Living off the land in winter is harsh. Hunting and trapping animals in a short-term survival situation is often hit or miss – literally. High-protein food sources are always the goal, but game is often scarce in the deep cold. The good news is, edible plants are everywhere, and they don’t run away. Southern Appalachia is one of the richest ecosystems on earth, offering up food, medicine, and supplies on a platter, even in the darkest times of year – why not learn how to make the most of it?

Here’s what you’ll learn in this 1-day course: 

• How to identify over 20 wild edible and medicinal plants 
• Ecosystem based identification – what to look for, where
• The best year-round wild edibles that you can find 365 days a year
• How to identify trees and shrubs by bark and growth habits – no leaves needed
• The most calorie-dense winter survival foods to give you the best bang for your buck
• The universal edibility test – how to determine if a plant is safe to eat, no matter where you find yourself
• How to make a medicinal poultice, infusion, and tincture

And here’s what else you’ll get with the course: 

• A hot, home-cooked lunch to keep you going throughout the day
• Unlimited email support with our instructors after the class is over

No prior experience is required for this class, but we recommend bringing a daypack with some basic necessities (see our FAQs for what we suggest) and comfortable shoes for hiking. Recognizing the resources around you and being able to effectively make use of them is one of the most timeless and empowering skills you can learn. Let us give you a leg up, the right way.

Got a long drive and hate waking up early? Sign up for overnight camping here.