Wild Edibles: Early Spring Plants with Nick Spero

Join the buffet line for newly sprouted delicacies with master forager Nick Spero. Discover locally found plants that can add flavor to your cooking and apply that know-how to your own backyard. We’ll be on the lookout for early springtime plants such as garlic mustard, poke, wild garlic, and perilla. We will discuss collection methods and how to prepare our findings for optimal taste and nutrition. To limit our impact on the park, let’s concentrate on learning to identify and sample taste rather than foraging, which may damage an area when too much is taken.

Our field trip leader, Nick Spero, spends his retirement outdoors as an avid gatherer, hunter, and fisherman. Primitive technology has piqued his interest since childhood. Nick was featured in an NPR video here.

• Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is completed.
• Watch for additional details in a welcome email sent a few days before the date.
• Children welcome over the age of 12 accompanied by an adult. No more than two children per adult.
• All participants must be pre-registered. If you are on the waitlist and show up to the event uninvited, you will not be allowed to participate.
• All children must meet age requirements and be registered as a guest of their adult.
• Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best. Include a hat for sun protection or warmth, depending on the season.
• Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking or athletic shoes with non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
• Bring water, snacks, sunblock, bug spray, and a camera with accessories.
• Bring binoculars and a hand lens or loupe for birding or looking at details, if you have them.
• Bring your guidebooks, if you have them.
• Bring a first aid kit for your personal use.
• No pets, please.

All events are held rain or shine. If any event is cancelled due to severe weather, you will receive an email or text. If you do not receive a weather-related email, the trip will proceed as planned.

NEW Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made 14 or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within 14 days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $25 or less are non-refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.