SPRING 2014 • FLOURISH 21
Treasure
In The Woods
Discovering wild edibles with sfForage
words and photos by karen pavone
I
t is a cold, damp Saturday morning in
January. The crisp West Marin air still
holds the bite of winter's chill, and a
dense misty fog blankets the pastoral
landscape leaving the impression of a much
needed rain. Yet despite the dreary weather,
I'm excited for the day ahead. I am meeting
a group of students in the small town of In-
verness for a wild mushroom class and hunt
hosted by San Francisco-based forageSF. This
organization is on a mission to educate the
public about the wealth of wild food that
grows in the Bay Area, and organized "wild
food adventures" like this one are a great
way for novice foragers to learn under the
supervision of an experienced guide.
Our leader, Patrick Hamilton, is a good-
natured Irish hippie who came of age in
the 60s and still exudes the vestiges of that
era. He is also a long-time member of the
Sonoma County Mycological Association
(SOMA), a graduate of the California Culi-
nary Academy, and an accomplished "myco-
chef." Hamilton has logged over forty years
in the field as a mushroom aficionado, so we
are in capable hands.
