Foraging Tours with "Wildman" Steve Brill

In 1986 the Parks Department set up an undercover sting in Central Park and arrested a naturalist for eating a dandelion. The naturalist was Steve Brill, and the episode made him famous. "Wildman", as he prefers to be called, has spent decades since leading foraging walks through parks around New York, teaching people to find and identify wild greens and mushrooms, fruits and berries, roots, nuts, seeds and seaweeds, how to cook them, and which species are poisonous. His daughter Violet, who grew up on the tours, now leads tours of her own too.

Public tours run from March to December; the 2026 calendar is posted on his site. Sign up online or by phone at least 24 hours ahead, and call the evening before to confirm, since tours are called off in severe weather. Payment is made in person at the meeting place. Bring plastic bags for greens, paper bags for mushrooms, containers for berries, a digging tool, water and lunch for longer walks. Children are encouraged, and well-behaved dogs are welcome. Spring greens and fall mushrooms make the strongest outings.