The North Carolina Wild Foods Weekend
On a spring weekend (Typically the 4th full weekend of April), 120 people from all over Eastern North America will take into the woods and fields of North Carolina to learn about edible wild plants, meet other foragers, & celebrate spring. After an introduction to some of the plants to be collected, participants will join small groups led by experienced foragers to collect wild foods. Each year the North Carolina Wild Foods Weekend hosts a featured speaker. The climax of the weekend will be a wild feast composed of collected foods prepared by the participants. The Sunday program will feature uses of wild plants & a variety of outdoor activities. To read a personal account of the Weekend with pictures click here.

Location
The rolling hills and pastures of the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4H Center, four miles from Reidsville, NC, will be the sight of the wild foods weekend.

Accommodations & Meals
Lodging is available in rustic dormitory style cottages around the central meeting area. Bath and shower facilities are available in each cottage. Each person is provided with a twin bed. It is up to you to bring a blanket, sheets, pillow, a bath towel, hand towel, wash cloth, and toiletries. There are facilities for men, women, family, and friends. Camping is not permitted on the center grounds. No pets. Young people who are interested in participating in our program are welcome. Parents are responsible for the supervision and safety of their children during the weekend. Staff at the 4H center prepare all meals except the Saturday evening feast.

The 4H center provides standard meals (served "Southern home cooking" style) with the exception of the Wild Feast on Saturday. All participants share in the processing and preparation of wild foods for that Saturday feast.

There typically is a favorite wild dish contest, a wine tasting event where the participants choose the best wine. Crafts and classes vary. All these events happen in addition to foraging experiences and the Saturday Wild Feast.

You will need comfortable shoes and clothes appropriate for outdoor weather.

A Typical Agenda for the Weekend
Check with the sponsors for any last minute changes in activities
To read a personal account of the event, go Here

2013 Theme: Backyard Greens
2013 Wild Ingredient: Honey

Friday
 4:00 pm: Registration Begins
 6:00 pm: Dinner Served - Meet and mingle with other wild food enthusiasts
 7:30 pm: Orientation
 8:30 pm: Friday Speaker Followed by Social Hour
Jean Light. Topic: Plant and Bee Connections
Wild Food Social Hour (Participants who can, bring a wild food to share)
Favorite Wild Dish Contest Judged and Winner Announced
10:00 pm: Night Owl Hike

Saturday
 7:00 am: Early Bird Edible Plant Walk
 7:30 am: Registration Continues
 8:00 am: Breakfast Served
 9:00 am: Participants go on Foraging Field Trips
12:00 pm: Lunch Served
 1:00 pm: Everyone Participates in Cleaning, Processing & Preparation of Collected Wild Foods
 6:30 pm: Wild Feast Begins
 8:00 pm: Saturday Keynote Speaker: Lenzie Kinyon, President of the Rockingham Co Beekeepers Assoc..
Topic: Bees, Bee Keeping and Honey
 9:00 pm: Raffle Giveaway
 9:30 pm: Homemade Wine Contest is Judged and Winner Announced
 9:45 pm: Bonfire Social, Typically Story Telling, Dance Lessons or Bluegrass Band

Sunday
 7:00 am: Tree Identification
 7:30 am: Inspirational Talk
 8:00 am: Breakfast Served
 9:00 am: Sunday Speaker: Ellen Zachos: Reveals her new book" Backyard Foraging
After Talk: Ellen will Sell and Sign Books
After Talk: Booths, Demonstrations and Crafts
12:00 pm: Lunch Served
 1:00 pm: Guests begin departing
 1:00 pm: Program Committee Meets to plan Next Year's Event

Registration Package

After April 1

Full with Lodging

Full without Lodging

Saturday Full Day

Saturday Wild Feast Only

Friday Dinner