What can you eat in the woods?

A salad made with greens from native plants
 (pictured above) is one of the dishes people
 can learn about at a Missouri Department
of Conservation virtual program on wild edibles on March 5.

I grew up in SE Alaska and am familiar with a survival story of a young lady who persevered through a boat wreck, swim to shore, and over a week living off the land before she was found. Her survival was based on the fact that she was an excellent swimmer and that she knew what you could eat in the woods.

You probably do not foresee getting lost in the Alaskan wilderness, but surely you've occasionally wondered what things in the Missouri woods were okay to eat, and which were not.  This MDC program will help you better know what's good and what's not.

For additional information on the outdoors in Missouri and elsewhere, visit Family-Outdoors

Learn about wild edibles March 5 at MDC virtual program

Event will discuss food items that can be found growing in the outdoors.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Wild edibles consist of much more than morel mushrooms. The forests and grasslands that stretch across the southern part of the state produce a bounty of natural foods that can add variety to any dinner table.

People can learn more about edible plants that can be found in southern Missouri March 5 at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) virtual program “Wild Edibles.” This free online program, which will be from 2-4 p.m., is being put on by the staff of MDC’s Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center and by guest presenter Bo Brown. People can register for this program at:

https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/181324

The March 5 program that will be given by Brown, along with MDC Outdoor Education Center Specialist Ali Underwood, will discuss the variety of food items the region’s landscape can provide for the table. Brown is a local author who has written a book on wild edibles. In addition to talking about what’s available, Brown and Underwood will also have tips about gathering and preparing these items for the table.

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate using the link above. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. This program will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with the presenters.

Program registrants should note that they now have the option to link their children’s accounts to their own, which will streamline the program registration process. Once a group account is set up, parents will be able to register their children for an event without having to log-off or log-in for each person. This allows parents to register an entire family or select family members for an event at the same time.

Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/events.