Events

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Join wild edible plant educator Rachel Alexandrou for a hands-on, immersive workshop identifying, harvesting, processing, cooking and tasting two important, abundant and delicious plants of Downeast, Maine. This weekend-long workshop is meant for anyone interested in learning about how to safely harvest and eat these plants or for those seeking to experience a communal wild food harvest. All levels of experience are welcome. 

Chokecherry is a prolific, native shrub that is often overlooked in modern North American cuisine. Together we will prepare a brilliant magenta juice and syrup as well as chome cherry bbq sauce. Fireweed is another native fire-loving plant which can be processed into a complex and flavorful tea reminiscent of a fruity, floral black tea. 

We will end the weekend creating a feast together and tasting the fruits of our labor. Based on the abundance of the hedgerow, and the swiftness of our handiwork, participants may be able to take home a jar of syrup, jam, bbq sauce, or fireweed tea.

Signup for the workshop here (link coming soon) and then book your stay through Smithereen Farm HipCamp. Campsites with outdoor tent platforms are available for your stay during the workshop. If you have any questions about the workshop, do not hesitate to reach out to Rachel via email: [email protected]

Rachel Alexandrou is an interdisciplinary artist who uses her education in plant science, and collaborative practice, to create experiential work about food, flora, and innovating human relationships to the natural landscape. Find out more about her @giantdaughter on Instagram or her website giantdaughter.com for more information on her events around Maine this year.

SCHEDULE

Saturday

• 10–11am — Meet at the outdoor kitchen for breakfast and introductions 
• 11am–1pm —Fireweed Harvest 
• 1–2pm — Lunch!
• 2:30pm — Chokecherry Harvest
• 4:30pm — Cleaning and Juicemaking in the kitchen 

Sunday 

• 10am–12pm — participants may join in on the community plantwalk (see below), process fireweed, or enjoy free time swimming etc.
• 12pm — Lunch 
• 1pm — Processing Fireweed and cooking chokecherry sauces or any other foraged recipes in the outdoor kitchen
• 6pm — Wild Feast, Fire and Hangout 

Community PLANTWALK 
Sunday August 18 
10am-12pm

Join us Sunday morning for a family friendly wild edible plantwalk at Smithereen Farm. We will meet at the outdoor kitchen and make our way through the gardens and to the shore learning about the wild edible and medicinal plants along the way. Notebooks are highly encouraged during this walk as lots of information will be disseminated. At the end of the walk, participants will be invited to the kitchen for a foraged refreshment. This walk is open to community members, visitors and is included for Fireweed/Chokecherry Workshop participants.