Foraging expert Steve Brill has shared his foraging wisdom at schools, museums, parks departments, environmental organizations, and with scout troops since 1982. He’s written three books and an app, stars in a DVD and maintains a website.

His History with Foraging

As part of his exercise regime, he was bicycling past a local park in Queens, New York City, where he lived, when he saw some ethnic Greek women, dressed in traditional black garb, collecting something. He stopped and asked what they were doing but couldn't understand a word of what they were saying. It was all Greek to him. He came home with a bag of wild grape leaves, which he readily stuffed. They were delicious. When he returned to the same park in the fall, the trees were festooned with fox grapes, the wild forerunner of Concord grapes, and they're scrumptious too. He got books on the subject and began learning all the wild food he could find. He had so much fun foraging, he thought other people might enjoy it too, and that led to his foraging tours.

The purpose of his hands-on program is to learn about the environment and get back in touch with nature. By studying foraging and nature, we enjoy our renewable resources and reaffirm our commitment to preserving and rebuilding our ecological riches. All the tours and presentations feature a great diversity and abundance of common, renewable, seasonal edible and medicinal wild plants or mushrooms.

All tours are open to people of all ages, plus well-behaved dogs.

Notes:
If you can't attend the class you signed up for, please call or email "Wildman" Steve Brill a day before the start of the class. No-call/no-show creates an inconvenience to all participants since we can’t tell if absentees are having transportation issues, and this delays the start of the tour/class.

Kindly note that price posted is our suggested donation only.

Reviews of "Wildman" Steve Brill

(4.4-star rating across 167 reviews)
Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

5/29/2023
Anonymous

Attended: Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)


Steve and Violet were immensely knowledgeable and I recommend this walk to anyone curious about connecting with the plants in their path. As an amateur forager, I left with several new plant allies to name and work with as food and medicine. Disclaimer: brace yourself for some seriously corny jokes :-)

Inwood Hill Park (Teens/Adults)

3/20/2023
Anonymous

Attended: Inwood Hill Park (Teens/Adults)


Great experience, would go again a different time of year to learn more!

Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

3/19/2023
Anonymous

Attended: Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)


wildman steve brill is an incredible teacher & entertainer! we had a blast learning about edible (& inedible) plants right here in nyc

Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

3/19/2023
Anonymous

Attended: Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)


Comprehensive and informative, really cool practical knowledge and fun guidance!

Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

11/14/2022
Anonymous

Attended: Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)


The instructor is very knowledgeable but the group was to large. I rather pay more for a smaller group. It was hard to hear him.

Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

10/25/2022
Anonymous

Attended: Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)


I had reached out to reschedule my class but was unable to get a response.

Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

10/4/2022
Anonymous

Attended: Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)


This could not have been any better. Mr. Wildman is about as entertaining and informative as any instructor ever. Bring a friend and take a walk around the park eating the edible plants you walk past un-knowingly every day. Make sure to bring water and a lunch unless you want to subsist on gout weed alone! Bring a plastic or paper bag if you want to keep some plants for recipes. We made a great pesto from the greens we collected.

Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

9/9/2022
cathy b.

Attended: Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)


Wildman Steve is a wonderful naturalist and guide. He shared so much with us, lore, botany, stories, herbalism. I learned a lot. I have been very eager to learn about foraging and he set me up.

Central Park (Teens/Adults)

8/29/2022
ellen b.

Attended: Central Park (Teens/Adults)


Loved it. But I think there were too many people. Walks should be smaller

Central Park (Teens/Adults)

8/29/2022
sabina H.

Attended: Central Park (Teens/Adults)


this was so much fun! recommend to everyone who loves nature

Show More Reviews
Questions about this school?
Central Park W & W 103rd St, New York, New York 10025
"Wildman" Steve Brill
Central Park, Manhattan
Central Park W & W 103rd St
At Central Park W
New York, New York 10025

Directions:
Just inside the park at Central Park West and West 103rd St.

Upcoming Classes at "Wildman" Steve Brill

Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)
Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 7th, 1:30–4:30pm Eastern Time

Central Park (Teens/Adults)
Central Park (Teens/Adults)
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 8th, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Inwood Hill Park (Teens/Adults)
Inwood Hill Park (Teens/Adults)
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 1st, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Forest Park (Teens/Adults)
Forest Park (Teens/Adults)
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 14th, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Prospect Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Prospect Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 7th, 1:30–4:30pm Eastern Time

Central Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Central Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 8th, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Belmont Lake State Park (Teens/Adults)
Belmont Lake State Park (Teens/Adults)
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 29th, 1–3:30pm Eastern Time

Alley Pond Park (Teens/Adults)
Alley Pond Park (Teens/Adults)
Next start date:

Friday Nov 24th, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Forest Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Forest Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Next start date:

Saturday Oct 14th, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Croton Aqueduct (Teens/Adults)
Croton Aqueduct (Teens/Adults)
Next start date:

Monday Oct 9th, 1–4pm Eastern Time

Marine Park Coastline (Teens/Adults)
Marine Park Coastline (Teens/Adults)
Next start date:

Sunday Nov 19th, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Vanderbilt Museum
Vanderbilt Museum
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 29th, 9am–12pm Eastern Time

Croton Aqueduct (Kids 12 & Under)
Croton Aqueduct (Kids 12 & Under)
Next start date:

Monday Oct 9th, 1–4pm Eastern Time

Sunken Meadow State Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Sunken Meadow State Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Next start date:

Saturday Nov 18th, 1–4pm Eastern Time

Marine Park Coastline (Kids 12 & Under)
Marine Park Coastline (Kids 12 & Under)
Next start date:

Sunday Nov 19th, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Alley Pond Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Alley Pond Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Next start date:

Friday Nov 24th, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Inwood Hill Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Inwood Hill Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 1st, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time

Belmont Lake State Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Belmont Lake State Park (Kids 12 & Under)
Next start date:

Sunday Oct 29th, 1–3:30pm Eastern Time

Teachers at "Wildman" Steve Brill

"Wildman" Steve Brill "Wildman" Steve and Violet Brill Violet Brill