Forage, Feast & Ferment: A Wild Foods & Gut Health Experience
About this Event
Forage, Feast & Ferment: A Wild Foods & Gut Health Experience
Join us for a hands-on journey from field to fermentation. Learn to identify and harvest seasonal wild greens, transform them into delicious foods, and discover how traditional ferments can support a healthy gut microbiome.
Choose your experience:
- Wild Harvest Lunch Forage(10–12 PM)
- Fermentation & Gut Health Workshop (12:30–2:30 PM)
- Full Experience Bundle (10 AM–2:30 PM)
Session 1: Wild Harvest Lunch Forage
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Discover the abundance of edible plants growing around us and learn how to turn them into delicious, nutrient-dense meals.
Together we'll:
- Learn beginner-friendly plant identification
- Harvest seasonal wild greens and herbs
- Discuss the nutritional benefits of wild foods
- Explore sustainable harvesting practices
- Gather ingredients for a gourmet wild foods lunch
After the forage, participants will enjoy a gourmet wild harvest meal featuring wild greens, wild rice, seasonal fruits, seeds, ferments, and freshly prepared pesto and crackers.
Perfect for:
Anyone interested in foraging, healthy eating, and bringing more wild foods into their daily life.
Session 2: Fermentation & Gut Health
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Learn the art of traditional lacto-fermentation and how fermented foods can support digestive health and microbial diversity.
We'll cover:
- Fermentation fundamentals and safety
- The connection between fiber, ferments, and gut health
- Why a healthy gut is so important
- Making traditional sauerkraut from fresh organic garden cabbage
- Preparing a brined, seasonal fermented vegetable (such as dilly beans)
- Fermentation timelines, troubleshooting, and storage
Participants take home:
- A jar of sauerkraut with fermentation weight
- A jar of fermented vegetables
- Fermentation instructions and recipes
Please bring:
- A water bottle
- Sun protection
- Camera and notepad for notes
- A knife and cutting board for preparing your brine-ferment
- Cash if you want to buy organic garden produce and homemade products
About the instructor:
Barefoot Brian is a community herbalist, foraging guide and health coach. He was introduced to foraging over a decade ago and has been running foraging workshops in the Collingwood area since 2015. He has a strong passion for foraging, medicine making, food sourcing and preservation, the natural world and helping people connect and heal through nature.
You can find more info about him and what he offers at his website barefootbrian.ca
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session 1: Wild Harvest Lunch Forage
Info: 10:00–10:15
Welcome and introductions
Overview of wild foods and their role in nutrition
10:15–11:15
Guided forage walk
Identification, harvesting, and discussion of edible greens and herbs
11:15–12:00
Prepare a seasonal wild salad and pesto together
Taste and discuss flavors, nutrition, and practical uses at home
🕑: 12:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Session 2: Fermentation & Gut Health
Info: 12:30-12:45
Introduction to gut health and fermentation
Understanding probiotics, prebiotics, fiber, and microbial diversity
12:45–2:15
Harvest cabbage and beans
Hands-on fermentation
Prepare sauerkraut with fresh garden cabbage
Prepare fermented beans or another seasonal vegetable ferment
Learn salt ratios, fermentation safety, and troubleshooting
2:15–2:30
Q&A
Review next steps for fermenting at home
Participants package and take home their jars
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 65.68 to CAD 103.13
