The University of Wisconsin-Superior's Center for Continuing Education invites the public to learn about native edible plants in the free Preserving the Power of Plants workshop on Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland, Wis.
''The issues of native food sovereignty, environmentally sustainable agriculture, local and organic food, health and nutrition and local economic development are moving forward simultaneously,'' said Mary Stone-McConnell, research associate. ''The native wild plants are a new, though very old way to look at food and the environment.''
Participants will take part in a plant identification walk with UW-Superior associate researcher Paul Hlina and learn about traditional names for plants used for generations by indigenous people of this area. Chad Johnson, owner of Spirit Mountain Farm, will be holding a talk on permaculture. There will also be a tasting of some of the native edibles found throughout the area in a complementary lunch, along with how to sustainably and respectfully grow and harvest native edible plants. The event will also discuss available resources to help those interested grow native edibles and take them to market.
''The wild plants are disappearing at an alarming rate,'' said Stone-McConnell. ''Lack of knowledge, climate change, logging and overharvesting, have contributed to this. The knowledge of their use and sustainable harvesting is paramount to preserving these species for future generations.''
This event is free to attend, but preregistration is required by 8 a.m. on Monday, June 20. Registration for Preserving the Power of Plants is available online at uwsuper.edu/hhi.
Preserving the Power of Plants is funded by the University of Wisconsin System Applied Research Grant Program.
