Sticks and Stones Farm
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This 60-acre stone masonary farm and retreat features a wide variety of habitats—a mountain, meadows, woods, cultivated areas, and fields, and wetlands—all loaded with their associated wild plants and mushrooms.
Nuts are at their peak now, and we'll be on the lookout for black walnuts, shagbark hickories, and white oak trees. Without doubt some of these trees will be dropping loads of nuts. |
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Autumn fruits will also be in season. We'll be looking for smooth sumac, which makes pink lemonade; wild raisins, which taste like bananas and prunes; Amercian hackberries, which taste like the candy coating of M&Ms; flavorful wild apples, hawthorn berries, somewhat similar to apples; and common spicebush berries, an allspice-like seasoning.
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Common Spicebush Use the flavorful berries as a seasoning, like allspice; or steep leaves, berries, or twigs to make a tasty herb tea that Native Americans used for fever. |
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Herbs, greens, and roots such as sassafras, lamb's-quarters, burdock, common evening primrose, field garlic, sheep sorrel, mullein, and wild carrots may also be in evidence. |
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This is a great time for mushrooms, especially if there's been lots of rain beforehand. We'll look for chicken mushrooms, hen-of-the-woods, honey mushrooms, puffballs, meadow mushrooms, and oyster mushrooms.
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The 30-minute talk and 90-minute tour begin at 2:30 PM, Sunday, September 6, at Sticks and Stones Farm at 201 Huntingtown Rd. in Newtown, CT. The fee is $25/adult, $10/child under 12.
Call (203) 270-8820 at least 24 hours ahead to reserve a place. |
