Central Park provides an excellent window into the world of wild foods during early spring. Creating meals with these naturally available plants is straightforward and enjoyable during this season. For an appetizer, try simmering field garlic bulbs in diluted vinegar with Italian seasonings to create an outstanding pickle. This is the peak season for wild salad greens, and you will find large quantities of leafy, green ingredients throughout the park. Spicy mustard greens, such as garlicky garlic mustard, hot hedge mustard, even spicier poor man's pepper, and increasingly pungent field pennycress, grow abundantly alongside the park's paths. Lemony sheep sorrel flourishes in sunny places. Offset its flavor and those of the mustards with milder-tasting greens such as violet leaves and chickweed, also quite abundant in the area. With the addition of tender, cucumber-flavored cattail shoots, you will have the best salad you've ever eaten. Wild mushrooms, when present, provide an outstanding gourmet side dish. Depending on rainfall, the observation skills of participants, and some luck, you could find dryad's saddle, oyster mushrooms, or tree ears. Burdock root is one of the few wild root vegetables that remain in season throughout the warm months. Add razor-thin slices to soups or rice, or marinate and slow-bake them to create Wildman's Vegan Beef Jerky. For an exotic dessert, consider stewing apples or pears with sassafras, ginger, wild allspice from spicebush, and nuts, then garnishing with the sweet, perfumed blossoms of wisteria vine.
Please Note:
- Wear clothing appropriate for current weather conditions and be aware that subway service can be unreliable, with trains frequently canceled due to track work.
- Do not wear sandals due to mosquitoes, thorns, and poison ivy exposure. Bring plastic bags for vegetables and herbs, paper bags for mushrooms, drinking water, lunch, and extra layers for cooler weather.
- From late spring through fall, bring containers for berries. Digging implements and pocket knives are optional.
- Please bring a pen for sign-in purposes.
- Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Children are encouraged to attend.
- No smoking is permitted at any time during the tour.
School 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.
Please call your guide Steve at (914) 400-9135 the night before to confirm your class/tour will still be happening at its intended time as various circumstances may affect the start time.
