WILD FOOD SCHOOL - Course Schedule, 2010
[Updated: Monday, July 19th 2010]
This course schedule is still not quite finalised (some teaching commitments for other organisations and events are not firmed up). If an unscheduled mid-week course is more suitable then these can be run specially - WFS is uniquely flexible in this respect. Course dates are at the bottom of this page...
Courses start at 09.30 hrs. with the half day sessions ending around 13.00 hrs., and full day sessions at around 17.00 hrs.
With things a bit financially tight for many folks at the moment the 2010 prices have been reduced a bit, but you’ll still get the same unparalleled expertise and knowledge, and you still get your complementary ‘Takeaway’ CD-ROM.
If you don't see a date or time that suits, please get in touch and maybe something can be arranged - even if you are only passing through Lostwithiel and just have an hour or two to spare. Don't feel afraid to ask as anyone with an interest in 'the edible wild' will always be welcome.
Deciding on your 'skills level' can be found below. Remember, also, that distance-learning courses are available if you cannot make it down to Cornwall. To book on a course, or for more details, please e-mail or call 01208 873788
If places on a course have not been booked then the time may be re-allocated; so get in touch if you have a specific date you'd like to visit. There’s a maximum of 5 places on any course so booking is essential.
WHICH COURSE IS FOR YOU?
DESERTS DAY [Northern Hemisphere EAME] 2010
A one day lecture-based course on available edible plants found in various Polar, Arid and semi-arid
areas, and to a very much lesser extent, Salt deserts is available for those with a professional
interest.
INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS: Designed for folks curious about Britain's wild foods, but who have little or no experience and wish to know more. Very much the first foot on the ladder in exploring the edible wild. These are half day sessions. Cost: £30pp. [Includes complementary Wild Food 'Takeaway' CD-ROM]
STARTER DAY: These follow on from the Introductory courses and combine both an introduction to various edible wild plants and then cooking some foraged items. Full day sessions. Cost: £65pp. [Includes complementary Wild Food 'Takeaway' CD-ROM]
INTERMEDIATE: Designed for anyone who has a reasonable basic knowledge of a few common edible wild greens but wants to extend their knowledge of more plants and cooking with them. Full day sessions. Cost: £70pp. [Includes complementary Wild Food 'Takeaway' CD-ROM]
ADVANCED: Aimed at folks who know a good number of edible wild plants and who may wish to explore more unusual plants and their cooking and food potential. For example, preparing and using acorns, handling some of the toxic plants, or exploring the full potential of foraged greens such as the bulrush... Potentially experimenting on the edge. Full day sessions. Cost: £70pp. [Includes complementary Wild Food 'Takeaway' CD-ROM]
WEEKEND COURSES: Immersive sessions that adapt to the skills or interest levels of participants, so that everyone participating gets the best out of their time. Cost: £140pp. [Includes complementary Wild Food 'Takeaway' CD-ROM]
WEEK COURSES: Monday to Friday courses; aimed at folks with some knowledge of foraging and providing a longer time to absorb information in much greater detail [anywhere between 40 to 90+ plants depending on the season and seasonal changes]. PoA
CHOMP YOMP: Full day hike across this part of Cornwall (it’s about an 8 mile trail) identifying edible plants and then cooking these up on the trail. More details on the main WFS main page. Cost: £70/80
SEA-WEED DAY: A trip down down to the coast to look at some edible sea-weeds (plus some other edible wild greens that you’ll find in coastal areas), and then using and experimenting with seaweed as a foodstuff. Price: £70.
WFS ACORNS COURSE
WFS will be running several Acorn day courses ahead of the main acorn
harvest period [generally in October-November] where you can learn how
to safely prepare acorns for human food, and try your hand at some
acorn-based recipes. Cost £90 pp. [includes a free copy of The
Essential Acorn, Hazelnut, Chestnut &c Cookbook]
WFS URBAN FORAGING DAYS
What would you do if someone switched off your local supermarket? Would
you be able to identify something to eat among the weeds in your
garden, local park or open space?
A number of WFS courses on Urban Foraging are planned for 2010, and will concentrate on the most likely edible wild plant species to be found in Britain's urban and metropolitan areas. Although urban areas can be hard hunting grounds, naturally growing wild food does exist if you know where to look and what to look for. In the Urban Foraging course you will cover around 30+ plants (depends on season changes and time of year), plus a few more of the 160 or more edible wild plants available in the wider countryside, and be able to try a few out for yourself. Full day sessions. Cost: £70pp.
READING THE LANDSCAPE: Foraging is frequently left to luck. In survival situations with limited resources then leaving things to chance is not productive and possibly dangerous. The specialist one-day RTL courses are about minimizing the 'chance' factor; providing the forager with a methodology for looking at a terrain and deciding quite precisely where to look for edible greens [at least in northern temperate climes]. Full day sessions available by arrangement.
INSTRUCTOR'S COURSE: None of the courses above are designed for people who wish to teach others about wild foods and its disciplines. A newly designed course requiring 2 weekend [or other available 2-day slots] down in Cornwall, allows participants to observe different terrains and plants over different seasons during the year. More details on request.