Foraging for Edible Plants

Catalog description

In this course, students will explore the historical and contemporary reasons why humans forage for edible plants and the environmental implications of foraging. There will be discussions about modern diets in a global agricultural world, and common pervasive myths about the dangers of foraging for wild plants. Students will learn how to identify species of edible plants, and recognize inedible/poisonous plants of the Eastern United States, with a heavy emphasis on plant species of the Mid-Atlantic (NJ/DE/PA) area. Students will learn in both classroom and field settings, with a strong emphasis on field recognition of edible plants, and how to forage safely and sustainably. Students will become familiar with ethical foraging methods. This course is restricted to Environmental Science majors (B.A. and B.S.).