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Unlock the Secrets of Maine’s Wild Plants

Immerse yourself in the natural abundance of Maine with our foraging courses at the Maine Primitive Skills School. From stinging nettles in April to acorns in October, our expert-led courses will guide you through the identification, harvesting, and use of wild plants for food, medicine, and more. Choose from 1-day, 2-day, or 5-day courses to suit your schedule and interests. Explore our Apothecary and gain practical skills that will enrich your connection to nature. Designed by a seasoned forager with over 30 years of experience, these courses are perfect for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the natural world. Our small group sizes ensure personalized instruction and hands-on experience for each participant.

Course Options:

  1. 1-Day of the 5 day Course 
  2. 2-Days of the 5 day Course
  3. Full 5-Day Course  

Seasonal Course Schedule: Our course focus reflects the seasons. This is the anticipated focus for each class.

  • Seasonal Focus:

    Each month, our foraging courses will highlight specific plants, providing participants with a rich understanding of their seasonal availability and uses.

    April: Stinging Nettles

    • Nutritional benefits, culinary uses, and medicinal properties.

    May: Evening Primrose

    • Identification, edible parts, and traditional medicinal uses.

    June: Shad Bush (Service Berry) and Day Lily

    • Berries and flowers: harvesting, cooking, and medicinal uses.

    July: Cattail and Blueberry

    • Versatile uses of cattail (roots, shoots, pollen) and blueberry harvesting.

    September: Wild Rice

    • Harvesting techniques, processing, and nutritional benefits.

    October: Acorns

    • Gathering, leaching tannins, and cooking with acorn flour.

What to expect?

Participants will gain a thorough understanding of plant uses, medicinal properties, and sustainable harvesting. Our small group sizes ensure personalized instruction and direct hands-on experience for every student. The course will usually include a shared foraged meal. The course builds each day in intensity and variety.

Itinerary:

  • Introduction to foraging ethics and safety, plant identification basics.
  • Field walks focusing on the plant of the month.
  • Hands-on harvesting and basic preparation techniques.
  • Explore the Apothecary.
  • Advanced plant identification and foraging techniques.
  • Practical sessions on medicinal uses and creating simple remedies.
  • Sustainable harvesting practices and plant processing.
  • Detailed study of plant ecosystems and their role in the environment.
  • Hands-on identification and foraging of various plants on the Maine Primitive Skills School campus.
  • In-depth workshops on creating herbal preparations (teas, tinctures, salves).
  • Cooking and preserving wild foods.
  • Integrating foraging into daily life.
  • Final foraging walks and project presentations.

Possible Activities:

  • Discussions on ethical foraging practices.
  • Plant identification exercises.
  • Demonstrations of basic preparation methods.
  • Introduction to the Apothecary’s resources.
  • Workshops on advanced plant identification.
  • Hands-on creation of medicinal remedies.
  • Discussions on sustainable foraging methods.
  • Plant processing demonstrations.
  • Ecosystem and plant habitat exploration.
  • Identification and foraging walks.
  • Group discussions on plant roles within ecosystems.
  • Herbal preparation workshops.
  • Cooking demonstrations with foraged plants.
  • Preservation techniques for wild foods.
  • Shared foraged meal preparation.
  • Discussions on daily foraging practices.
  • Final group foraging walk.
  • Student project presentations.
  • Reflective session on the foraging experience.

Join us at the Maine Primitive Skills School and embark on a journey to rediscover the ancient art of foraging. Designed by an expert with over 30 years of experience in foraging, living off the land, and using plants for medicinal and practical purposes, this course is a unique opportunity to learn from the best.

Click Here to Register Now!

Maine Primitive Skills School offers campsites to students during their stay at no extra charge. When preparing to arrive, plan as if you were going on a comfortable car camping experience. You will have easy access to your vehicles during meals and before and after course times. Check out our “What to Bring” page and don’t hesitate to contact the school for more details.

Price:
1 Day $150: Saturday all day. 9am – 5pm,
2 Days $300: Saturday 9am to Sunday 5pm (The weekend)
5 Days $750: Saturday 9am to Wednesday 4pm (Full 5 day course)
Limit: 12 Students

Deposits transferable but non-refundable

Minimum Age: 16 years and older

Course location:- Maine Primitive Skills School, 716 Church Hill Road, Augusta, ME 04330   www.primitiveskills.com

Tel: +1 207-623-7298 E-mail: staff@primitiveskills.com