2011 Wild Food Walks
Join local wild foods experts for a six-part diverse walking series throughout the Cowichan Valley focused on fresh air, light exercise and wild foods!
Did you know that adding local wild edibles to our diets can feed us much-needed vitamins, minerals and enzymes? Wild edibles, which can include fruits, mushrooms, greens, and flowers, are free for the taking and are often more nutritious than many store bought fruits and vegetables.
Not only are wild foods nourishing, but learning the local edible plants in your neighborhood is an empowering experience. To be able to forage plants and know why they are beneficial will bring you closer to your local ecology and improve your understanding of the Valley's ecosystems. (Please note that some walks may be "look only" depending on the protected status of the areas we are in.)
2011 WILD FOOD WALKS SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Walk #1 - Thursday, June 30th, McAdam Park - Roger Foucher
Walk #2 - Friday, July 8th, Eves Park - Genevieve Singleton
Walk #3 - Saturday, July 16th, Wildwood, Jay Rastogi
Walk #4 - Wednesday, July 20th, Deerholme Farm - Bill Jones
Walk #5 - Friday, July 29th, Stoltz Pools - Genevieve Singleton
Walk #6 - Wednesday, August 10th, Mayo Creek Gardens - Ingeborg Woodsworth
WALK 1: Thursday, June 30th - Ancient Wild Foods, McAdam Park with Roger Foucher
Join local wild foods enthusiast, Roger Foucher, as he leads us on a walk along the Cowichan River. Roger loves to explore the different tastes and energies of wild edibles in their seasons. "Re-enter the electrical grid of the earth and the plants about your feet; exchange new rejuvenative oils of the living plants about you for the dead-pressed oils chemically made," says Foucher.
Depart 9:30 from the tennis courts at the end of McKinstry Road, Duncan
WALK 2: Friday, July 8th - Eves Park with Genevieve Singleton
Genevieve Singleton has been sharing her love of nature with children and adults since she was a teenager. Genevieve has a formal background as a biologist and many years of experience working as a nature educator with BC Parks as an employee and volunteer. She is active with Cowichan Valley Docents, Cowichan Valley Naturalists and Eves Provincial Park. She is passionate about connecting children and adult to the wonders of nature and loves to share her vast knowledge about native plants and their uses.
Depart 9:30 from the Eves Park parking lot, off of Westholme Rd. at Nimmo Rd., Westholme
WALK 3: Saturday, July 16th, Wildwood, Jay Rastogi
The Land Conservancy’s Jay Rastogi grew up foraging edible wild plants with his family. After graduating from Natural Resource Management at the University of Guelph, Jay mentored in sustainable forestry practices with renowned ecoforester Merv Wilkinson. Through the years, Jay has shared these teachings and principles with thousands of students and adults during tours and workshops. Jay will lead hikers on a loop through The Land Conservancy's Wildwood with a focus on tea plants.
Depart 9:30 from Wildwood main parking lot. Heading north (from Victoria):
* Just past Ladysmith, turn right at the set of lights onto Cedar Road
* Drive along Cedar Road for 5 minutes; turn right at the Husky Station on to Yellow Point Road
* Drive for 10 minutes (you’ll pass Yellow Point Lodge and Roberts Memorial Park)
* Turn left onto Crane Road
Bill Jones is a French-trained Chef, author of nine books and food consultant with Magnetic North Cuisine. His base is Deerholme Farm in Glenora, situated on the Trans-Canada Trail southwest of Duncan. Bill is a renown regional expert on wild food and is the author of The Savoury Mushroom. He is also interested in First Nations plants and uses. See www.magnorth.bc.ca for more details. Join Bill on a nature walk along the Trans-Canada Trail as we explore edible plants, historical uses and introduced plants along the trail. Special emphasis will be on the local First Nations use of plants, edible foraged foods and medicinal uses of wild products.
Depart 9:30 from Deerholme Farm, 4830 Stelfox Road, Glenora
WALK 5: Friday, July 29th - Stoltz Pools with Genevieve Singleton
Join local naturalist, Genevieve Singleton on a walk along the Cowichan River’s edge. Genevieve likes to live in the moment and will incorporate wild edibles, birlds and animals into her walk, depending on what she sees that day. She will also spend time talking about the river restoration work that has been done in the area to remediate silting that was negatively affecting the river’s salmon stocks.
Depart 9:30 from the Stoltz Pools parking lot. Located off Highway 18, the Highway 18 Connector provides access to the Stoltz Pool Campground, Group Campsite and Day-Use areas. Follow signs to Riverbottom Road.
WALK 6: Wednesday, Augst 10th - Mayo Creek Gardens - Ingeborg Woodsworth
Professional, landscape designer and consultant, nurserywoman, educator in horticulture, botany and mycology in British Columbia and Oregon studied Vascular plants of the Pacific North West for over 50 years Founder and president of the Lake Cowichan Salmon/Mushroom Festival Society. Proprietor of Mayo Creek Gardens and Nursery teaching workshops on various garden techniques and styles as well as annual workshops for 'Beginners' Mushrooms'.
Depart 9:30 from Mayo Creek Gardens, 6596 McLean Road, Lake Cowichan
The cost is $17 per walk; $15 for members of Cowichan Green Community. Sign up for three or more walks and receive a 10% discount. To register for any or all of these walks, please call the Cowichan Green Community at 748-8506.
*** Participants are advised to wear sturdy walking shoes, comfortable clothes and bring your own drinking water. Walks are typically two hours but may go longer depending on the number of people and the level of interest. .***
