Upcoming 2018 Events for June

April ~ May

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June 2nd

Milkweed shoots vs. Dogbane

Like wild mushrooms, wild plants have their not-so-nice look alikes. Take milkweed shoots (one the left) for example. Go ahead. Take them. They're absolutely delicious. But use caution and make no mistake regarding the evil twin on the right . . . dogbane. Both plants inhabit the same areas and both excrete a white latex. But close examination reveals their differences. Dogbane's stem is firmer, their leaves more pointed and smooth to the touch while the leaves of milkweed have a fuzzy feeling. This may seem a tad tedious to the hungry forager but it's well worth it once you get the milkweed shoots to the kitchen.

We'll be handing out recipes to these delicious plants as well as other wild edibles such as wild leek bulbs, wild watercress, wild day lilies, wild ginger and more! Join us on trails only fifteen minutes from Stratford for a culinary experience you won't soon forget.

There's a reason Travel and Leisure Magazine listed Puck's Plenty as one of the top foraging spots in the world. Find out why!

Start time: 10:00 am
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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June 3rd

BURDOCK ROOT

Let's start with the medicinal benefits of this incredible plant. Burdock contains inulin which helps reduce blood-sugar level, body-weight, and cholesterol. It also contains many vitamins such as C and E, powerful antioxidants that combat infections, cancer and neurologic conditions. On the culinary side, it can be used in soups, stews and salads or, after it is tenderized, a delicious snack. Try it with humus. It's amazing!

Of course, there are other delicious wild edibles to harvest along the way. Wild leek bulbs, wild ginger root, healthy nettles, cattail shoots and pheasant back mushrooms (one of the few fungi you can eat raw)

Start time: 10:00 am
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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June 9th

WOOD NETTLE BEER

Last year the common nettle suffered a blight and it showed itself at our Nettle Beer Workshoop. Most of the batches were flat and not very tasty but not so with the Wood Nettle. A vibrant cousin to the Slender Nettle, the blight had no effect on this amazing specimen and it proved its worth in the final product. This year's workshop will focus solely on the Wood Nettle. So get your car boys and your funnels and, oh yes, don't forget your gloves. This plant makes it presence know, you can count on that.

Marriot International listed Puck's Plenty as one of the "Top 10 Adventures to Have this Summer". Join us on the trails and find out why.

Start time: 10:00 am
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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June 10th

WILD WATERCRESS

The next time you visit your local grocer take note of the watercress, especially the colour. It's a dull, dark green. Compare that with Mother Nature's brand. The richness stands out in both its appearance and taste. Join us on trails only 20 minutes from Stratford where you will learn to harvest this wonderful plant with sustainability in mind. We'll also search beautiful woodland for wild leek bulbs, slender and wood nettles, day lily buds, pheasant back mushrooms and more. It's an adventure you won't forget. Just ask Marriot International and Travel and Leisure Magazine.

Start time: 10:00 am
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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June 16th

Father's Day Weekend Part One

A reprise of our Nettle Beer Workshop from June 11th, we're collecting more wood nettles and handing out nettle beer recipes to all the dads. Plus we'll continue our foraging for other fine wild edibles such as wild leek bulbs, day lily shoots and flower buds, wild watercress, pheasant back mushrooms and perhaps, just perhaps, the first of the season's white, fleshy oyster mushrooms. Trying to send Dad home happy. Join us on trails only 20 minutes from Stratford along some of the most beautiful forest trails Southwestern Ontario has to offer.

Start time: 10:00 am
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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June 17th

Father's Day Weekend Part Two

It's berry picking time and if we're graced by the right conditions we'll have a bumper crop of black raspberries to harvest under the new Summer Sun. We won't stop there, however. There will be spicy day lily buds, wild leek bulbs, wild watercress, pheasant back mushrooms (you can eat these raw!) and more.

There's a reason Travel and Leisure Magazine listed Puck's Plenty as one of the top foraging spots in the world. Find out why!

Start time: 10:00 am
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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June 23rd

There's an old fallen hardwood tree off one of the trails we use and this gracious tree has been yielding a constant crop of Summer Oyster Mushrooms from late June through September for three years now. Anyone familiar with wild mushrooms knows the Oyster is one of the finest, sweetest tasting fungi to be found. We're heading out to the forest only 20 minutes from Stratford to search for these as well as the tantalizing Pheasant Back Mushroom, Day Lily Flower Buds, Wild Watercress and more.

Marriot International listed Puck's Plenty as one of the "Top 10 Adventures to Have this Summer". Join us and find out why!

Start time: 10:00 am
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

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June 24th

Pineapple Weed

When you think of weeds you naturally think . . . Garden Pests! Here at Puck's Plenty we don't regard this plant as a weed even though it can be found practically everywhere. Waste sights, sidewalk cracks, parking lots. We'll sidestep those areas and concentrate on Nature's grassy plains instead. This herb (because that's what it is) has a wonderful scent that translates into an amazing tea. Moreover, thanks to a chef we took out last year, we found that boiled in equal parts cane sugar and water, it makes an incredible substitue for maple syrup. It's absolutely delicious. Like many other wild edibles, after you see it for the first time you see it again and again, throughout the Summer. So bring paper bags, small knives, scissors and spades as we search for these along with wild watercress, day lily buds and flowers, wood nettles, not to forget fungi such as oyster mushrooms, ash boletes and pheasant back. They're all out there on beautiful trails only a short car ride from Stratford.

Start time: 10:00 am
Where: 96 Birmingham Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 2S9
Cost: $35.00/person

June 30th Forage and Feast

SOLD OUT.

One of the featured mushrooms on our menu is the highly rated Summer Oyster. The delicate fleshy substance renders the perfect texture to any dish. We'll collect these as well as pheasant back fungi (one of the few mushrooms eaten raw), day lily flower buds, wild leek bulbs and more. Then we return to the Forest Motel where a four course meal awaits us, served under banquet tents alongside a lovely lake. Nettle Gouda from Mountain Oak Cheese along with baguettes from The Downie Street Bakehouse will be the opening fare followed by vegan friendly Cream of Mushroom Soup. Our main course will be provided by Linley's while dessert will be served up by The Black Angus Bakery. Locally brewed craft beer from Black Swan Brewery and wines from Niagara are also included.

Start time: 9:45 am
Where: Packam Sports Complex
Cost: $70 per person.

Tickets can be purchased through internet transfer or PayPal. For more information phone 519-271-3726 or email us at pucksplenty@gmail.com

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