Registration Requirements: Preregistration required. 

Intended Audience: This program is designed for adults. 

Program Description: Learn how to utilize your land for foraging and grow your own native food plants while simultaneously benefiting wildlife. We’ll showcase multiple options for capturing and preserving your harvest, and demonstrate a forager’s basket-full of options for how to use them as we make and taste light food bites.

This foraging and learning experience will be a blend of partial hands-on activities with optional walks, harvesting, and food prep as well as short talks. You’ll head home with some foraged swag including plants starts and seeds. While we’ll touch on 25+ edible species, as well as several poisonous look-alikes, much of this experience will be centered on mini-classes including:

• Eat your weeds
• Growing and processing American persimmon (with sample bites)
• Foraged crafting tours focusing on green and walnut inks, growing and using willow for crafts, invasive plants for baskets, and more.
• Tour our native perennial polyculture plots where our focus is on farming native species while working with nature and the wildlife that want to eat our crop
• Growing, processing, and using Maypop (native passionfruit)
• Spring greens harvest walk
• Black walnut cracking
• Growing and processing American Elderberry and elderflower
• International applications for locally foraged plants (with samples)
• Landscaping bushes that offer forgeable food (sumac, American cranberry bush, Aronia berry, Cornelian cherry, and more)
• Native spices

What to Expect: 

• This program is mostly outdoors with indoor options available in the case of severe weather.
• Terrain and distance are varied depending on the hike group, at a generally slow pace
• Restrooms are available throughout the program.     

What to Bring: Bring a water bottle, a mug, and plate as well as utensils. Don’t worry, we’ll have extras available in case you forget. 

What to Wear: Be prepared for on-trail walking with some off-trail harvesting. Long pants suggested.

Where to Meet: Please meet at Groesbeck Estate at our Rowe Woods location (4949 Tealtown Rd., Milford, OH 45150). 

Cost: Ticket fees include daily admission. 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Is the 2025 Foragers Gathering different than the 2024 and 2023 gatherings? Yes, with a different venue, a new roster of classes and walks, and unique foods, the 2025 gathering will be a completely new experience. 

Is food served? Lite bite food samples will be shared throughout the program. As we won’t be serving a full meal, consider bringing your own snacks. Vegan-friendly lite bite options will be available. Options will be available to substitute for common allergens. 

Will drinks be available? Alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available. Please bring an ID. ID checks are required for the consumption of alcohol.  

Can I come and forage on my own? Always ask for permission from the landowner before foraging. Cincinnati Nature Center sees upwards of 200,000 visitors per year—if even a fraction of those visitors harvested, it would have an impact on the site (and what’s available for programs). Please join us for a foraging program. 

Check your email for registration information regarding this transaction. SAVE A TREE, please retain your order number or save an electronic copy of the email acknowledgement as a receipt. You may be asked for your order number from your transaction to gain entry at the gate/to attend your program. Visitor Services associates can also verify your etickets from the order number or by name.

Please note that our program and cancellation policies vary. By completing registration for this program, you agree to the following general program policies.