Central Park (Kids 12 & Under)

Central Park provides a great window into the world of wild foods in  early spring. Making a meal with these plants is simple at this time of the year.

For an appetizer, try simmering field garlic bulbs in diluted vinegar with Italian seasonings, to make an outstanding pickle. It's the peak of the season for wild salad greens, and we'll be finding large quantities of leafy, green ingredients. Spicy mustard greens, such as garlicky garlic mustard, hot hedge mustard, even hotter poor man's pepper, and still more pungent field pennycress, abound alongside the paths throughout the park.

Lemony sheep sorrel grows in sunny places. Offset its flavor, and those of the mustards, with milder-tasting greens such as violet leaves, and chickweed, also quite abundant. With the inclusion of tender, cucumber-flavored cattail shoots, you'll have the best salad you've ever eaten. And wild mushrooms, if present, will provide a gourmet side dish. We could find dryad's saddle, oyster mushrooms, or tree ears on this tour, given enough rain beforehand, sharp-eyed participants, and some luck.

Burdock root is one of the few wild root vegetables that remains in season throughout the warm weather. Add razor-thin slices to soups or rice, or marinate and slow-bake them to make "Wildman's" Vegan Beef Jerky.

And for an exotic dessert, why not stew apples or pears with sassafras, ginger, wild allspice from the common spicebush, and nuts, then add the sweet, perfumed blossoms of the wisteria vine?

Please Note:

• Participants should be dressed for the weather, and be aware of very bad subway service. Trains are often canceled due to track work.
• No sandals (there are mosquitoes, thorns and poison ivy). Everyone should have plastic bags for veggies and herbs, paper bags for mushrooms, which spoil in
• Plastic, containers for berries from late spring through fall, water and lunch, and extra layers when it's cold. Digging implements and pocket knives are optional.
• Please bring plastic bags for vegetables and herbs, paper bags for mushrooms, drinking water, and a pen (to sign in).
• Dogs are permitted. Children are encouraged to attend.
• There's no smoking whatsoever at any time.