Culinary Tour of Central Park: Foraging With Wildman Steve Brill
Aah yes… spring is just around the corner. The daffodils and tulips are beginning to peek out of the ground and the once-dormant grass is again growing. Spring also means a new schedule of foraging tours in Central Park led by Steve “Wildman” Brill. Usually, New York City and nature are not two words that are synonymous, but Brill, a self-taught naturalist, is changing that and showing New Yorkers the incredible eco-diversity that can be found in the city.
Outfitted in his signature safari hat, Brill has been leading foraging tours in Central Park since the early eighties, introducing New Yorkers and visitors to the 200+ species of edibles that can be found in the green spaces of Manhattan. On any given foraging tour you may encounter persimmons, wild berries, field garlic, and, of course those always-tasty-never-psychedelic mushrooms. Brill also introduces edible roots and leaves to the tour, many of which have beneficial antioxidant properties. All foraged items are meant to be sampled, of course under the watchful and well-trained eye Brill himself.
The long arm of the law caught up with Wildman Steve in the spring of 1986. Two undercover rangers infiltrated a tour, gathered evidence, and, after a foraging in Central Park, radioed for backup and arrested Brill on criminal mischief charges. Apparently picking dandelions city parks is illegal without a permit. Parks Commissioner Henry Stern was later quoted as saying, “Parks are to look at. Our motto is ‘Please don’t eat the daisies.’” The arrest was met with so much attention and earned Brill national notoriety as a guest on The Letterman Show and CBS Evening News. All charges were later dropped and the Parks Department hired Brill to lead tours from 1986 until 1990.
These days, Brill has authored two books, gives lectures, works with children and educators on outdoor education programs, and still has time for a full schedule of foraging tours. Tours started the beginning of March and run through the year into December. This spring, “go green” and get back to nature with Wildman Steve Brill.
Location: Guided tours take place in Central Park and several other parks in the tri-state area. Click here for a schedule.
Cost: Suggested donation of $12.
More Information: Visit Steve Brill’s website.
Photo credit: flickr
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POSTED IN: Central Park, Family Fun, Food & Beverage, Just a Bit Weird - Fun & Quirky Places, People - Interesting Local People, Tours - Guided or Self-Guided
1 opinion for Culinary Tour of Central Park: Foraging With Wildman Steve Brill
b5media - Nature in all Her Glory at b5media
Mar 7, 2008 at 5:13 am
[…] which nature flourishes, but Heather points out how wrong that assumption would be. Her post Culinary Tour of Central Park: Foraging With Wildman Steve Brill is about the naturalist who leads foraging tours in Central […]
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