February 2007 Community Education Event

On February 17, 2007 Matt Berry from the Regenerative Design Institute led a group of about 20 people on an exploration of Fairfax for wild foods! We learned how to make wild weed raw energy bars, how to identify some key edible plants, what plants not to eat, nutritional values, strategies for enhancing wild food production and sustainable harvesting methods.

Matt Berry offers a unique approach to ecological education, blending his interests and expertise in field biology, primitive skills, and Permaculture. Matt has been practicing and teaching primitive living skills and nature awareness for over a decade, first inspired by Tom Brown, Jr. Matt has a BS in Forestry and Wildlife and has worked as a field biologist for various government, non-profit, and private consulting groups. He currently lives and works at the Regenerative Design Institute at Commonweal Garden in Bolinas as the gardens manager where he also teaches wild crafting courses and youth programs. www.regenerativedesign.org

Continuing reading for a wild food bar recipe and a list of books and websites reccommended by Matt.

Wild food bars

1/2 cup of wild doc flour (Doc seed ground)
2 cups of nuts ground into meal (sunflower)
*1/2 cup dried nettle leaves ground into flour
1 cup of applesauce
handful of berries (in season)enough water (or fruit juice) added to make mixture moist
*Agave syrup for an alternative sweetener
Mix dry ingredients first, then add wet. Flatten to 1/2 inch thick into shallow baking pan or cookie sheet and let set for an hour (in frig if warm out). Cut into small bars (1 inch by 2inch) and enjoy!

Books and web sites—Wild Edible Plants

Anderson, Kat, M. Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources. CA: University of California Press, 2005.

Brown, Tom Jr. ---Field Guide to Medicinal and Edible Plants and many other books.

Elliot, Doug. Wild Roots: A Forager’s Guide to the Edible and Medicinal Roots, Tubers, Corms, and Rhizomes of North America. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 1995.

Elpel, J. Thomas. Botany in a Day: Herbal Field Guide to Plant Families, 4th Ed.:

Niethammer, Carolyn. American Indian Food and Lore: 150 Authentic Recipes. New York: Macmillan, 1974.

Margolin, Malcolm. The Ohlone Way: Indian Life in the San Francisco-Monterey Bay Area. Berkeley, CA: Heyday Books, 1978.

Oritz, Beverly, R., as told by Julia F. Parker. It will Live Forever: Traditional Yosemite Indian Acorn Preparation. Berkeley, CA: Heyday Books, 1991.

Runyun, Linda. From Crabgrass Muffins To Pine Needle Tea: A National Food Field Guide. Shiloh, NJ: Linda Runyon, 2002.

Taylor, Sharon Rose. Eat the weeds at your feet: An edible plant guide of Sonoma County. Citrus Heights, CA: Rose of Sharon Press, 1991.

Tilford, Gregory, L. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1997.

Turner, Nancy J. Food Plants Of Interior First Peoples. Vancouver, B.C.: UBC Press, 1997.

Web sites:
Regenerativedesigninstitute.org Wild crafting series
Society Of Primitive technology (primitive.org)
Primitiveways.com
Hollowtop.com
Natureskills.com
Also the Kamana Program—John Young