www.mattshabitats.com: naturewalks

MATT'S HABITATS

Eco-Friendly Gardens, Painting, and More

Matthew Cohen - 202-841-1874 - Matt@MattsHabitats.com

Sign up for a walk, learn to identify lots of plants and some fungi, and find out that some of them are actually pretty tasty to eat! All walks are in the DC area on Saturdays running around 2 hours. Walks are geared toward adults, unless otherwise noted. Note: Any gathering of edible plants will only take place in locales where picking plants is permitted and sampling of native species will only occur where abundant populations exist. Also, be sure to read the instructions at the bottom of the page.

UPCOMING WALKS

August 14, 2010 – Late summer fruits, flowers, and fungi
9-11am – NW Branch Trail, Silver Spring, MD

On this late summer trip we'll look for fruits like wild black cherry and elderberry and snack on some jewelweed while learning about other plants that grow along the water's edge and in the forest. If the weather cooperates, we may be lucky enough to find fungus such as chanterelles or chicken-of-the-woods. The walk will be 1-2 miles on trails with some hills and a stream crossing. Fee: $18.
(6 spaces left)

Matt's walk was fantastic! I really enjoyed seeing all of the spring ephemerals - most were flowers I'd never seen before. I will try to do as many of Matt's walks as I can to learn more about what's naturally growing in our area throughout the season.
-Jessy

September 11, 2010 - Pawpaws on the Potomac
9-11am - Carderock Rec. Area, Carderock, MD

As summer turns to fall, we'll enjoy this scenic park abutting the Potomac River. Among some of the wild foods we'll keep an eye out for will be pawpaws, black walnuts, jewelweed, wild ramps, spicebush berries, wild grapes, and fungi such as chicken-of-the-woods, oyster mushrooms, and puffballs. Fee: $20
(8 spaces left)

PICTURES FROM PREVIOUS WALKS

April 17, 2010 -- Morels and Wildflowers at Scott's Run
March 27, 2010 -- Spring Wildflowers & Wild Edibles at Carderock

Instructions: Click the "add to cart" button under the outing you're interested in. Payments will be handled via PayPal. Once you register, I'll send a confirmation email with more information. Outings will be removed from registration when the attendance reaches 10 participants.

Outings will be canceled only if there is pouring rain or snow, but you can apply your fee for a future walk. Please consider your ability to physically handle weather, trail conditions, and length of the outing before registering. There are no refunds if you need to cancel, but you can transfer your reservation to another person. Contact me at 202-841-1874 or matt@mattshabitats.com if you have questions or if you prefer to register by mail.

I am also available to lead customized walks about wild edibles, plant id, and other nature topics tailored to your interests or needs of a group. Whether you just want to know what's growing in the wild near your house or get out to a local park, I'll work with you to pick a location and a theme that meets your interest.

Besides leading walks with Matt's Habitats, I've led classes at the annual Mid-Atlantic Primitive Skills meet, with Ancestral Knowledge, the Maryland Native Plant Society, Audubon Naturalist Society, and church groups.