Learn the Art of Wildcrafting from Forest to Table
Explore the abundance of the wild with Jess Starwood, forager and author, in this 20 week immersive program (course I in the spring and course II in the fall), held both in-person and virtually. In the spring we discover the abundance of the “ephemeral edibles”, wild mushrooms, fruits and berries. In the fall, the advanced course takes a deeper dive into food as medicine, health, and integrating the wild into a functional and renewable cuisine and establishing personal vitality.
New for 2023! Four apprenticeship spots are now available for the spring program to join your instructor one-on-one in person for bi-weekly field trips and hands-on wild food processing sessions. PLUS a discounted Group program and affordable Virtual Only options!
Current Programs
The Wild Path
Spring Wild Foods
From plants to fungi, we learn about the wild foods from many different regions—your own backyard, urban areas, mountains, coastal and desert. Learn introductory botany and mycology, plus techniques and recipes for harvesting, preparing, and preserving your harvest with ethical and sustainable practices.
Fall Wild Foods
The advanced course takes a deeper dive into food as medicine, health, and integrating the wild into a functional and renewable cuisine and establishing personal vitality.
An advanced course for continuing students, focusing on expanding culinary techniques, creative plating for a visual feast, recipe development, wildcrafted herbalism, and developing a deeper relationship with the natural world. Wild Foods 1 is recommended as a prerequisite, but not required.
Stand-Alone Classes & Events now offered!
Can’t attend a full immersive program? New stand-alone classes are now available through the Wild Path School.
Your Instructor
Jess Starwood
Jess Starwood is a forager, plant-based chef, and herbalist with a Masters of Science degree in Herbal Medicine (American College of Healthcare Sciences). She teaches wild food and herbalism classes in the greater Los Angeles area for adults as well as children in public school and homeschool groups. She hosts monthly wild food tasting events featuring her latest culinary creations. She has worked as a wild food consultant for several Michelin starred restaurants in Los Angeles.
Jess’ first book, Mushroom Wanderland: A Forager’s Guide to Finding, Identifying, and Using 25 Wild Fungi, is available from all major booksellers.
In December 2019, Jess was recognized as one of the most creative chefs in Ventura County by Edible Ojai & Ventura County Magazine.
Member of the Culinary Committee of the North American Mycological Association. Writer for Plant Healer magazine, Edible Ojai & Ventura County magazine, and Mycophile newsletter. Jess also serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Mycological Society as the Newsletter Editor.
Herbalist
Masters of Science degree in Herbal Medicine, founder of SunRaven Apothecary
Chef
Award-winning creative and innovative plant-based chef highlighting the unique and unsual flavors of wild foods.
Forager
Wild foods consultant and forager for well-known Michelin-starred restaurants and chefs in Los Angeles.
Learn the Art of Wildcrafting
This immersive program offers unique learning opportunities with small groups throughout 3 month sessions.
- Full-day Regional Field Trips
- Online LIVE & Interactive Lectures
- Beautifully designed PDF recipe books to educate and inspire
- Supportive class communities
- Active Student Message Board
- Class recordings for those who cannot attend live, or to review content
- Wild Food Feast with class members
What Students Are Saying…
“This has been an incredible experience. Jess Starwood curated not only a visually beautiful course (as expected), but an incredibly supportive, educational, fun, and delicious experience for all of us.”
“This course would be appropriate for the complete novice or the experienced botanist, forager, chef, or herbalist. I’m so grateful for not only the knowledge I gained, but the friends I made, and the incredible inspiration to love, appreciate, & engage ethically with plants and the earth.”
“I highly recommend this course as a wonderful investment in yourself, your family, and also the natural world.”
The Wild Path 