Wild foraging walk and talk offered by SHAEC in Chester

Felix Lufkin of Turtle Bend Farm in Montgomery will lead a Wild Foraging Walk and Talk in SHAEC’s Chester classroom June 10 at 6 p.m.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

CHESTER — The Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center is offering a free Wild Foraging Walk and Talk by local wild edible expert Felix Lufkin. The class is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, at 6 p.m., and will meet at SHAEC’s Chester classroom at 26 Main St. in Chester.

Lufkin has taught nature awareness plant ecology to adults and children of all ages throughout the valley since 2003, including after-school programs, public workshops and organizations, including the New England Aquarium, Mass Audubon, WolfTree Programs, the Vermont Wilderness School and Earthwork Programs. He has led nature programs at NorthStar Teen Center, the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, Four Rivers Charter School, Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School, and he has taught wild edible plants at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Lufkin runs Turtle Bend Farm in Montgomery with his wife, Maggie. He also directs Help Yourself, Inc., a nonprofit organization that plants public access fruit trees in public places in Western Massachusetts.

On June 10, Lufkin will lead a guided foraging walk exploring the edible and useful plants growing right in the neighborhood. Participants will learn how to identify, harvest responsibly, and use a variety of seasonal wild foods, focusing on the species that are abundant at the time of the walk.

Along the way, Lufkin will discuss sustainable foraging practices, plant ecology and how to deepen one’s connection with the local landscape. For those who are new to foraging or looking to expand their skills, everyone will leave with practical knowledge and a fresh appreciation for the abundance growing around them.

Sign up online at shaec.org, or by emailing southernhilltownsaec@gmail.com. Give your name, the number in the party and a contact number. Call 413-354-1055 with any questions.

For more information about Lufkin and Turtle Bend Farm, go to turtlebend.farm.