Did you know many invasive plants make fantastic foods and medicines? That many of the weeds painstakingly pulled from your garden are in fact edible and more nutritious than what you can buy in a store?
The whole family can learn about the edible plants that grow in your back yard with ethnobotanist Hayden Stebbins. Many plants that we try to banish from our gardens and yards are delicious, nutritious and pernicious. Join ethnobotanist and forager Hayden Stebbins (haydensharvest.com) on a walk through the Caryl and Edna Haskins Preserve in Westport. Hayden Stebbins is an itinerant teacher and student of ethnobotany, devoted to reviving a sense of ecological belonging in those around him. Throughout the walk, Hayden will discuss common weeds and invasive plants (and possibly mushrooms). You will look at your yard (and plate) in a whole new way after this walk. A graduate of Cornell University, Schumacher College in the UK, and a student of Marc Williams (Director of botanyeveryday.com and Plants and Healers International), Hayden's mission is to spread awareness about and encourage the ecological use of plants and mushrooms in everyday life.
Dress: Sturdy shoes, protections from deer ticks which are present at this time of year, sunscreen and insect repellent.
Parking: Preserve parking lot is located on Green Acre Lane (Off of South Compo Road) in Westport, CT
Terrain: Easy
Length: Approximately 1 1/2 hours.