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Since Greenbelt first published Russ Cohen’s book “Wild Plants I Have Known… and Eaten” in 2004, interest in foraging and eco-friendly food practices have grown at a rapid pace.
“More people are now paying attention to where their food comes from and how it impacts the environment than ever before,” says Russ. “These are the same folks who are putting in their own chicken coops and beehives, brewing their own beer. They’re just more engaged in connecting directly to their food and how to eat in a responsible way — it’s all very laudable.”
That said, Russ has also observed how the burgeoning popularity of foraging over the last two decades, driven largely by social media and celebrity chefs, has increasingly led to irresponsible foraging practices, as certain wild foods have become articles of commerce.
“People go into the woods and instead of appreciating the wild plants for their intrinsic value, all they see are dollar signs,” he explains. Russ hopes that his emphasis on showing gratitude for the land and its gifts, and enjoying them in a respectful way — the guiding principles behind both his book and educational talks — will help to counteract this commercialization trend.
“Foraging is one of the last activities out there that need not involve a financial transaction of any kind. It’s just you, outside, connecting to nature directly via your taste buds, without any intermediary,” he says. Russ lauds Greenbelt’s policy of allowing responsible foraging on all of its public properties, and in gratitude, turns over 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of his book to support its land conservation efforts.
The New Edition
While it may have been a bit ahead of its time when it first came out 20 years ago, “Wild Plants I Have Known… and Eaten” has had longevity. To this day, it continues to sell at a steady pace and remains a folksy and informative resource for anyone interested in learning about foraging in New England. It’s particularly popular among those who have attended one of Russ’s many educational walks or talks.
Now in its ninth printing, the content of “Wild Plants I Have Known… and Eaten” has remained largely unchanged over the years. The latest edition, published by Greenbelt this past spring, however, features a new four-page note of appreciation to Native Peoples in recognition of the fact that much of the book's content relies on knowledge and sustainable practices originated and refined by the indigenous inhabitants of New England over thousands of years.
The book also includes a new Land Acknowledgment statement by Greenbelt, which parallels a more expansive version found on its website.
Book Backstory
With a strong academic background in land use planning, natural resources, and law, Russ devoted his entire professional career to environmental advocacy, notably serving as the Rivers Advocate for the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game. At the same time, he was also pursuing his interest in wild edibles and leading educational programs on the subject for a variety of organizations, including Greenbelt.
“I was initially asked, in the late 1990s, to contribute a chapter on the wild edibles of Essex County to the Greenbelt guidebook,” he explains. “But when the Greenbelt staff reviewed the first two chapters I had written, they said it was too good to go into the guidebook, and that it deserved its own standalone publication. So, that set things in motion.”
Over the years, Russ estimates that upwards of 15,000 copies of his book have been sold. Despite inflation, its retail price (from Russ or Greenbelt) of $15, remains the same as when the book was first published.
Since retiring in 2015, Russ has continued to offer walks and talks on foraging and wild edibles. He has also set up a nursery where he is growing more than 1,000 plants, all representing edible species native to the region. He then collaborates with land trusts and other organizations to help reintroduce these plants into the ecosystem.
To order “Wild Plants I Have Known… and Eaten,” please click here.
June 21, 2024
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Greenbelt thanks the photographers whose work is featured prominently on our website: Jerry Monkman, Dorothy Monnelly, Adrian Scholes, David Alden St. Pierre & Neil Ungerleider