10/01/03

Forage the parks of New York with an entertaining, knowledgeable guide.

by Karen Hudes

The Style
Naturalist Steve Brill sprinkles his talks with goofy one-liners as he leads his edifying weekly tours. Guests literally get a taste of the season's pickings. Did you know, for instance, that the city's parks are full of wild-growing edibles? Delicious garlic mustard greens, chickweed, day-lily shoots, black walnuts, parsnips, sassafras, burdock, poor-man's pepper, sheep sorrel, violets and mushrooms are just some of the natural bounty.

The Substance
While you munch on the greenery, you'll also be schooled in the plants' cooking and medicinal purposes. (Brill points out which species to avoid.) The harvest varies with the time of year, but summer brings wild fruits such as black cherries, elderberries and blackberries. You'll never go without snacks in Central Park again.