Classes and Events, 2026
This year I am excited to announce the opening of the Press House, a combined office, food processing, and classroom space at my property. For the first time in many years I will have a location to fit all of my books and a writing desk! I will have a shop set up for pressing hickory oil. And for the first time ever I will have an indoor teaching and meeting space, as well as bathrooms and showers for students camping overnight. So we will be hosting a few more classes and workshops at the orchard this year.
Our regular weekend classes run from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday evening, 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM on Saturday, and 9:30-12:30 on Sunday. Lunch and dinner are provided on Saturday, incorporating some of the plants collected in the class. There will be informal campfire talk Friday and Saturday after the class, so people can get to know each other and discuss the information and experiences. For optimal learning, class size is kept to 12-14 people. Limited on-site camping is available.
Spring Gathering (Weekend Class). May 8-10, 2026. Weyerhaeuser, WI. The land is reawakewning and full of lush, delicious greens, shoot vegetables, and edible roots. In this weekend you will learn to identify dozens of species of edible wild plants in fields, forests, and wetlands. We will taste them, and gather many to prepare into fresh dishes. You will also learn about the habitat and ecology of the plants, and how to harvest them sustainably. $280. There is no online registration--email [email protected] for more information or to register.
Summer Gathering (Weekend Class). July 10-12, 2026. Weyerhaeuser, WI. Learn to find the wild bounty of summer in fields, forests, wetlands, and weedy spaces. The long hot days bring on an assortment of berries, greens, shoots, flower buds, and flowers. We'll identify these plants, learn to select the best parts, gather them, and cook meals that incorporate them. $280. There is no online registration--email [email protected] for more information or to register. (Class is now Full)
Summer Foraging at Iowisota, Lansing Iowa. July 18-19. We will explore the lush fields and forests of this magnificent location in the Driftless Region, to learn about its remarkable diversity of edible wild plants. This will include Saturday on land, and a partial day Sunday canoeing or kayaking to observed plants on the Mississippi River wetlands. Details to be announced some time in April. Check iowisota.org for more information and to register.
Summer Foraging at Iowisota, Lansing Iowa. July 18-19. We will explore the lush fields and forests of this magnificent location in the Driftless Region, to learn about its remarkable diversity of edible wild plants. This will include Saturday on land, and a partial day Sunday canoeing or kayaking to observed plants on the Mississippi River wetlands. Details to be announced some time in April. Check iowisota.org for more information and to register.
Late Summer Gathering (Weekend Class). August 14-16, 2026. Weyerhaeuser, WI (Sam Thayer with Tim Clemens of Ironwood Foiraging). In addition to a diverse mixture of greens, flowers, flower buds, and berries, the great ripening of the end of the season begins now, including such iconic wild foods as chokecherry, hazelnut, and wild plums. In this class we will learn to locate, identify, harvest, and use the variety of in-season fruits, nuts, and vegetables. This is also a peak time for wild mushrooms, and we will be identifying and collecting some of the edible fungi we encounter. $280. There is no online registration--email [email protected] for more information or to register. (Class is now full)
Tri-County Foray (Wisconsin Mycological Society). August 20-23, 2026. Cumberland, WI. Join us for this awesome event, featuring Alan Bergo, Melissa Ketelsen, and the regular crew of fungal experts. I will be doing a plant class on Friday the 21st, and present all day. Possibly Saturday also. Sign up through Wisconsin Mycological Society.
Midwest Wild Harvest Festival, September 11-13, 2026. Held at Wisconsin Badger Camp, Prairie du Chien, WI. An incredible line up of foraging instructors will be present for the nation's premiere wild food educational event. Besides Sam Thayer, other teachers include John Kallas (this year's keynote), Linda and Luke Black Elk, Bo Brown, Gabrielle Ceberville, Chris Gavin, Jesse Akozbek, and more. For additional info, https://www.wildharvestfestival.org/
Manoomin Processing Weekend (Not a Class). September 25-27, 2026. Weyerhaeuser, WI. Harvesting wild rice is less than half the work of ricing; processing takes more time, more skill, and more specialized equipment. I set up this weekend to help people learn the entire skill-set for wild ricing, so as not to be dependent on a processor. We do not harvest wild rice during this weekend! Participants are not required to bring their own rice to process (observation is welcome) but this is encouraged. The weekend is designed for harvesters who have been stumbling over the processing steps. During this weekend I will be processing some of my own wild rice by parching, dancing, and winnowing. I will have two extra barrels available for dancing, extra winnowing equipment, and a kettle will be available for use most of the time (I'll see about getting a second kettle so that one is always available.) This will be an opportunity to see and participate in traditional wild rice processing. It will also be a chance to meet other rice harvesters and see harvesting equipment. Camping on-site will be available, and since manoomin processing is a dusty, dirty process, there will be showers available to clean up afterward. This is not a class and there is no cost, but participants will need to pre-register so that I know who's coming, and when, and so that I can limit the group to a manageable size, and try to make sure that we have unprocessed rice. email [email protected] if you are interested. (Participants are not expected or required to be here for the whole weekend.)
Fall Gathering Weekend Class. October 2-4, 2026. Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin
The year's big wild harvest is upon us. There is so much to gather that it's hard to fit it all in one weekend. In this class you will be learning to identify, locate, gather, and prepare a variety of root vegetables, greens, nuts, fruits, and seeds. We will meet Friday at 5 PM to get acquainted, and have a brief excursion to gather a few wild vegetables that will go into our Saturday meals. Saturday morning we start at 9:00 AM and we'll be learning, gathering, sorting, cracking, cleaning, and chopping until dinner at 6:30 PM. We'll crack and shell a few kinds of nuts and make at least one kind of nut milk. Sunday morning we will take a field trip to look at some wetland vegetables, and possibly explore a wild cranberry bog. Lunch and Dinner on Saturday are provided, and will include some of the plants that we gather and process in the class. The class will be held mostly at our property. Lodging is not provided, but limited camping on-site is available (inquire if interested). $280. There is no online registration--email [email protected] if interested.
The year's big wild harvest is upon us. There is so much to gather that it's hard to fit it all in one weekend. In this class you will be learning to identify, locate, gather, and prepare a variety of root vegetables, greens, nuts, fruits, and seeds. We will meet Friday at 5 PM to get acquainted, and have a brief excursion to gather a few wild vegetables that will go into our Saturday meals. Saturday morning we start at 9:00 AM and we'll be learning, gathering, sorting, cracking, cleaning, and chopping until dinner at 6:30 PM. We'll crack and shell a few kinds of nuts and make at least one kind of nut milk. Sunday morning we will take a field trip to look at some wetland vegetables, and possibly explore a wild cranberry bog. Lunch and Dinner on Saturday are provided, and will include some of the plants that we gather and process in the class. The class will be held mostly at our property. Lodging is not provided, but limited camping on-site is available (inquire if interested). $280. There is no online registration--email [email protected] if interested.
Refund policy: A refund can be issued up to 30 days before the class date with a $50 service fee; afterward, a 75% refund will be issued only upon filling your space in the class. No refunds the week of class.