Cole Field with Russ Cohen

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Angela

On the riverbank of the Hoosic River are winding trails alongside Cole Field in Williamstown. On Sunday, May 16, expert forager and author Russ Cohen led a group of us while teaching all about wild edibles, native species, invasives and how to cook with foraged foods.

The following photos were taken by Zan Farr of Storey Publishing.

For details on the wild edibles walks, the full schedule, foragers’ bios and ticketing info, select the Where the Wild Things Are pull-down menu on the black bar (far left) at the top of this page and visit the area you would like to explore.

Walking in the Woods with Russ Cohen

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Angela

The following commentary is from Brent Wasser of the Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program at Williams College:

Saturday’s walk on the Money Brook Falls trail with Russ Cohen was great! He was very good at keeping the group together and focused on a wide variety of plants. He also spoke authoritatively on how to cook the plants, and had some great recipe ideas. We even found morels during the walk which added much excitement to the mix. Great walk on a beautiful day!

Photos by Brent Wasser, Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program at Williams College.

Foraging with Blanche Derby

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Angela

The following post is from Brent Wasser of the Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program at Williams College:

A perfect spring day! On Sunday, April 29, Blanche Derby led a group of interested foragers through Field Farm in Williamstown. Sunday’s weather was especially springlike and refreshing. Cattails, pokeweed, nettles, garlic mustard — these were exciting things to discover and learn about. Blanche Derby’s passion and interest in wild edibles kept the group interested and the range of plants we discussed was great. Our guide offered significant advice on how to prepare the foods, which our group appreciated. She finished up with wild edibles muffins and a tea she had made, which was a nice way to illustrate the range of possibilities with these foods.

Photos by Brent Wasser, Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program at Williams College.

Foraging for Dinner: Where the Wild Things Are

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Angela

photo credit Keith Emerling

After you’ve learned the basics of foraging for wild edibles, you can create some adventurous combinations for your spring table. Where the Wild Things Are is fortunate to have an avid photographer, forager and cook as one of our walk participants this year. Keith Emerling signed up for ALL EIGHT Wild Things walks and shared some of his delicious dish ideas with us.
Pictured above is Avocado Oil-sautéed Fiddleheads and Spring Garlic Greens, Roasted Ramps and Ramp Leaf Crisps. This wild edible base is topped with Warm Yellow Split Pea Salad, Red and White Cippolini Onions, Tender Spring Garlic, Treviso and Radish Sprouts. You can substitute braised scallion for foraged items.

Pictured below is Duck Egg Scramble with Ramp Leaf, Fresh Thyme, Saffron, White Truffle Oil and Six-pepper Grind over Hazelnut Oil Sauté of Asparagus, Shiitake, Fresh Thyme and Ramps. You can substitute egg whites, fiddleheads, chicken or goose eggs, morels, fresh garlic, leek, black or white pepper, ghee and grapeseed oil.

Springtime deliciousness!

Photo credit Keith Emerling

Photos by Keith Emerling

First Foraging Walk of the Season

Posted on April 28, 2012 by karin

What a gorgeous day. On Saturday, April 28, Aimee Gelinas led 20 people on a beautiful walk in Williamstown. The group started at the Clark Art Stone Hill Center and headed into the forest with a brief foray into the meadow, descending on the road past Buxton School. We learned about culinary and medicinal uses, history, botany. Colt’s Foot, Eastern Hemlock for tea, Trout Lily, Jewelweed, Black Birch for tea and toothbrushes, Violets, Beech, Dandelion (dent de lion) and a huge stand of Japanese Knotweed. A few Williams students practiced for their upcoming botany exam. A few more gathered up scads of non-native and invasive mustard greens to make pesto for dinner tonight. Can’t wait til next weekend!

Photos by Karin Stack

Where the Wild Things Are Starts This Weekend!

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Angela

The Where the Wild Things Are foraging walks begin this weekend with Aimee Gelinas and Blanche Derby. Both walks are Sold Out but there is still space available for the six other walks taking place throughout the Berkshires until May 20.

Photo credit Evan Strusinski

Japanese Knotweed, also known as fleeceflower, Mexican bamboo and huzhang, is sprouting up across our region. As a non-native invasive species, our local chefs are making an effort to cook it up during Berkshire Grown’s Farmed + Foraged weekend so we can eat it into submission! We are also encouraging everyone to harvest and cook it into delicious dessert bars or a Japanese Knotweed pie. Photos of Japanese Knotweed below:

: Photo credit Evan Strusinski

: Photo credit Russ Cohen

: Photo credit Russ Cohen

: Photo credit Russ Cohen

We hope to see you on one of the walks this Spring!

Where the Wild Things Are: Tickets on Sale Now!

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Angela

The Where the Wild Things Are foraging walks schedule has been announced for Spring 2012. For details on the wild edibles walks, the full schedule, foragers’ bios and ticketing info, select the Where the Wild Things Are pull-down menu on the black bar (far left) at the top of this page and visit the area you would like to explore.

We hope to see you on one of the walks this Spring!

Photo credit Evan Strusinski

Where the Wild Things Were: Photos from Last Year’s Walks

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Angela

Have you heard? We’re going for some wild walks this season starting the last weekend of April with Where the Wild Things Are: Foraging Walks in the Berkshires. Five expert foragers, eight wild walks, eight beautiful Berkshire trails and a limited number of spots available. Sign up soon as last year’s walks sold out!

Photos from last year’s walks can be found here. The photo below is from a walk with Evan Strusinski at Stone Hill on the Clark campus in May of 2011.

Photo credit Angela Cardinali

Where the Wild Things Are Foraging Walks Announced for 2012!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Angela

Photo credit Angela Cardinali

Where the Wild Things Are foraging walks will take place for a second year in late April and May. A few familiar faces and some new foraging experts, too. The website is live and ready to go. Check it out for more info!

Outstanding in the Field is Sold Out!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Angela

Photo credit: Jeremy Fenske, courtesy of Outstanding in the Field

We are thrilled to report, the Outstanding in the Field event scheduled for September 15, 2012 at Indian Line Farm sold out in just four hours the day tickets went on sale — just yesterday.

Berkshire Farm & Table contacted Outstanding in the Field over a year ago with an interest in bringing the organization to this region to help put the spotlight on our farms and the excellent quality of food that is being produced here in our restaurants by dedicated chefs committed to a farm-to-table mission. Indian Line Farm in Egremont was selected because of its history as a working farm, the birthplace of the first CSA in North America. Brian Alberg at the Red Lion Inn was the ideal chef to bring on board for the dinner as he has been instrumental in galvanizing a Berkshire culinary movement – as a chef supporting local farms, as a farmer raising his own heritage breed pigs, as a mentor for youth interested in culinary arts through Railroad Street Youth Project and as President of Berkshire Grown’s Board of Trustees.

: Photo credit: Jeremy Fenske, courtesy of Outstanding in the Field

This dinner will showcase the agricultural and culinary talents of our region, and we are very excited about this outstanding culinary event. Berkshire Farm & Table is interested in economic development around Berkshire food culture — creating strong draws for visitors to the region in the off-peak months, otherwise known as shoulder seasons. This demand for Outstanding in the Field further demonstrates the Berkshires as a destination for culinary experiences — adding tremendous value to our theaters, museums and music, the culture that currently defines us. We are energized by this sold-out event and continue to make a case for culinary tourism, which we believe is an ideal reason to visit the Berkshires at any time of year.

Our region is primed for great food events featuring our locally grown, produced and crafted food and the storytelling that can help attract visitors to come here to enjoy them. Outstanding in the Field is just the beginning and we can’t wait to get started!

Photo credit: Jeremy Fenske, courtesy of Outstanding in the Field