Northern California inlander looking for guidance on Pacific coast food foraging. Yeah, I have been online and reading a couple books, but now I would like some hands-on tutoring by someone experienced.

Online / email is probably going to have to do it because my resources are limited and comitted. Just do not want to make a complete mess of it.

Thinking of the Pt. Reyes / Biodega Bay area.


Edit: Anybody aware of a foraging group in the area that I might join for a while? Maybe a relatively low-cost class?

Thanks.

I don't think there are so many of them that you're going to be able to pick the places.

Sacramento Wild Edible Plant Foraging Society might be something to look into.

Wild Food Adventures indicates they are having a workshop in May in Forestville, CA area (Russian River area).

More options if you're willing to go to Oregon.

Blue Wind Botanicals has classes in Oakland teaches regular foraging classes in public parks and gardens in the Bay Area.

Christopher Nyerges has taken thousands of people on Wild Food Outings in the Los Angeles area.

Kevin Feinstein offers some plant walks/workshops in the S.F. Bay area.

Wild Food Walks are held in parks in SF and the East Bay, each lasts about two hours, and covers the wild edibles that are abundant in the area (~$30).

SF — February 5 Saturday, 2-4 pm: Buy Tickets
East Bay — February 12 Saturday 2-4 pm: Buy Tickets
SF — February 19 Saturday 2-4 pm: Buy Tickets
SF — February 27 Sunday, 2-4 pm: Buy Tickets

Hey D,Try checking out the Dept.Fish&Game for In season/Out of season,Licenses,etc.,Point Reyes/Bodega Bay have Abundant Abalone but,I know there is a Certain time of year,One is Allowed to harvest,& Size is also a factor.Mussels/Clams are also Abundant,& Can be taken in any Non-R Month,May,June July,August.You can take Mussels for bait,but Not Clams,Anytime of year.Sea urchins are Delicious,& There are Gazillions of them,they have to be 3" or larger,Not counting the Spines,Also the Spines are Poison,Be careful,They hurt like the Dickens!Many areas Up there are Otter/Osprey/Kite Habitats,So Beware,Heavy Fines/Jail time is Not Un heard of for Violators!That water is Freezing Cold,24/7-365!A Full Wetsuit is recommended,including Gloves/Booties,Mask,Fins,Snorkel,Dive Knife/Spear-Great Whites are Well Known there,Don't Go it Alone!If you are sailing up that way,There is Xlnt Fishing there!

One thing I like to remind people who forage is that while learning all about edible plants is important, it is also important to know what is in the soil the plants are growing in. For example, plants growing near pressure treated wood structures probably have a high arsenic concentration. Also, many common edible plants are accumulators by nature and might have higher concentrations of chemicals such as nitrates, found in fertilizers used on fields and adjacent runoff areas. Just today a buddy and I were sitting on a log enjoying the sun looking out over a green field surrounded by pine trees. He started munching on some edibles when I reminded him that the field is the old landfill... who knows what heavy metals, etc. are in all those otherwise healthy edibles growing all over it?

Know your plants, yes, but know your soils too.

I'd start with a few good library books/ dvd's.