About
Wildman Steve Brill is a nature foraging education platform led by renowned forager Steve Brill and his daughter Violet. At its core are guided field walks through local parks and natural areas in the New York Tri-state region, where participants learn to identify, harvest, and use wild edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms. Tours are tailored for diverse audiences including school groups, day camps, scouts, birthday parties, and the general public. The platform also offers the Wild Edibles Forage App — created in collaboration with Becky Lerner and Christopher Nyerges — which allows users to explore, identify, cultivate, and prepare more than 250 wild plants. The app serves as a portable foraging reference guide for backyard and wilderness exploration. Complementing the tours and app is a full store featuring books such as 'Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants,' 'Foraging New York,' and 'Foraging with Kids,' plus DVDs, identification loupes, and wild plant recipe resources. An extensive knowledge base covering plants, mushrooms, and recipes further supports learners at every level. The platform emphasizes ecological responsibility, conservation, and reconnecting people — especially children — with their natural environment through direct, non-destructive participation in nature.
Key Features
- Guided Foraging Tours: Hands-on field walks in local NY-area parks teaching identification, harvesting, and use of wild edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms.
- Wild Edibles Forage App: A comprehensive mobile app to identify, cultivate, and prepare over 250 wild plants, co-created with foraging experts Becky Lerner and Christopher Nyerges.
- Tailored Educational Programs: Specialized programs for schools, day camps, scouts, birthday parties, and garden clubs, each adapted to the group's learning goals.
- Foraging Knowledge Base: An extensive online library of plant and mushroom information, along with innovative vegan wild plant and mushroom recipes.
- Books & Educational Resources: A curated store offering foraging books, DVDs, identification tools, and gift items for learners of all ages.
Use Cases
- School groups learning about local ecology and wild plants through hands-on park-based field programs
- Families and individuals attending guided foraging tours to connect with nature and learn sustainable harvesting
- Scout troops earning nature and conservation badges through field walks led by an expert forager
- Mobile users identifying wild plants in their backyard or local parks using the Wild Edibles Forage App
- Home cooks and wellness enthusiasts exploring wild plant and mushroom recipes for nutrition and natural health
Pros
- Decades of Expertise: Steve Brill has been leading foraging tours since the 1980s, offering deep, field-tested knowledge of wild plants and mushrooms.
- All-Ages Programming: Programs are thoughtfully adapted for children, scouts, campers, families, and adult enthusiasts, making foraging education broadly accessible.
- Comprehensive App & Resources: The Wild Edibles Forage App combined with books and recipes provides a self-sufficient learning ecosystem beyond the tours themselves.
Cons
- Geographically Limited Tours: Live foraging tours are primarily available in the New York Tri-state region, limiting access for those outside the area.
- Seasonal Availability: Tour schedules are subject to seasonal and weather constraints, which may restrict participation opportunities throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wild Edibles Forage App?
The Wild Edibles Forage App is a mobile foraging guide created by Steve Brill, Becky Lerner, and Christopher Nyerges that helps users identify, cultivate, and prepare over 250 edible and medicinal wild plants.
Where do the foraging tours take place?
Tours primarily take place in local parks throughout the New York Tri-state region, with some events extending beyond that area.
Are the programs suitable for children?
Yes. Steve Brill offers specialized programs for schools, day camps, scouts, and birthday parties, all designed to engage children with nature in a fun, hands-on way.
What types of wild foods are covered?
Tours and resources cover a wide range of wild edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms, including coastal plants, forest fungi, common 'weeds,' and seasonal wild foods.
Are there resources available beyond the tours?
Yes. The platform offers foraging books, DVDs, a knowledge base of plants and mushrooms, wild plant recipes, and the Wild Edibles Forage App for independent learning.
