NAHANT — Naturalist and author “Wildman” Steve Brill will make an appearance at Nahant Public Library Friday and Saturday to share his extensive foraging knowledge with residents.
As part of his two-day lecture and walking tour titled “Eat the Weeds with the Wildman”, Brill will give audiences a demonstration of edible and medicinal plants, as well as some poisonous ones (“in case there are some murderers in the audience,” he said), and attendees will also be treated to a showing of some of Brill’s mushroom sculptures.
“We’ll talk about how to recognize (edible plants) and how to use them for food and home remedies,” Brill said. “I do a lot of cooking, and we have history, folklore, mythology, anecdotes — anything relevant or even irrelevant.”
Described by Nahant Public Library Director Sharon Hawkes as “America’s go-to guy for foraging,” Brill has been leading foraging tours and providing demos for the public in parks and natural areas throughout the greater New York area since 1982, and is known among environmentalist communities for his fun and engaging tours.
“Steve is a unique personality and an absolute expert when it comes to edible wild plants,” Hawkes said. “I think this two-day event will help cement an appreciation for the things that grow here.
“Steve uses humor and facts to make the point that nature can benefit us in so many ways.”
Brill’s demonstration is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Lecture and tour dates are May 21 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and May 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Nahant Public Library front lawn. Audience members may attend one or both activities.
“On Saturday we’ll do a tour, and people will be able to collect common renewable species,” Brill said. “On rare occasions when we find rare things, we leave them alone, but the stuff that’s being cut down by the millions, that people have been using for home remedies for thousands of years, as well as invasive species, we will be collecting.
“People will be able to make dishes with them, or murder their enemies.”
Brill is the author of six books, including Hen of the Woods and Other Wild Foods and Medicines, Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants, and Foraging with Kids.
More information on Brill is available on his website at https://www.wildmanstevebrill.com. For further information on Brill’s visit to Nahant, those interested can contact Hawkes at 781- 581-0306, or email her at [email protected].
Admission is free. Audiences are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets, masks and bug spray, and those who attend the walking tour on Saturday are asked to bring a collection baggie and a mask. The activities are suitable for children ages 10 and up.
“Foraging is a gateway drug to environmental conservation for kids,” Brill said. “I’ve had kids who’ve had their first exposure to the environment going on tours with me decades ago, and some of them are doing ecotourism around the world now.
“The more you interact with the environment and you enjoy it, the more motivation you have to protect it, and the more understanding you have to make the right decisions.”
Elyse Carmosino can be reached at [email protected].
