Urban Foraging

(Urban) Foraging: the ancient art of gathering plants and fungi for food, medicine, ceremony, utilitarian uses, and connection, now within the city.

Join Nina Lawrin of loveren collections on an "Everyday Forage" urban hike near McKinley Park (Meeting at Plant Chicago) to reconnect to the urban landscape while foraging over 10 perennial plants growing and gathered in the late spring/early summer season. Additionally, we will go over Chicago's urban foraging sustainability practices, safety, and legality on this fun city stroll.

Why would a forager show you their "secret" spots? Because now, more than ever it's vital to reconnect to nature on a deeper level. We are all connected, and it is my hope that through your re-connection to the land, we can continue to nourish and restore our Earth and communities, together.

This class is great for beginners-intermediate plant lovers and foragers. There will most likely be some foraged treats to taste, so come with an adventurous appetite to taste your landscape! Recipes provided.

Participants will:

-Learn how to identify 10+ perennial plants growing in Chicago

-Learn tips and tricks for harvesting and processing

-Receive an Everyday Forage recipe for one plant ally covered

-Foraged treats to share

About the instructor:

Nina Lawrin is an ethnobotanist, urban forager, permaculture designer, creator, and folk herbalist. She is the owner of loveren collections; an experience dedicated to education and re-connection to nature through everyday wild perennial foods in the Midwest. Her brand Everyday Forage provides wild perennial foods to Chicagoans through seasonal subscription boxes. Nina is also the Co-Founder of the Permaculture Chicago Teaching Institute and a Fulbright alumna to Namibia. She has worked alongside numerous permaculture sites including Eloolo Permaculture Initiative and Damaraland Farming Cooperative, cultivating their “waste streams” to share and create nontoxic, research-driven, site-specific artwork. She started her foraging journey learning from the San community in Namibia and Botswana in 2016. Nina is a proud certified tree keeper with Openlands #1248, a certified permaculture designer and just a general foodie at heart . Instagram @loveren_collections

Sliding Scale Model:

At Plant Chicago, we offer ticket costs on a sliding scale. This model allows the offering to be accessible to a greater variety of financial backgrounds. Below are descriptions of each category:

• Low-income: you cannot afford basic necessities (housing, nutritious food, healthcare) for yourself and/or family.
• Standard: you can afford basic necessities (housing, nutritious food, healthcare) for yourself and/or family.
• Sponsor: you can easily afford basic necessities (housing, nutritious food, healthcare) for yourself and/or family and are able to contribute to the needs of others outside of your family.

Host or Publisher Plant Chicago, NFP