — are listed below the Pay Now button. Classes more than 100 miles away from Orlando can be cancelled if only a small number sign up.
Payment method: Cash on the day of class, $30 per person over 12. Or you can pay by credit card by clicking on the Pay Now button below. Or, if you have a Pal Pay account email me and ask for the appropriate email address. No checks please. If you pay by Paypal or credit card there is an additional $5 fee per adult.
Saturday, May 18th, Spruce Creek Park, 6250 Ridgewood Ave. Port Orange, FL, 32127, 9 a.m.
Sunday, May 19th, Florida State College, south campus, 11901 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL., 32246, 9 a.m.
Friday, May 24th, private class.
NEW! Saturday, May 25th, George LeStrange Preserve, 4911 Ralls Road, Fort Pierce, FL, Florida 34981, 9 a.m.
Sunday, May 26th, Dreher Park, 1310 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33405, 9 a.m.
Monday, May 27th, Private Class.
NEW! Saturday, June 1st: Hammock Park, 1900 San Mateo Dr, Dunedin, FL 34698, 9 a.m.
NEW! Sunday, June 2nd, Red Bug Slough Preserve, 5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL, 34233, 9 a.m.
Saturday, June 8th, TBA
Sunday, June 9th, Mead Garden: 1500 S. Denning Dr., Winter Park, FL 32789, 9 a.m.
NEW! Saturday, June 29th, Pensacola, location to be announced.
Sunday, June 30th, TBA
Please click here to pay for your class
THE LOCATIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Bayshore Live Oak Park, 23157 Bayshore Rd., Port Charlotte, FL 33980, meet at the parking lot at the intersection of Bayshore Road and Ganyard Street. Part of the original Port Charlotte Harbor this long and narrow park still sports many edible wild plants and ornamentals. There are numerous parking lots and facilities. We will meet at the parking lot east of the last fishing pier. Among the interesting plants we will study are elderberry, caesar weed, palms, sea grapes, Spanish needles, sea purslane, wild cow peas, red and black mangroves, oaks, railroad vine, saw palmettos, firebush, epazote, sida, Ilexes, Canaveral Rose, fig, smilax, crowfoot grass, loquats, coco plums, wild grapes, opuntia, Cereus, pines, horseweed, bitter gourd, and a few toxic plants. There are bathrooms and water at both parks. Because of the distance this class has to have 10 confirmed students ahead of time.
Boulware Springs Park, 3420 SE 15th St. Gainesville, FL 32641. Meet at the picnic tables next to the pump house. We start at the park and on a small portion of the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail. If there is time then we will drive to a second location, Palm Point Nature Park 7401 Lakeshore Drive, Gainesville, FL. 32641. There’s about 40 edible species at the first location and a similar number at the second with cross over. However the first is site is upland and the second lakeside. Neither site has water or restrooms and parking is limited at the second site. We might car pool to the second site if there is time and interest. Because of the distance this class has to have confirmed students ahead of time. DIRECTIONS: Take 4th Street off State road 331 (SE Williston Road.) At SE 15th Street (a T-intersection) turn right. In less than a mile you will see the entrance on your right to the Hawthorn Trail, pass that. Take the immediate next right into the Boulware Springs parking lot, adjacent to SE 15th St.
Colby-Alderman Park: 1099 Massachusetts Street, Cassadaga. Fla. 32706. Situated on Lake Coby and sometimes called Lake Colby/Royal Park, the 124-acre historic site was recently renovated with a quarter million dollar grant. It has a pavilion, bathrooms, boat ramp, plenty of shade, parking and a nature walk. It is the most handicap accessible site for studying wild edibles. A July survey showed at least three dozen edible species growing, from fruiting persimmons to spurge nettle to blossoming kudzu. Directions: Take Interstate-4 to Exit #114 (formerly Exit #54.) Turn west onto Highway 472 (toward Orange City/Deland. That is a left if coming from from the south, a right if coming from the north.) Once on 472 and leaving the interstate behind go to the first traffic light and turn right onto Dr. Martin Luther King Parkway. After you are on the parkway, turn right at the first street, which is Cassadaga Road (Country Road 4139.) Continue 1.5 miles to Cassadaga. You will pass the Cassadaga Hotel on your right. While the main road immediately turns left you will go straight, go down a short hill where the road bears right and ends in the park. Meet near the restrooms. We will walk less than a mile with most of it on a paved walkway or a sand path.
Dreher Park, 1310 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, 33405. Take exit 68 (Southern Boulevard) off Interstate 95 and go east. Entrance to the park is an immediate right at the bottom of the interstate bridge. Follow the convoluted signs to the science center. Park anywhere. We meet 300 feet northwest of the science museum near the banyan tees. It’s a noisy area but early in the morning isn’t too bad. The amount of plants we can see depends upon the season and how much mowing they do. Among them are: American beautyberry, malaleuca, pigeon plum, pines, caesar weed, elderberry, wild grapes, citrus, oxalis, conyza, smilax, passion flowers, sandspurs, koontie, ipomoea, oaks, commelinas, Emilias, purslane, amaranth, figs, Bauhinia, crowfoot grass, surinam cherry, bitter gourd, red spiderling, sea grapes, sida, cattails, yellow pond lillies, Spanish needles, mangos, sedges, wapato, firebush, pickerel weed, sabal palms, royal palms, queen palms, bamboo, traveler palms, coconuts, date palms, dollar weed, water hyssop, mahoe, varigated mahoe, seaside mahoe, fishtail palm, podocarpus, lichen, pellitory, porter weed, pepper grass, smartweed, false hawk’s beard, sow thistles, epazote, sword fern, juniper, Ilex, cocoplums, bittercress, and two of the most toxic seeds on earth and an iguana or two. Because of the distance this class has to have 10 confirmed students ahead of time.
Florida State College, south campus, 11901 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, 32246. We will meet at building “D” next to the administration parking lot. Until recently it was Florida Community College Jacksonville, south campus.) Campus police say we can park on in the east parking lot, towards the north side. Restrooms and water are available. Our route will take us about a mile around the outer rim of the campus which (unless they mow a lot) has a wide variety of wild edibles. Among the edibles are cattails, wild mint, rumex, false hawks beard, hollies, hornbeam, sonchus, various palms, two kinds of chickweed, smilax, several wild mustards, pines, oaks, perseas, wax myrtle, Spanish needles, plantains, dandelions, false dandelions, elm. Because of the distance this class has to have confirmed students ahead of time.
George LeStrange Preserve, 4911 Ralls Road, Fort Pierce, FL, Florida 34981. The preserve is only about three miles from the junction of the Turnpike and I-95. It has no bathroom or drinking water so take advantage of the various eateries and gas stations at the exit. After exiting either the turnpike or I-95 go east on Okeechobee Road. Turn right onto S. Jenkins Road. Then left on Edwards Road. Then right onto Silvitz Road. After crossing the small St. Lucie River (a small S-curve among those straight roads) turn right onto Ralls Road. Go to the end of Ralls Road then turn left into the preserve. Part of the trails through the preserve take you along ox bows of the St. Lucie River and Ten Mile Creek. During my last visit I saw a lot of Ground Cherries, Amaranth, Purslane, Barnyard Grass, Dollar weed, Spanish Needles, Gopher Apples, Sow Thistles, native and escaped grapes, Smilax, Poor Man’s Pepper Grass, Pellitory, False Hawk’s Beard, Water Hyssop, Coral Bean, Hairy Cow Pea, Southern Wax Myrtle, Fireweed, Epazote, Catails, Willows, Pines and a lot of fish.
Haulover Canal, Merritt Island National Refuge, north of the Kennedy Space Center. Take SR 405 east from Titusville to SR 3, then turn left, or north. Haulover Canal is the only bridge you will cross on SR 3, approximately six miles. Go over the bridge, then turn left onto a dirt road, follow that to its western end ( on some maps this is one-half mile west of Allenhurst, a defunct settlement.) Park. If coming south on US 1: Just south of Oak Hill turn left onto SR 3. Shortly after passing a white “Epcot” building you will see a bridge ahead. One quarter mile before the bridge turn right on to a dirt road and follow it to its western end. Park there. If the area is crowded we can park at the Manatee Deck which is on the northeast side of the waterway east of the bridge. This is by far the most Spartan of our locations but it does have several plants not seen in other areas. There is no drinking water (bring your own) and only one poorly located over-used port-a-let, so the woods may be the rest room of necessity. There are few shade trees so you might also want to bring a shade umbrella or large hat. We will be walking on dirt roads for the most part, and only about two miles worth. But it is hot and dusty. We start at 9 a.m. because many refuge gates don’t open early. We will be sharing the area with picnickers and fishermen. In a recent visit I saw glasswort, sea purslane, saltwort, seablite, mangroves, Australian pines, bee balm, fruiting grapes (muscadines and others) fruiting Hercule’s Club, papayas, maypops, palms, crowfoot grass, very little Beautyberry (so bring mosquito spray) cattails, spurge nettles, oaks, pines, and more common Florida fauna. You can see Manatees and dolphins in the canal and go swimming or fishing if you have the proper license for the latter. On the map it is: http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lon=-80.7544953&lat=28.7366586&datum=nad83 A short video of the canal is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81UesTh5xhQ&feature=related
Hammock Park: 1900 San Mateo Dr, Dunedin, FL 34698, 9 a.m. Meet at main entrance. This site was suggested by my friend Andy Firk who holds classes there. Here’s his list of partial edible (that way I don’t have to type them:) Many Sugarberry trees, wild citrus, Florida Betony, American Beautyberry, Sow Thistle, Wild Lettuce, Tropical Chickweed, Briars, Crepis, Pellitory, Pink & Yellow Wood Sorrels, Spanish Needles, Amaranth, Wild Grapes, Southern Red Cedar, Southern Wax Myrtle, Black Nightshadem, Saw Palmetto,
Sea Purslane, Usnea, Pines, Dayflower, Cattail, Peppergrass, Carolina Geranium, Dollarweed, Japanese Yew,
Thistle, Paper Mulberry, Ponyfoot, Water Hyacinth, Yaupon Holly, Ohio Spiderwort, Queen Palm, Hairy Cowpea, Dwarf Plantain, Panic Grass, Purple Nut Sedge, Barnyard Grass, Ceasar Weed, Mulberry, Camphor,
Cabbage Palm, Spurge Nettle, Prickly Pear, Chickasaw Plum, Winged Sumac, Wild Violets, Blackberry, Pokeweed, Hercules’ Club, Duck Potatos, Elderberry, and Christmasberry.
Highwoods Preserve, 8401 New Tampa Blvd., Tampa FL 33647. One of the more interesting aspects of the Preserve is that it has four or five different species of grapes; at least one muscadine, perhaps three escaped cultivars and one escaped hybrid. This is a mowed field and sidewalk excursion. Bathrooms and water are available. It also is private property adjacent to a preserve so we are guests. Among the edibles are palms, Spanish needles, oaks, saw palmettos, skunk vine, smilax, duck potatoes, smart weed, bay trees, persimmons, water hyssop, dollar weed, caesar weed, blackberries, wax myrtles, pines, lichen, willows, sedges, sumac, lichen and beauty berry. Because of the distance this class has to have confirmed students ahead of time.
Jervey Gantt Recreation Complex, 2390 SE 36th Ave., Ocala, FL, 34471. Meet at the entrance to the pool, aka Aquatic Fun Center. This walk is about a mile long and mostly on well-graded paths. While there are no immediate aquatic plants at this site there are numerous wild edibles. Among them are: plantain, epazote, oxalis, sycamore, pepper grass, hickory, usnea, pines, oaks, amaranth, Chinese elm, Florida elm, Hercules club, smilax, blackberries, wax myrtle, eastern red bud, spurge nettle, sumac, magnolia, tansy mustard, paper mulberry, sow thistles, Florida betony, camphors, ground cherry, red spiderling, podocarpus, Spanish needles, milkweed vine, muscadine grapes, summer grapes, palm, persimmon, beautyberry, dandelion, false hawk’s beard, plum, cherry, hawthorn, and henbit. Because of the distance this class has to have confirmed students ahead of time.
John Chestnut State Park: 2200 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34685. Meet at the trail head of the Peggy Park Nature Walk, pavilion 1 parking lot. This is a very nice, small state park on Lake Tarpon with part of the walk being lakeside. We will walk the Peggy Trail backwards, then visit the boat launch area, then an observation tower, then wend along the board walk lakeside. At the end of the boardwalk we will go through the center of the park back to where we started. That’s about a mile walk. Among the edible species there are: beautyberry, bitter gourd, blackberry, dayflower, caesar weed, cattails, chuffa/sedges, crowfoot grass, dahoon holly, false hawks beard, fireweed, Florida betony, Florida elm, grapes, cultivars, grapes, muscadines, groundnuts, heartleaf drymaria, hickories (water and pignut) dwarf ilex vomitoria, maples, oxalis, palms, panic grass, pennyworts, persimmon, pickerel weed, pines, oaks, reindeer moss, red bay, saw palmetto, smilax, Spanish needles, smart grass, sumac, sycamores, usnea, water hyacinths, wapato, water shields, wax myrtle, and willow. Because of the distance this class has to have confirmed students ahead of time.
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, 2045 Mud Lake Road, DeLeon Springs, FL. Lake Woodruff NWR is located 25 miles west of Daytona Beach, Florida. From downtown Deland take New York Avenue (HWY 44) west to Grand Avenue. Turn north on Grand for about six miles (there is a left-hand dog leg in the middle. Don’t miss it. Follow the signs.) Turn west onto Mud Lake Road. The small tar road turns into a tiny dirt rut. A few hundred feet after crossing the railroad tracks park in the parking lot on your right. This is a hike of approximately four miles, two out and back. While the walking is easy we are exposed to the elements, sun on a clear day, wind on a cold day. Check the weather, dress appropriately. Bring water, wear suitable footwear. If you are a bird watcher bring binoculars. There are alligators. Among the plants we will see are: Smilax, plantagos, wapato, spiderworts, violets, crown berries, Florida elm, pennyworts, Asian pennyworts, false hawksbeard, sorrel, epazote, maples, blackberries, elderberries, palms, sow thistles, cattails, poor man’s pepper grass, saw palmettos, saw grass, ground cherries, bull thistle, dock, water shields, pickerel weed, wax myrtle, pines, lichen, sweet gum, gallberry, willows, oaks, and Florida betony,
Mead Garden: 1500 S. Denning Dr., Winter Park, FL 32789. Meet to the right (east) of the Bartram sign. The class takes from three to four hours. The garden has been around for some 80 years through various stages of attention and neglect. It has over 100 edible species on an annual basis. Mead Garden has natives, exotics, now-banned plants, once-common plants, and just plain old weeds (often removed from more-attended gardens.) Among the edible species in Mead are: Amaranth, American Burnweed, American Eelgrass, Beautyberry, Bee Balm, Bitter Gourd, Blackberries, Black Cherry, Black Tupelo, Bulrush, Cabbage Palm, Caesar Weed, Camphor Tree, Cattails, Ceriman, Chickasaw Plum, Chinese Elm, Commelinas, Crowfoot Grass, Creeping cucumber, Dayflowers, Eastern Coral Bean, Elderberry, Epazota, Feijoa Tree, Florida Elm, False Hawks Beard, Florida Betony, Gallberry, Goose Grass, Goto Kola, Grapes, Ground Nuts, Guinea grass, Heartleaf Drymaria, Hibiscus, Hickory, Ilex vomitoria var nana and pendula, Koontie, Lemon Grass, Lantana, Loquat, Magnolia, Maples, Melaleuca, Micromeia brownii, Monkey Puzzle Tree, Nagi Tree, Night-blooming Cereus, Oaks, Oxalis articulata, intermedia, stricta, Paper Mulberry, Pennyworts, Pickerel Weed, Pindo Palm, Pines, Podocarpus macrophylis, Poke Weed, Queen Palm, Red Bays, Red Bud, Red Mulberry, Reindeer Moss, Rubber Plant, Sand spurs, Saw palmetto, Seagrape, Shell Ginger, Skunk vine, Smartweed, Smilax, Sow Thistle, Spanish Needles, Spiderworts, Surinam Cherry, Swamp lilly, Sweetgum, Sycamore, Tulip Tree, Usnea, Violets, Wapato, Water Bacopa, Wax Myrtle, Wild Pineapple, Willow, Yam, Dioscorea alata.
Private Class: This type of class is designed for special interest individuals or groups tailored to their specific needs (from private one-on-one lessons to a land owner who wants to know what plants are growing on the property). Also available are tailored classes for hiking, camping, and garden groups. Please contact me if interested.
Red Bug Slough Preserve, 5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL, 34233. (Also suggested by my friend Andy Firk .) There are about 12 parking places and a residential street across the street that can be used. Among the edible there are pokeweed, pepper grass, pines, sida, tar vine, Spanish needles, fireweed, amaranth, puslane, bitter gourd, horseweed, sow thistles, plantagos, native and non-native grapes, smilax, sumac, cabbage palms, oaks, magnolias, gallberry, caesar weed, beautyberry, willow, sword ferns, hairy cowpea, wax myrtle, elderberry, pellitory, saw grass, true thistles, blackberries, sweet bay, sweet clover, panic grass, water shield, wapato, black medic, day flowers, dollar weed, dock, bottle brush, epazote, silverthorm, saw palmetto, maypops, ground cherries, porter weed, black nightshade, False Hawk’s Beard, Oxalis, creeping cucumber, and a few toxic ones such as poison ivy, coral bean and rosary pea.
Spruce Creek Park, 6250 Ridgewood Ave. Port Orange, 32127. GPS: N 20°05’35.4″ W080°58′.26.2″ Entrance is on the west side of southbound Ridgewood Ave (which is also US 1) Northbound traffic will have to make a U-turn. For southbound traffic, after passing Nova Road and the twin bridges the park entrance is 1/2 mile south on your right. The park, not far from Daytona Beach, has 1,637 acres and three miles of “nature” trails. It combines in a small area three different plant environments; a small patch of weeds common to urban areas, coastal hammock growth, and plants tolerant of the salty environment. Most are noticeable four species of hollies including the infamous Ilex vomitoria, the North American equivalent of Yerba Mate. Two common brackish water edibles, Saltwort and Sea Purslane, are also abundant. We will meet at the restrooms (it’s actually it’s a pavilion but the direction sign says restrooms.)
Treaty Park, 1595 Wildwood Drive, St. Augustine, Florida 32086. Go past the dog park, the skate park and the racket ball courts. We’ll meet at the pavilion near the pond.
Turtle Mound: Canaveral National Seashore Park. While there are plenty of plants to look at we will probably have to change locations in the park at least once during the class. Because of parking this may require car pooling. There is also a fee per car to get into the park ($3). For a preview see my video on You Tube entitled Turtle Mound. We will meet at Turtle Mound parking area. Among the edible species growing there are: Ground cherries, saw palmettos, eastern coral bean, wild grapes, seablight, sea purslane, salcornia, searocket, Persea, cabbage palm, smilax, black mangrove, Ilex, feral citrus, spurge nettle, papaya, wild peppers (in season) sea oats (protected) crowfoot grass seaside bean, opuntia, nopalea, toothache tree, seagrapes, purslane, hackberry, sedges, Spanish needles, sweet bay, and oaks,
Urban Crawl, meet in front of Panera’s, north end, 329 N. Park Avenue, Winter Park. Free parking in the parking garage, levels four and five behind Panera’s. The Urban Crawl is designed to help you identify edibles found in a city environment. We will see edible natives, imports, ornamentals, and neglected landscaping. We’ll also discuss issues with foraging in an urban area. Afterwards we can talk plants over coffee at Panera’s. We will walk approximately 2.5 miles most of it, but not all, on sidewalks. On March 6th the following edibles were seen: Dandelions, Podocarpus macrophyllus, false Hawk’s Beard, cabbage palms, white clover, the bottle brush tree, Bidens pilosa, various Oxalis, pellitory, dollarweed, night blooming cereus, oaks, camphor trees, sword ferns, pepper grass, hairy bittercress, roses, cherries/plums. saw palmetto, dwarf and full grown Ilex vomitoria, pines, skunk vine, Turks cap, two species of sow thistle, Nandina, beautyberry, smilax, cattails, koontie, pickerel weed, dock, Micromeria brownii, bulrush, yellow pond lilly, water shield, shell ginger, Chinese elm, natal plum, Stachyis floridana, pansies, canna, lantana, purslane, wax begonia, sedges, pindo palm, American holly, spiderwort, goose grass, mulberry, chickweed, and tansy mustard. Non-edibles worthy of mention: Rosary pea, the most toxic seed on earth, dog fennel and mexican poppies.
Wekiva State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, Florida 32712. There is a park admission Fee: $6 per vehicle. Limit 8 people per vehicle, $4 for a single occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrians or bicyclists. Meet at the Sand Lake parking lot. Unlike city parks or the urban area, Wekiva Park is “wild” Florida. There are very few weeds of urbanization. The edibles are mostly native plants and far between. This class is recommended for anyone interested in what the natives used. We will walk about four miles roundtrip. The plants are sporadically located. We will visit upland scrub and river bottom ecological zones, and then we will retrace our path and ”test” everyone. The walking is on trails and depending on the weather, at times it can be taxing. Bring water, appropriate clothes, and hiking equipment. Plan accordingly. You must be able to walk four miles in heat and sun. We will take a tree-shaded break half way at to Rock Springs Run.
Wickham Park: 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935-2335. Meet at the “dog park” inside the park (turn right after entrance, go 1/4 mile, dog run on right, parking at run or on previous left.) This park is a recreational area more than a wildlife habitat, Wickham Park still offers several dozen edible species in two distinct habitats. We will walk about 1.5 miles. Among the edible species are Oaks, Cabbage palm, Crowfoot grass, Pines, Centella erecta (Asian Dollar Weed) Pennywort, Dollarweed, Plantains, Bidens pilosa (Spanish needles) Saw palmetto, Caesar weed, Grapes, ( native and hybrids) Smilax, Yucca filamentosa, Gopher apples, Wax myrtles, American Beauty Berry, Poke weed, Sumac, Saw grass, Elderberry, False hawks beard, Pellitory, Creeping cucumber, Oxalis, Bitter gourd, Cattails, smooth-leaf bacopa, Gallberry, Wapato, or wapati, Bull thistle, Ground cherry, and Purslane. Because of the distance this class has to have confirmed students ahead of time.
Your choice is an unplanned foraging walk. It can be public or private property in Central Florida, or an above site we have not visited in a long time. Usually the organizer — you — takes care of getting the minimum of 5 people to attend. As it is site unseen there are no guarantees on the amount or quality of the edibles to be found. The best locations include sites with bodies of water, fresh, brackish, or salt. Upland scrub (oaks, saw palmettos and pines) favorite among campers, are usually some of the poorest of locations for wild edibles. Old city parks are often good locations, even your neighborhood. State parks are among the least desirable unless they have varying terrain and water. Food is where the water is. YOUR CHOICE classes are open to anyone.
{ 110 comments… read them below or add one }
Dean, i enjoyed the foraging class and hope to catch another next time i’m in florida. Managed to find some saw palmetto berries and i will only eat them if i’m dying! It was great to meet you, and you new site looks great. Thanks, Mike
Glad to have you on my foraging class. Go light on those saw palmetto berries…
I am unable to make your next class in Tampa, however, I would like to take your class. When will you in the Tampa Bay area next? Do you ever do classes in Pinellas County? Is it best to take a class in your area, or do most of the plants you discuss grow in many parts of Florida?
Sorry to hear that. I am usually there once a month. Next time it wil be at John Chestnut park east of Tarpon Springs, not far from you. Email me with some dates in Novemeber after the 10th that might be good for you and perhaps I can fit your schedule. As for classes and plants… there are different environments, and different times of year. In a given place the plants will change seasonally. More so, Florida is so long we have plants at one end of the state that are not found on the other. We have plants found on one coast but not the other. Or in the middle of the state but not on the coast. So there is quite a variety.
Speaking of the middle of the state, do you ever offer any classes in the Polk County area? Or know of some good areas in Polk for foraging? Thanks.
I have classes nearlly every week in Orlando and at least once a month near Tampa. All I would really need is a good site for a class, which is rarely a state park. Any suggestions, such a very old city parks or the like? Should have water.
Hi Chris and Dean,
I’m in Polk too and I know of at least one other person that would be interested in a class here. A park that comes to mind is Saddle Creek.
I have a great site in Seminole, FL. My yard! And it is a stone’s throw from Boca Ciega Millenium Park, a very short drive to Walsingham Park, Heritage Park, Botanical Gardens and the beach. Would you like to meet here? One acre with a swamp and a pond. Lot’s of ‘weeds’ and critters.
I’m so glad I found out about your website! We live in the Jacksonville area and would love to attend a class. Are there any good books that you would recommend for the NE Florida area about wild edibles? We get together with several families for Thanksgiving and go camping! That would be a great time to go out and see what we could find. I have also tried to learn about the weeds in our yard and just put a picture with the names so I could learn what we have close by. A couple of beautiful old city parks in Jacksonville are Boone Park on Park St and the Willowbranch Library/Park also on Park St. They both have brooks near by. Thanks!
Please come back to Jax! I really enjoyed your class. It was wonderful and every time I walk around the South campus I keep an eye out for the plants we learned about. I really hope you come back soon, you’re the best.
p.s. I can never remember what ground nut looks like.
I will schedule a class there… the ground not is a weak view with maroon pea blossoms and pods. In Jacksonville they are one of the first plants we see. This time of year all you will find is the pods. But they are leaflets of three, five and seven, usually five, and the bleed latex, resemble poison ivy except mostly leafets of five not three.
I can not get down to Florida for classes but I was wondering if you know of any foraging experts in the North East Georgia area. I would love to take a few classes or just go walking with someone in the mountains. We have the start of the Appalachian Trail not to far from our home. Between that and the falls around here there would be wonderful places to learn.
I have a resource page that will be going up soon, which is a copy of what was on my old site. There are several goraging teachers in Georgia. Send me an email via the address on the class page and I will send you their contact information. I hope to have that resource page up soon.
I’m coming to tomorrow’s walk. Can I pay you there?
yes, no problem. It will be a good class with a variety of people and plants.
Hi! I’m so excited about learning about edibles in my area! I was surprised to see that you go to Jervey Gant in Ocala, it’s not very natural. I think you might be interested in the Cross-Florida Greenway that comes through Ocala. We have an amazing area off of 475A right next to the Belleview/Dunnellon exit. The entrance is near the horse-park and intersects biking/riding trails. It passes through new pine growth, tall pine forests, and old-growth hammock and can be done in under 2 hours. If you are interested in more information, send me an e-mail and maybe we can connect and really get you a great spot for foraging!
I go to old city parks rather than state parks because that is where one finds far more wild edibles. At Jervey Gant I can easily find about 60 edible species in a mile walk. In a wild park nearby we have to walk six miles or eight miles so to see maybe 30 species. Urban areas have the native wild edibles and the imported wild edibles, and also what most folks find in their neighborhood and around their homes. I know it seems counter intuitive but there is far more edible species in urban areas than in natural areas.
Thanks for responding. I’ll definately deffer to your wisdom in these matters. Too bad I missed the Ocala class, I definately want to be in the next one-if possible! I may drag a few others along with me. Do you have field guides you suggest?
Hi,
I am interested in signing up for the West Palm Beach class on Dec. 9. It would be 2 adults. Please let me know if you have space for us and how you would like to be paid.
Thanks,
Dallas
I’ll put you on the class list. Cash the day of class or via pay pal is fine.
Hi,
Do you think you’ll be heading north any time in the future…really north…say, Canada?
Smiles
Carolyn
Hello, I am interested in signing up for the DEC 10 2011 class in Winter park? I want to make sure it is still going on before I pay and double check that I can make the date too. Thanks
Yes, that class will go on barring accident or illness because someone is coming from out of state for it.
Please sign me up fo December 10, 2011 at the Winter PArk Location. Mead Garden. at 9:00AM.
Well Dean, my yard has a few things. Purslane, pellitory, oxalis, spanish nettle, dandelion, mouse melon, stinging nettle (yikes!), ivy gourd, bitter melon, wild onion, nasturium, lab lab, guava, musk mallow, crowfoot grass, nutgrass, society garlic and a few things I think are wild lettuces or mustards come to mind. A papaya popped up just on the other side of the fence and I think there’s wild grape growing on the fence next door. I’ve even found lichen here once in a while. I saw some Ceasar weed and golden rod not far from here. Alas, the yard is way to small for a class. lol
If it weren’t for your site and vids, most of these things would still be a mystery to me. So — thank you!
Hey Green Deane
Just curious…are you ever in the NY/ Long Island area holding foraging classes?
You guessed it…a LI girl
Would love to know more about what grows in my backyard : )
Bye Peg
I do get there now and then… but if you want to find someone who is closer and has regular classes in the search windown type in “Resources” Then scroll down to New York. You will find several foraging instructors there.
when will you be having a class in Port Charlotte .
Dec 18th 2011, please tell some friends as it is quite a drive to get there for me.
Thanks will book next week and will check and see if can get more people
I may do the port Charlotte class too. I will make a decision after next weeks class and hopefully be able to set aside time to do Port Charlotte too on the 18th. Let you know next week! I live in Venice so that would be convenient. See ya Sat. 10
will pay cash on the 18th for the class. Will be two of us
Do you ever teach classes in or around Fort Lauderdale, if so when?
Yes, I have classes in West Palm Beach regularly, which is just up the road from Ft. Lauderdale. I should be there in January.
Hey Dean,
Just got back to SWF and so happy to find a class coming up on the 18th in Port Charlotte. I will definitely be there as I am in Cape Coral right now, waiting to move to Pinellas county. Really enjoy your site and lookin forward to becoming more involved soon as i get settled in. See Ya Sunday, Peace.
He Greene Deane, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy and appreciate your informative and down-to-earth videos. I stumbled upon one of them nine months ago and have now watched them all at least once. I recently moved to the USA and am looking forward to taking some of your walking classes when I can get to Florida. Until that time do you know anybody out my way who I could take a such a course/walk with? I’m near San Jose California and would drive some distance to get some knowledgable instruction : )
Thanks for writing. Go to my home page and in the search window type in “resources” On my resource page there is a list of foraging instructors including several in California. If there isn’t one near you I suggest you contact them as they might know one who is.
There are no resources for Louisiana. I’d really like to forage here
The plants are just about the same in all the states around you. Is there someone nearby in another state?
Again a great class on a beautiful Port Charlotte Day! Thanks for all your time. Maybe a few more classes, and the edibles will sink in for me! :>)
Me and my son enloyed the class and look forward to more. Thanks Shane
Hey Greenman,
Really enjoyed the class in Port Charlotte, Will be movin to Pinellas county 1/1 so you can count me in for the class Jan. 7th in Palm Harbor. Wishing you a very happy New Year. Peace,
Billy
Just wanted to say thank you for the class today I learned a lot from you and my other class mates, and yes my brain is still over loaded.Looking forward to the next time.
Rick.
Glad you made it home alright this holiday weekend. I enjoyed your company.
I live in Dixie County, along the Suwannee River. I would like to eat healthier, but living in a very rural area I would have to travel to Gainesville to find a “whole foods” market with a decent variety of organic produce. Not to mention the added expense of buying organic. I am not a great gardener (as I always seem to spend more on the garden than I get out) so I would like to learn more about foraging. Being surrounded by forest and not far from the Nature Coast State Trail (following an old railway) I was wondering if foraging has the potential to provide a significant portion of my family’s dietary produce or if it is mainly only good for medicinal/ augmentation purposes. Which of your upcoming classes would provide exposure to an ecosystem similar to mine? Gainesville or Live Oak? Here we have live oaks, pine trees, saw palmettos, muscadines, blackberry, cat briar, bull nettle and some cactus. Prime gopher tortoise habitat. How many people would have to commit to attend in order to have a class out this way?
Either location is similr to yours. For that distance I usually ask for a class of at least 10.
Becky and Dean I also live very close to the Suwannee river,and very close to Ivey park in Branford. I think if we put our heads together we may be able to come up with at least 10 people to attend. I too would love to find the things we can eat that grow in our rural area. I think the Suwannee would be a great pace for a class. I even own a pontoon boat that will hold 12 adults if that will help make it anymore interesting, or easier.
Hi Deane,
I am a huge fan of yours and I may be taking a road trip to Florida soon and I’d like to attend one of your classes. However, I will be staying in my camper van and will have my very sweet, very loveable, and well behaved puppy with me and I refuse to leave her in van etc. Is it okay if she can tag along? I know some parks have restrictions, but what about your rules?
No problem. I’m an animal person.
Fantastic!!!!
I may come this month or next. I currently live in NC and would prefer a class that isn’t mostly coast plant related… I’d like to learn of Floridas of course, but may not ever live there, you know. Also I need to map out dog beaches etc to a close place you have classes and I prefer not to drive all the way south, but I am flexiable. I know Daytona beach has some dog beaches. I’ve been researching some.
If you have any recommendations please let me know, or If I don’t hear back I’ll give a heads up when I am road tripping to see if all is okay etc.
Thanks
Mead Garden is dog friendly.
I very much want to take classes. Right now my schedule is very hectic. I am scheduled to work on Saturdays from 10-3 too but can put in for a vacation day. I am in Dade City but do not see any for Pasco Co or Hillsboro Co for the next Quarter. Ocala is about a hour away. Before I put in for classes further away are there any scheduled nearer to my area later on. I hope to take as many as I can. It would be great to have a weekend event.
Linda Roberts
I will be giving a class march 10 in New Porty Richy, at John Chestnut Park. I am also in town that day for a wedding in Clearwater.
Hi, Deane. I’ve been watching your YouTube channel for a while now, but I only just now got to take a look at your website and I really like it! I actually live in the northwestern part of Alabama, so it’s a little difficult to get to your classes. But, I’ll keep an eye on this page so that if you ever happen to come as near-by as Panama City, I’ll definitely be there with a few people. And, thank you for all the work you do to put this information out there for people to learn from.
I was at Mead last Sunday and you pointed out Richardia sabra – do you know any differences between that and R brasiliensis (except structurally where there seems to be bumps on the fruit of sabra and short stiff hair on the fruit of brasiliensis along with a thickened, woody root stock?) I found a 2000 Nigerian study of R brasiliensis which shows an alcohol or water extract to be far superior to pharmaceuticals against some fungi such as Candida. Go figure. Can’t find any information. Thanks – Fran
Out of my herbalistic league on that one. Sorry. And thanks for coming to the class.
Hi Dean,
Will you be doing any classes in the Kissimmee area in the near future?
I do them in Winter Park nearly every week, which is botanically the same as Kissimmee.
Hi fellow foraging friends!
My name is Korbin and my 3-4 friends and I plan on coming to a class either this Saturday in Winter Park or this Sunday in Jacksonville. My boyfriend Dylan will be headed back down to Fort Lauderdale area while the rest of us are heading back to Minnesota. Dylan is looking for a ride – even if someone from the class is heading down to West Palm Beach where he can hitch the tri-rail down to Dania. Please post or e-mail back if you know of any rides…
Thanks a lot
Korbin
Hello, I am writing to reconfirm a spot in the April 1st, Dreher Park class. The email my wife sent had the wrong date. Just me and I will pay in cash. Looking forward to meeting you. Please let me know if you cancel. 561-635-3302. Regards, Jerry.
Green Dean,
We had an awesome time today, so much information to process but we took lots of notes and lots of pictures. We can’t wait to start foraging around out area, but only with plants we can clearly identify. Thanks to spending time with you taking you class their are many more plants we are confident with. We look forward to attending more classes in the future and I can’t wait untill I can purchase your videos on DVD.
Keep up the good work,
Sorry for my tardy reply. I enjoyed your company. The DVD are nearly ready.
Would love to take some of your classes, do you ever get to the Sarasota area?
Nearly every month right up the road in New Port Richy, which has the same plants as Sarasota.
Deane, will you be adding more classes in May? I’m hoping to head over there in May from California and would love to take a few of your classes at that time but see currently you have 2 listed. Thanks, Jill
Yes… I just need to sit down and do it.
Hi Green Deane,
There is a group of people in Columbia, SC who are interested in learning how to forage for wild edibles. Do you know anyone in this area who teaches plant identification? Thanks for your help!
On my Foraging Instructors page I don’t have anyone in South Carolina. However, I have four under Georgia. What I would do is email each of them and ask the same question. No doubt they do know of someone, or they might be close enough to do so as the plants would be the same.
Hi Green Deane,
Thanks so much for your help. I have just one more question. I have checked the distance from my home, and the closest instructors are in Dahlonega, Ga, Union Mills, NC, and Asheville, NC. Which place would have plants similar to the Midlands of South Carolina? The two places in NC are the closest.
Plants don’t recognize state boundraries. They will all be about the same.
Hi, Deane!
Just wanted to thank you again for the awesome class at Dreher Park! We had a great time and learned so very much. We “knew” most of those plants well as weeds, but had no idea how useful they actually were. Thanks for being here and for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us!
Dear Deane,
Your site is wonderful, in design and information…but why do you live in Florida? I lived there for 30 years, now I live in the mountains of North Carolina and I think I am already in heaven! This is the most beautiful place in the world and has over 2,000 species of wildflowers.
Sometime I hope you will have a class here, if so let me know.
God bless you for your concern for others. Vicki
I grew up in snow and ice and loathed it. That is why I live in Florida and hope to move to the very southern end of it. I don’t do winters any more. As for North Carolina… I have a friend in Boone who wants me to visit for a couple of weeks in August.
I’m a big fan of your website and youtube videos. I saw your video about pine trees and want to ask you a question that I’ve had for a while about them. Can Fir trees be used in the same way as a pine tree? Where i live in Utah we have a lot of fir trees, that everyone calls pine trees, but very few true pines.
Thanks in advance
No. Pines and firs are different. While some firs have some uses they are not pines nor should be used as pines.
Dear Mr. Green Deane, could you please tell me if parsley seeds are edible? My parsley plants are going to seed early this year and I do not want to waste any of the plane, but, being a transplanted city girl I am still learning about plants and what one can eat. Thank you so much.
Well… a little yes, more than a little no. A few seeds perhaps. Too many can cause liver, kidney damage, and bleeding. Never eat parsley (any part of the plant, but particularly roots and seeds) in any quantity, and especially not any amount if you are pregnant. It can acuse abortions.
Do you ever give classes in the Miami area? I’ll bet the Tamiami canal has lots of wild edibles!
No, but I do get to West Palm Beach which has the same plants. I am trying to arrange something in Miami.
Hi, I know you are doing the lake Alfred lecture tomorrow, July 22, but I have to work. Do you know of any other times you may be around the Polk County area. I would think we would have lots of sites for this kind of thing. Lots of water, disturbed areas, with the phosphate mining and all. I could probably get a couple of people to attend, besides myself. I am so anxious to do this, have been interested for a long time. If I have to drive way out of the area to attend, I will but, I hope to get something closer.
I love what you do.
I’m hoping to get to Polk County more often but finding a suitable location is difficiult.
Deane, we really enjoyed your class today at Mead Garden in Winter Park. Everybody should take your classes…perhaps we would all have a healthier regard and appreciation for nature. Thanks so much and we look forward to having you come back to Brevard county sometime in the future.
thanks again for the class in Gainsville,well worth the drive and money.No disappointments here.your I.T.E.M system is easy to remember and covers the basics for anyone new to wild edible plants.i will continue to study your website and videos until i am able to attend another class. “I definitely recommend this class to anyone wanting to learn from the best in the business “
I would love to see a foraging class in turtle mound, its so close and the area is nice. I hope you do one there soon!
Im glad you are having so many classes this month. I am going to be attending at least 1 class this month for my birthday with my uncle. Cant wait.
Can you tell me if you have any classes in Texas? If not do you know of anyone teaching similar classes in the Houston area… Thanks
Go to my website, hover your cursor over foraging, there’s a drop down menu called foraging instructors. Click on that then scroll down to Texas. Merriwheter holds classes in Houston.
How often do you have classes in Palm Beach? Unable to make th September 30th date and really interested.
About every six weeks.
Do you (would you) ever hold any classes in Northwest FL? Anywhere from Tallahassee to Pensacola? Would love to attend some of the walks. Keep doing what you do.
I’m really trying to… the hard part is to find a place to hold the classes. State parks are not the best locations. Usually an old city park is better.
Thanks to your vidoes i was able to identify a plant that has recently been taking over my aquarium….watercress. And i was also wondering, do you make trips to Kentucky any?
Who teaches these classes in the Houston area?
Google Houston Wild Edibles
After eating the weeds in dreher park, don’t forget to check out the exotic meats and bugs on the menu at the South Florida Fair.
Jungle George’s food truck should be there. Eat the scorpions and rattlers too!
Thanks for the tip. It’s just a couple of miles from where I hold my West Palm Beach classes.
Great class today Deane. I enjoyed walking the FSCJ south campus with you.
I went out after class and found quite a few of the edibles we discussed on the abandoned golf course I live on. Sheep sorel, non-native sorel, poor mans pepper, false haws beard, chickweed, lantana and quite a bit of nightshade, didn’t eat any of that though. I hope to join you again when you come in few months. It’s gonna be hot!
Wonderful… that’s what it’s all about…
Have you ever been to Pine Island in SWFL? Just wondering if that would be a mecca for wild edibles?
Green Deane, 4-24-2013, 1000
I have been around Plants and their use for about 13 years.
It is because of Ms.Hilla Futterman (rest her soul) that I can use the out doors the way I do. I live in Southern California, and need to find a new plant whizzard.
I found you mentioned a woman in Topanga, California, named Sunny som thing. Would you be so kind and tell me how I get in touch with her.
You really are fantastic at doing what you do, Please keep it UP.
O. Douglas Ceissman
Sunny Savage. Just google her name.
Wish you had classes closer to my home in Alexandria Va.!! I love your website. I have learned a lot and have been eating dandelion salads which I shared(along with your website) with my neighbors. I took a photo of a weed in my yard that I would like to identify. I think it might be in the plantain family? Is there a way to send you this photo in an e-mail? Also I have realized how arbitrary our use of the classification of “weed” is! THANKS SOOO MUCH.
I took a wild edible foods course through Volusia County in the mid 70s.
We went to several different locations over several weeks and I still recall a lot. Could I have been your student then? I’m just curious. Your site is fascinating and I am sooo happy you are located and teach here in Volusia.
Mike Lowe, Ormond Beach
Mid-70s…. no. It might have been Dick Deuerling or someone from the Native Plant Society.
I was in Poke County two weeks ago checking out a site for a class. I think it was Alligator Reserve or the like in the beginnins of the Green Swamp. It had edibles but not enough for a class per se. Let me check out site. Usually foraging is better in suburban areas.
I’ll definitely be at a Polk county class. I can probably find a few people to come too to make it worth your while.
The probelm I have had in Polk County is finding a suuitable place for a class. If you have any recommendations let me know.
I’ve thought about the Lakeland scrub because it’s so big and has such a variety of terrains. I’ve been through a good portion of it, and I keep thinking it’d be something that you might like. The first type of terrain you see is a forest type area. Then you’ll come to a clearing and swear you’re at the beach…white sand and all. Go one direction from there and you’ll walk along a path with a neighborhood on the right… Some people even grow plants on their fences. If you keep straight from there, you’ll come to a golf course neighborhood. If you were to go the other way from the forest area, you’ll eventually come to a big area full of palmetto bushes (it looks a lot like an area of Wekiva). There are lakes too!
You told me that scrubs aren’t usually a good place to find edibles but I’m hoping that maybe the one here is special LOL. I hope that after the Winter Park class I can identify more plants so I can offer more help for this location. I know I’ve seen beauty berry, hollies, cattails and various grapes, but I know that that’s not really that special. If you want me to take pictures of the different areas, I’d be happy to do so.
How about the lake Tiger area? I know of a fish camp on the lake that might serve you well. It has year round residents as well as vacationers and weekenders.
thanks so much for yesterday’s class. It was alot of fun and I learned alot! I am so amazed at all the edibles and medicine values that these plants contain. I bring this knowledge to my family which makes it fun for us too. Thanks again for your time. Have a great weed. I mean week:} Deb