Farm and Forage: A Walk on the Wild Side

A one-of-a-kind day on the farm awaits!

Join us for a unique experience, learning about Maryland’s native, edible plants while hiking through the forests of Catoctin Mountain Farm. Meet the animals, explore, forage, and enjoy the mountainous views while collecting, and gaining a deeper understanding of local, edible flora and the daily life, work, and mission of a sustainable farm.

Midday we will take a break from walking and enjoy two workshops stations. The first station you will get to work hands on with Alison, making your own vinegar hair rinse from the amazing medicinal plants you will be learning about.

The next station, Kayce will be helping you make a bottle of white wine ramp vinegar that you also get to take home!

We will end the afternoon with a complimentary feast, featuring Catoctin Mountain Farm’s local meats, paired with fresh homemade sourdough and vibrant foraged wild food dishes.

This will be a great time for Q & A and some simple socializing. 

Catoctin Mountain Farm is recognized as one of Maryland’s top regenerative farms of Frederick county. Sprawling acres of pasture and forest are home to their well-known inhabitants: pigs rooting and snoozing in the forest, and sheep grazing on lush green pasture. This will be an amazing educational experience for all those that attend!

Meet the Hosts:

Alison Sacks is a farmer/dietitian, and owner of Catoctin Mountain Farm. She will share her perspective as a functional nutrition expert through the lens of a farmer.

Kayce Heister, the founder of HealthPrimitive is a Naturalpathic practitioner, master herbalist and wild food chef who loves sharing her passion with others.

Together, these two women will guide you through an immersive experience and discussion about sustainable farming and wild food foraging.

Where is it held?

Catoctin Mountain Farm, Sabillasville MD, 21780

Who is welcome?

We welcome everyone from novice foragers to diehard hunter-gatherers. No experience is necessary to participate in this workshop.

What to Wear?

We will be outdoors, so it’s recommended to wear boots or sturdy walking shoes, long pants, and an extra sweater since it can get chilly up here on top of the mountain.

What to Bring?

Just yourself (and a friend!), a positive attitude, and a curiosity about the flora and fauna of Catoctin Mountain.

Schedule:

Meet and Greet (11:00-11:30)

Introduction to Foraging and Farming (11:30-12:00)

Farm Tour and Foraging Walk (12:00-1:00)

Popsicle Break (1:00-1:30)

Wild Food Activities (1:30-2:00)

Farmed and Foraged Feast (2:00-3:00)

Sample Menu (this is the plan, but of course plans can change at the last minute based on nature’s availability)

• Seasonal green salad with beets or radish and/or carrots plus homemade dressing selection 

• Gobo Salad (Braised burdock root and carrot salad)

• Sunchoke potato salad with ramps and poblano pepper dressing

• Fiddlehead, asparagus, and quinoa salad (gluten free)

• Morel and wild mushroom bruschetta with ramp boursin cheese 

• Green nettle and wild mushroom soup (gluten free)

• Lamb meatballs

• Bratwurst with mustard (made from fresh wild mustard flowers)

• Pulled pork with homemade buns and pickled fixin’s

• Seasonal fruit salad

We also will have an array of wild fermented foods such as dandelion capers that you can taste test. Bottled water and other herbal beverages will be provided but feel free to bring your own if you like.

*For the sake of privacy, we are not sharing the specific address with the general public. All registered attendees will be contacted via email with the event address and any updates. Please contact Alison Sacks at alisonsacks@gmail.com with any questions. Thanks!

Can’t wait to see you there!