The quickest and safest way to learn foraging is with a local expert. You not only learn what there is to know but do not spend time learning things you don’t need to know. Further, you also get the local angle on plants, important information that is usually not found in foraging books published on a national or even regional level. The local expert can give you insights to climate and species variation. Also with a teacher you get the opportunity to have your identification skills honed and your judgment sharpened. That builds confidence.
Below is a list of about 115 foraging teachers and instructors from the United States, Canada and Europe. The beginnings of the list started in the 90s in a book by Dr. Peter Gail. It moved to the Internet via Sunny Savage. It has been expanded and maintain here since 2008. There is no charge for inclusion. It’s just a public service. If you know of someone competent to add to the list please let me know. There are also several states still missing teachers. To make corrections, additions or deletions contact me. Last updated: 5 May 2021.
And now to make my lawyer happy: Disclaimer: The listing of foraging and plant experts is provided on this website strictly as a reference tool and is not intended to act in any way as an endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, or certification of knowledge of the subject matter contained in this website. Any contact with persons identified on this list is strictly and categorically voluntary and as such is thus separate and detached from this website. The providers of this website, its advertisers, and principles shall accept no liability for statements, representations, opinions, guarantees, omissions, behaviors, or any combination thereof made by foragers and plant experts referenced in this website. End of placating my lawyer.
United States, Canada, Europe
Alabama |
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Darryl Patton, PO Box 8481, Gadsden AL. 35902, 256-547-2453 darryl@thesouthernherbalist.com |
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Alaska |
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Arizona |
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Peter Bigfoot Reevis Mountain School, 7448 S. J-B Ranch Rd., Roosevelt, AZ 85545, bigfoot@reevismountain.org, reevismountain |
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Joyce Latura P.O. Box 52 Tumacacori, AZ 85640, bjbinx53@aol.com |
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Michael Morearty, 4436 W Sierra St. , Glendale, AZ 85301 602-938-2275 (h) 602-909-9629 (mobile) mikeinphoenix@hotmail.com |
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Mike Masek Flagstaff,AZ Mike Masek <mmasek@theforagerspath.com> http://www.theforagerspath.com |
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Patty West PO Box 55 Flagstaff,AZ 86002, 928-607-3162 paw3333@yahoo.com |
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Arkansas |
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Charles Griffith Master Forager Institute 8631 Beulahland Drive Ozark, Arkansa scrjg@centurytel.net |
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California |
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Kevin Feinstein Oakland,CA, feralkevin@gmai.com, feralkevin.com |
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Ellen Kelley, USC Wrigley Marine Science Center, Santa Catalina Island, PO Box 5069, Avalon,CA 90704 |
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Headwaters Outdoor School
, PO Box 1698, Santa Cruz, CA 95061, 831-423-3830, info@hwos.com |
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Christopher Nyerges
, 626-791-3217, christopher_nyerges@yahoo.com , ChristopherNyerges |
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Heather Pier Auburn, California 916-996-1739 |
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Jim Robertson Aboriginal Skills.Com 310-395-0943 j3rbrts@dslextreme.com |
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Hank Shaw, Sacranento, CA Scrbblr@hotmail.com http://honest-food.net/ |
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Urban Outdoor Skills 10500 Woldrich Street Sylmar, CA 91342 Pascal@urbanoutdoorskills.com UrbanOutdoorSkills |
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Barbara Kolander Wild Mountain Services P.O. Box 1131 Crestline, CA 92325 909 337-1481 wildmtnwoman@hotmail.com. |
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Colorado |
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Katrina Blair Turtle Lake Refuge, Rocky Mountain Retreat, 848 E. 3rd Avenue Durango, Colorado 81301 970-247-8395 turtlelakerefuge@yahoo.com turtlelakerefuge |
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Diana Marie Dummer, 30503 Sun Creek Dr. , Evergreen, CO 80439, 303-679-8290 frhi@earthlink.net |
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Lauren Bond Kovsky Naturalist and Canoe Guide Boulder, Colorado 303-859-7174 Lauren@theriverspath.org www.theriverspath.org |
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Brigitte Mars, 1919 19th St. D, Boulder, CO 80301 303-442-4967 brigitte@indra.com brigittemars |
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Dorje Root PO Box 717, Crestone,CO 81131, 719-256-486dorjeroot@yahoo.com rootsofhealing |
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Farida Sharan, School of Natural Medicine, 3000 Folson St., Boulder, CO 80304 888-593-6173 school@purehealth.com purehealth |
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Connecticut |
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Lorraine French Hartford LoraineFrench@comcast.net |
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Sam Schaperow sam.schaperow@gmail.com |
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The Three Foragers Robert, Karen and Gillian Norwich, CT kraczewski@comcast.net http://the3foragers.blogspot.com |
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Delaware |
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Florida |
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Green Deane GreenDeane@gmail.com eattheweeds |
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Andy Firk Arcadia FL AndyFirk@yahoo.com |
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Susan Marynowski https://www.facebook.com/susan.marynowski |
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Emily Ruff info@holisticlivingschool.org Florida School of Holistic Living |
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Maribou Thomas unholding@gmail.com |
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Georgia |
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Delilah Ann Gill 496 NE Lantana Road Branford FL 32008 386-590-6512 Gillda1958@yahoo.com |
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Mary Meyer North Georgia Wild In Georgia |
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Mo Turcotte, 517 Sunset Dr, Rising Fawn, GA 30738, 770-402-0007 mturc@earthskills.net, earthskills |
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Mark Warren, Medicine Bow Wilderness School , 104 Medicine Bow, Dahlonega, GA 30533, 706-864-5928, medbow@windstream.net |
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Hawaii |
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Nat Bletter,
PhD., nbletter@yahoo.com, Nat Bletter |
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Ed Fenzl Western Hawaii arseco-150-ski@earthlink.net |
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Sunny Savage, info@wildfoodplants.com, wildfoodplants |
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Idaho |
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Illinois |
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Pat Armstrong Naperville IL Pat4nature@sbcglobal.net |
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Nance Klehm Chicago SpontaneousVegetation.net Nettlesting@yahoo.com |
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Indiana |
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Creek Stewart Willow Haven Outdoor 2867 N. 200 E. Anderson, IN 46012317-703-9655Willow Haven Outdoor |
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Iowa |
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Andy Benson Midwest Wild Edibles & Foragers Society MidwestForagers@groups.facebook.com spiderfrets@hotmail.com |
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Chelsea Ewen Chelsea Ewen Rowcliffe Naturalist Mitchell County Conservation Board 1879-3 Highway 9 Osage, Iowa 50461 chelseaewen325@gmail.com |
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Mike Krebill
, 150 Oakcliff Lane, Keokuk, IA 52632-2538, 319-524-4576, mikekrebill@aol.com |
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Kansas |
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Prairie Wolf POB 96 Randolph KA 66554 785-293-5310 john@prairiewolf.net |
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Kentucky |
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Louisiana | |
David B. Bradley Slidell LA geodave36352@yahoo.com |
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Joe Bass Ervine jbplnt@yahoo.com 661-210-5792 |
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Maine |
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Josh Fecteau Kennebunkport, Maine josh@joshfecteau.com joshfecteau.com |
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Arthur Haines Delta Institute of Natural History, 219 Dead River Road Bowdoin, ME 04287 USA, 207-837-4920 , arthurhaines@wildblue.net arthurhaines.com |
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Shawn Levesque Lewiston, Auburn, Greeneargentcord@yahoo.com 207-440-8257 |
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David L. Spahr, 16 Nelson Ridge Rd. So., Washington, ME 04574, 207-845-2124, DSPAHR3D@aol.com, mushroom-collecting.com |
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Maryland |
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Rick L. Hueston PO Box 26224 Baltimore, Maryland 21210-9998 Classes offered through Mid-Atlantic Primitive Skills Group |
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Massachussetts |
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Russ Cohen Arlington, MA Russ Cohen |
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Blanche Cybele Derby, 2 Massasoit Ave, Northamptom, MA 01060 qs2t@hotmail.com tagyerit |
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Ellen Evert Hopman
, POB 219, Amherst, MA 01004 413–323 4494 saille333@mindspring.com, elleneverthopman.com |
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Iris Weaver, PO Box 5364 Gloucester, MA 01930 617-773-5809 info@irisweaver.com |
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Michigan |
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Ellen Elliott Weatherbee, and Heidi (German shepherd field assistant) 11405 Patterson Lake Drive, Pinckney, MI 48169-9748 (734) 878-9178, eew@umich.edu |
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Minnesota |
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Matthew Alfs Midwest School of Herbal Studies, PO Box 120845, New Brighton, MN 55112, 612-781-2038, MHMinn@aol.com midwestherbalstudies.com |
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Stephanie Williams Member of the White Earth Nation P.O. Box 360 White Earth, MN. 56591 makonce@hotmail.com |
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Mississippi |
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David B. BradleySlidell LAgeodave36352@yahoo.com |
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Missouri |
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Bo Brown Springfield First Earth Wilderness School Bo@firstearth.org |
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Montana |
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Tom Elpel Co/ 12 Quartz Street Pony MT 59747-0697 wildflowers-and-weeds.com |
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Nebraska |
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Rick Hamilton info@spiritinthewind.com spiritinthewind.com |
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Nevada |
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New Hampshire |
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Karen Lynn, Manchester, NH, 603-361-2084 |
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New Jersey |
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Bob Saunders wilderbobcat@gmail.com |
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Robin Rose Bennett PO Box 367, Hewitt NJ 07421 973-728-5878 robin@robinrosebennett.com WiseWomanHealingWays.com |
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Dan Farella Princeton New Jersey dan@returntonature.ushttp://returntonature.us |
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Debbie Naha Pennsylvania / New Jersey 908-456-1681 debbienaha@gmail.com www.wildediblesnjpa.com |
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New Mexico |
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John Duncan PO Box 2216 Taos, NM 87571575 7708476 johnallenduncan@yahoo.com osonegroschool.com |
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Kiva Rose Anima Lifeways & Herbal School PO Box 688 Reserve, NM 87830 kiva@animahealingarts.org Animahealingarts.org/blog |
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New York |
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“Wildman” Steve Brill Violet Brill 320 Palmer Terrace, 2A, Mamaroneck, NY 10543 wildman@wildmanstevebrill.com wildmanstevebrill.com |
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Leda Meredith, Brooklyn, NY, leda@ledameredith.net Leda’s Urban Homestead |
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Sue Ulrich 6725 Sage Rd Boonville, NY 13309 315-942-2309 whwitch@hotmail.com. |
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Marie Viljoen Manhattan mail: myviljoen@gmail.comWebsite: http://66squarefeet.blogspot.com/ |
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Bob Saunders wilderbobcat@gmail.com |
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Hayden Stebbins Germantown NY haydenstebbins@gmail.com |
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North Carolina |
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Kim Calhoun Chatham County, North Carolina, which is west of Raleigh www.abundancehealingarts.com kimcalhoun@gmail.com |
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Doug Elliott, 3831 Painters Gap Rd., Union Mills, NC 28167, 828-287-2960 doug@dougelliott.com dougelliott.com |
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Sarah Haggerty370 Leigh Farm Rd
Durham NC 27707Piedmonth Wildlife Center |
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Ila Hatter 930 Troy Martin Rd, Whittier, NC 28789, 828-488-4111 ila@wildcrafting.com wildcrafting.com |
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Alan Muskat No Taste Like Home North Carolina Mushrooms and general foraging www.notastelikehome.org 828-209-8599 |
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Marc Williams, Asheville, NC marc@botanyeveryday.com botanyeveryday.com |
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North Dakota |
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Ohio |
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Donna Lynne Strong Brott, 2208 South Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45233 herbmomma@yahoo.com |
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Dave Canturbury Pathfinders Wilderness School 740-253-6789 wildernessoutfittersarchery.com |
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Chris Chmiel
, Integration Acres – PawPaw Pleasures, 160 Cherry Ridge Rd. Albany, OH 45710 740-698-2124 pawpaw@frognet.net integrationacres.com |
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Oklahoma |
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Oregon |
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Sergei Boutenko, P.O. Box 172, Ashland, OR 97520 , sergei@harmonyhikes.com harmonyhikes.com |
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Angie Goodloe, Sandy, OR , makia1212@yahoo.com herbalistpath.blogspot.com |
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John Kallas,Ph.D. Wild Food Adventures , 4125 N Colonial Ave, Portland, OR 97217, 503-775-3828, mail@wildfoodadventures.com wildfoodadventures.com |
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Pat Patterson 950 W. 13th, Eugene OR 97402, 541-682-4243, pat.patterson@oregonstate.edu |
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Pennsylvania |
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Debbie Naha Pennsylvania / New Jersey 908-456-1681 debbienaha@gmail.com www.wildediblesnjpa.com |
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Melissa Sokulski Pittsburgh, PA FoodUnderFoot.com (412) 381-0116 Melissa@FoodUnderFoot.com |
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Ellen Zachos, Acme Plant Stuff, 917-805-5383, ez@acmeplant.com, acmeplant.com |
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Rhode Island |
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South Carolina |
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Tradd and Olga Cotter sporeprints@gmail.com Mushroom ForagingSouth Carolina |
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Matthew Kip Columbia area http://www.matthewkip.com/ |
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South Dakota |
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Tennessee |
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Bonnie Marie Morris Wild Pantry 227 Smithfield Road Tellico Plains, TN 37385 423-371-1518 info@wildpantry.com wildpantry.com |
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Alan Powell, 744 Bresslyn Rd., Nashville, TN 37205, 615-352-8588 dogbane@earthlink.net |
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Larry Smith, 2530 Boston Branch Circle, Signal Mountain, TN 37377, 423-886-2798, lsmith3074@aol.com |
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Texas |
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Courtney & Isaac Clay Dallas/Ft Worth isaac@laughingearth.me |
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Amy Crowell Austin, Tx www.wildedibletexas.com |
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Merriwether, Dr. Mark Vorderbruggen Houston, Texas merriwetheradventurer@yahoo.com houstonwildedibles.blogspot.com |
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Michael Harrison
, 210-691-8498, mkh-harrison@sbcglobal.net |
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Virginia |
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Pat McCafferty Central Virginia hummingbirdandwhale@yahoo.com http://www.facebook.com/hummingbirdandwhale |
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Tim MacWelch, Earth Connection , PO Box 32 Somerville, VA 22739 540-270-2531 , earthconnect@earth-connection.com , earth-connection.com |
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Mike Rasnakes 21372 Sand Pit Rd , Zuni, VA 23898, 757-242-6221 Rasnakes@hotmail.com |
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Vickie Shufer, The Wild Foods Forum P.O. Box 61413 Virginia Beach, VA 23466-1413 wildfood@cox.net ecoimages-us.com |
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Utah |
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Washington |
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Shari Brewer LPN PO Box 701 Darrington, WA 98241 360 436 1771 shari@glacierview.net |
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Arthur Lee Jacobson
, 2215 E. Howe Street , Seattle, WA 98112 (206)328-TREE, alj@consultant.com, arthurleej.com |
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Dave Sansone, Perennial Harvest, PO Box 172, Marblemount, WA, 98267 360-333-5051, perennialharvest@gmail.com perennialharvest.org |
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Karen Sherwood, Earthwalk Northwest, PO Box 461 , Issaquah, WA 98027, 425-746-7267 , sherwood@earthwalknorthwest.com , earthwalknorthwest.com |
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Jon Young Wilderness Awareness School PO Box 5000, Duvall, WA 98019 800-340-6088 , wildernessawareness.org |
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Washington DC |
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Matthew Cohen 202-841-1874 mattshabitats.com |
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West Virginia |
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Brian Lucas, 103 Ridgeview Drive, Fairmont, WV, 26554, 304-816-7439 , brianleelucas@yahoo.com |
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Wisconsin |
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Sam Thayer N8757 Breakneck Rd. Birchwood, Wisconsin 54817 715-767-5826, sam@foragersharvest.com, foragersharvest.com |
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Wyoming |
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Arthur Eby
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International |
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Canada |
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Alberta | |
The Light Cellar Calgary Malcom Saunders, Denis Manzer 6531 Bowness RD NW Calgary info@lightcellar.ca |
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Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed Latifa’s Herbs Calgary and Kananaskis info@latifasherbs.com |
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Julie Walker Turner Valley Full Circle Adventures info@full-circle-adventures.com |
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British Columbia | |
Patrick Kooyman |
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Yarrow willard Cumberland, British Columbia help@harmonicarts.ca |
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Nova Scotia
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Ontario |
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Sherri Canjar Whitby Ontario Sherri.Canjar@theforaginggourmet.com theforaginggourmet.com |
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Karen Stephenson Ediblewildfood.com K.stephenson@ediblewildfood.com |
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Finland |
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Henriette Kress, henriettesherbal.com |
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Germany |
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Peter Becker Wildfood-Workshop Campus Klarenthal 65197 Wiesbaden peter.becker@campus- Peter Becker NewTritionInk Knottyfood Manufactory Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str.60 65197 Wiesbaden newtritionink@email.de www.newtritionink.com |
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Israel |
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Ronit Peskin Israel PennilessParenting@yahoo.com http://www.pennilessparenting.com |
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Switzerland |
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Francois Couplan, CH-1692 Massonnens, Switzerland, 011 41 26 653 19 78, fc@couplan.com couplan.com |
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United Kingdom |
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Fergus Drennan, info@wildmanwildfood.co.uk , www.wildmanwildfood.co.uk |
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Marcus Harrison, fwd2cluk@yahoo.co.uk, www.wildfoodschool.com |
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Miles Irving, 13 Tillard Close, Petham, Kent CT4 5RA, Great Britain, 01227 700141 information@forager.org.uk, www.forager.org.uk |
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Andrew Shaw 14 Eastern Close Peterborough PE1 4PP Phone 07817 679174 Andrew@fragilearth.co.uk Fragile Earth |
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Please add Michael Douglas, Maine Primitive Skills School to your list of foraging instructors. Thanks!
Will do.
Because I do a lot of editing, I can’t turn my editing eye off when reading anything any more. Thought you’d like to correct the typo on the spelling of Idaho.
Thanks. I can misspell in several language… it was a gene I didn’t get.
I am looking for a local expert in Mississauga Ontario Canada. I know a little bit of foraging. I would like to know even more. All I can find locally are dumpster foragers. I like weed.
Thanks
Hi GreenDean, Can you recommend and foraging instructors for Australia/New Zealand please?
I think Pete Lanz still holds classes.
Hi Green Deane I live in Socal low desert are there any foraging instructors out this way?
Thanks for this wonderful list. I have already contacted a guy near me here in the metro area!!
Hi Deane,
I have been an avid reader for several months now and may I just say I’ve probably learned more from you than from most of my schooling years combined (probably more my fault and the system’s than the teachers). I just wanted to ask and be sure that these teachers don’t mind being contacted at random. I could probably talk somebody’s head off about plants and foraging especially in my native area and so I just wanted to double check they wouldn’t mind an earful of questions. Thank you and may I also take this chance to thank you personally for this incredible knowledge. I am 23 and I consider this some of the most valuable information on this planet. It is a shame it is uncommon but thanks to you and your peers perhaps more and more people can share and use what you have provided.
Elliott
I have personally contacted every one of these teachers. They have approved of them being listed and it is they who have given men contact information. I think there is only one that does not want direct contact and that is why I am listed as the contact for that person.
Hi Green Deane
Could you please check the listing for Kentucky? There is no Elise County
in Kentucky.
Hi Deane,
Any chance we can get some nice foraging intructors from South America listed on your website? Thanks.
If I learn of some I’ll list them.
Hello, I do not know anything. My expertise starts and ends at mulberries lol. However, I really love the subject and I would like to learn more. I am really interesting in fermenting and gardening, but I would like to learn about foraging as well. I can never find any morals when I go hunting. :/ I live in Northern Illinois. I might try to contact the expert listed in Naperville if I have trouble with the reading. Its always best to learn first eyed and second hand! Thanks for the site.
-David
Hi Deane,
I just discovered your website and I love it. I am an amateur forager in Vancouver, BC Canada. I’m familiar with all the coastal berries and many plants but I’d love to learn more. Can you recommend anyone here?
Thanks,
Alyssa
Hello!
Thank you for all the information and education you provide us with!
Is there anyone who could teach in (northern preferably 🙂 ) Greece??
Also with a teacher you get the opportunity to have your identification skills honed and your judgment sharpened. That builds confidence.
Can you recommend anyone in New Brunswick, or Eastern Canada in general?
Do you information on any foragers in Rhode Island
Any of the Orlando/Sarasota/Palm Harbor classes would be the same plants.
Did you find anyone?
Hi,
I would like you to add me yo your list.
Thank you,
Tal’or Cohen
I am seeing someone as a self-proclaimed expert named Dan Potts in Utah, but I’m not in contact with him yet.
Hello Deane,
can you please recommend an instructor in Greece? Just like Carol I also moved to Greece not to long ago. Mainland Greece or any of the bigger islands would be fine. Thanks.
Sometimes they send me a bio, or others do, or I know them. My mail problem is wordpress page wouldn’t accept more entries.
Would you please add me to your instructors list? I’m Founder of http://www.WildFoodies.org, including a meetup of over 5600 members -https://www.meetup.com/Wild-Foodies-of-Philly/ started in 2010.
Lynn Landes
Philadelphia, PA
lynnlandes@gmail.com
714-204-2690
Hi! We offer foraging classes in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico. How can we be added to your list? Thanks!
Could you add me to your list of foraging instructors? Utah should be before Virginia.
Utah
Beuna Tomalino
Bountiful, Utah
801-520-3293 Text
https://gardeninspire.com
garden@gardeninspire.com