Beyond Weeds: Urban Wildcrafting at Oakledge Park

Seeing Vermont’s Prolific Native and Invasive Wild Plants with New Eyes

Many of our most common weeds are nutrient-dense foods and have powerful healing properties. Some can help clean contaminated soil and stabilize river banks, helping to address problems brought on by human activity. Join Audubon Vermont and Burlington’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront for an eye-opening walk through Burlington’s Oakledge Park. Melanie Brotz, RD will be our wild food guide, herbalist, and dietitian.

Along the way, we will be sampling spring greens, shoots, and roots. We’ll also be gathering invasive wild plants,  both as a habitat restoration effort and to use as our own food and medicine.

We will discuss sensitive and threatened plants that are being over-harvested, such as wild leeks and fiddleheads, and will provide information on much more common and abundant alternatives to threatened plants. Audubon’s Plants for Birds database will provide inspiration and abundant details for local options: https://www.audubon.org/native-plants

This event is offered in partnership with Burlington’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront.

Cost:  $15 for Audubon members, $20 non-members
Ages: Adults and youth 13+
Online Registration Required: click here to register