Learn what plants you can eat at Mattapoisett Library talk

MATTAPOISETT – Join the Mattapoisett Library on Tuesday, Sept. 6th at 6 p.m. for a two-hour program with Russ Cohen, expert forager and author, to explore edible wild plants and mushrooms found in the South Coast area.

The South Coast is home to over 80 species of edible wild plants, some of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts, and at least a dozen species of edible mushrooms.

Join Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of “Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten,” for a 90-minute slideshow entitled "Edible Wild Plants and Mushrooms in and around the South Coast.”

It covers over three dozen of the tastiest species the region has to offer. These range from plants everyone knows well, like Daisies and Dandelions, to plants they may never have even heard of, like Calamus and Carrion Flower. About a dozen tasty wild mushroom species will be covered as well, including morels in the spring, black trumpet chanterelles in the summer, and hen-of-the-woods in the fall. Cohen will present information for each species on identification tips, edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, along with general guidelines for safe and environmentally-responsible foraging. Cohen will also bring along handouts and samples of tasty treats made with wild edibles for people to sip or nibble on.

Until his retirement in June of 2015, Cohen served for over two decades as the Rivers Advocate for the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration, where one of his areas of expertise was in riparian vegetation. Since his retirement, Cohen now has more time to devote to his passionate avocation: connecting to nature via his taste buds, and assisting others in doing the same. He is an expert forager and author of the book “Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten,” published in 2004 by the Essex County Greenbelt Association, and now in its eighth printing. Cohen has been teaching foraging since 1974 and leads foraging walks each year at a wide variety of venues throughout the Northeast. In addition, since his retirement, Cohen is playing the role of “Johnny Appleseed” for native edible species, propagating plants from seed he has collected, as well as establishing partnerships with land trusts, municipalities, state and federal agencies, schools and colleges, tribal groups, organic/permaculture farms, and others to plant edible native species on appropriate places on their property. Cohen has initiated over two dozen projects over the last six years and the Mattapoisett Library is thrilled to bring his expertise to the community.

The Purrington Lecture Series is supported by the Mattapoisett Library Trust. For more information about this event, email to jjones@sailsinc.org. Check the library’s events calendar for more upcoming programs and book discussions.