Foraging Tours, Walks, Classes, and Groups (Updated for 2025)
The list below has been curated to include only those groups and foragers that schedule regular events and are currently active. Please email us about any broken links or incorrect links so we can keep the list updated. If you offer classes or scheduled foraging events feel free to contact us about being added to the list.- eattheplanet.org@gmail.com
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Adjacent States
Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia
1. Eco Images
Vickie Shafer is the founder of Eco Images, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is a naturalist, herbalist, and forager. She offers classes, on exploring the outdoors, foraging, making medicine, and growing native and medicinal plants.
- More information: https://ecoimages.us/index.htm
- Contact: wildfood@cox.net
- Events Schedule: https://ecoimages.us/programs/index.htm
2. Julie Carestio Pettler
Julie Carestio Pettler is an herbalist. Her office is located in Frederick County, Virginia. She offers classes, foraging, and medicine-making workshops.
- More information: https://www.juliepettlerherbalist.com/
- Contact: jcpettler@yahoo.com
- Events Schedule: https://www.juliepettlerherbalist.com/classes
3. Emerald Mountain Sanctuary
Located in Monterey, VA. Learn to identify and prepare edible and medicinal plants on our property in the Virginia Highlands. We also discuss ethical foraging and avoiding poisonous plants.
- More information: https://emeraldmountainsanctuary.com/
- Contact: Anaber99@aol.com
- Events Schedule: https://emeraldmountainsanctuary.com/offerings/backyard-foraging/
4. The Earth Connection School
Tim MacWelch found The Earth Connection School, located in Somerville, Virginia. The Earth Connection School is an outdoor school. It offers subjects that focus on wild foods, making fires, navigation, tracking, and primitive skills.
- More information: http://www.earth-connection.com/
- Contact: econnect@earth-connection.com
- Events Schedule: http://www.earth-connection.com/schedule/
5. The Living Earth School
The Living Earth School is an organization located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia. Its curriculum is nature-based. It seeks to develop naturalist skills, finding edible/medicinal plants, survival skills, and much more. The Living Earth School offers classes, camping, and foraging.
- More information: https://livingearthva.com/
- Contact: info@livingearthva.com
- Events Schedule: https://livingearthva.com/adult-courses/
- Direction: https://livingearthva.com/info/contact-living-earth-school-virginia/
6. Tracks and Roots
Alison Meehan created Tracks and Roots, located in Richmond, Virginia. She manages buy modafinil online Tracks and roots with her fellow credible instructors. Her expertise is identifying trees, tracking, wild edibles, and medicinal plants. They offer foraging and wilderness survival courses.
- More information: https://tracksandroots.com/who-we-are/
- For inquiries: Click here.
- Events Schedule: https://tracksandroots.com/foraging/
39 Responses
I’m interested in mushroom foraging classes in Northern VA, but I’m unable to locate any. Can you help please? Thank you!
I would like to find a foraging group in northern virginia so i can learn about edible wild mushrooms. I live in Falls Church
Hello, Ann. I have the same interest.
At this point, I am a group of one (LOL), but would be interested in finding a friend to go foraging with.
Kind regards,
Holly
Hi! I am also in Falls Church and would love to learn and forage.
I’m also from Falls Church and looking for people to forage with. Would any of you be interested in putting a group together? 🙂
I’m in Herndon and into foraging. Are you still in the area?
I know this is really late but join the DC mycological association. Great group of folks, they have regular meetings and forays.
I’m in Herndon and interested in foraging. Are you still in the area?
Hi. Are you near appomatttox?
Did u find any? I want to try as well
Hi yes I too am interested in love in Alexandria- maybe we could try and start something through meetup.con???
Kindly,
Kristin
Hi, just found this site. Curious if a group was put together in Alexandria/Falls Church area (based on this thread).
Natalia, I am also interested in learning how to forage mushrooms and looking for classes or a guide. Did you ever find one? Contact me please to let me know. Nancy
I’m in Northern VA and also interested.
Natalie, Do you happen to live on W Seminary Ave? A neighbor has received 2 packages for you with your name but no house number. I live 3 houses from Westbrook
Hi,
We are from France. We forged in the north every October. We are so excited to be apart of learning and forging in an eco friendly way. Pls contact me to discuss his to be apart of learning.
Hello! Are you still offering foraging lessons near Northern VA?
Hi I run a coop group and was interested in learning foraging along with children and other adults in our group. Do you guys offer anything like that??
I am in Herndon. I know a reasonable amount about foraging (not mushrooms). If you’re still in the area, drop me a line.
P.s. I love kids, so feel free to bring some.
Hi Tina. I just moved out to this area from upstate NY and would be very interested in foraging for mushrooms. Beth
Hi Tina, I’m in Ashburn and very interested foraging mushroom. Do you have a group interested to forage together now with spring around the corner?
I’m interested in forging –
Hi Tina, I am in Vienna and would love to learn about foraging. Please feel free to contact me by email or text.
Thank you!
Poppy
I live in NOVA and would like to forage with a group. Please let me know how to connect with the local group. 🙂
Hi Tina! Do you still go foraging? I’m interested!
Erica
Hi Tina,
This is Yong, living in Burke. I am very interested in foraging either mushrooms or wild edible vegetables. If you have a group that I can join, I would love to. Please contact me.
Chesapeake, VA ….. super interested….. please contact me
Really interested in mushroom foraging in the Martinsville or Danville area.
Hi, in Reston and want to relearn wild growth including mushrooms
Roanoke here. Would love to learn local foraging.
Hello Matt, were you able to find any groups in the Roanoke area?
Hi Matt – I am two hours from you in Highland County and offering foraging classes: https://emeraldmountainsanctuary.com/2023/02/10/2023-foraging-classes/
I also do individualized programs for small groups outside of these classes.
I live in chrustuansburg looking for a foraging club i am 77
Hi, also from Alexandria, has anyone formed a nova group? If so, I’d love to join.
Also in VA and interested!
I have been offering foraging classes and individually requested programs for a number of years. I am located in Highland County, VA, one hour West of Staunton, two hrs West of Charlottesville. https://emeraldmountainsanctuary.com/2023/02/10/2023-foraging-classes/
As we are entering 2024, I would like to learn to forage. I am in Northern VA (Herndon). Are there any local groups to me?
Did anyone find a group? I’m Fairfax VA and would love to find a class/ group.
Hi,
How’s everyone doing these days?
I understand that Tess possibly lives in Appomattox County – that’s not really that far from me at all.
I’m in Amelia County.
& Ed Gleason is possibly between Martinsville & Danville.
I only forage on my property, not having an experienced Professional to be with me to know the difference between all the weeds(can be eaten as well used for medicinals).
I have a few physical paperback books on foraging & making medicines.
I’m super interested in getting in touch with an experienced forager or even in a group that can distinguish between the poisonous look-a-likes plants & the real deal plants that actually can be eaten &/or made to be tinctures, oils, edibles in different forms.
Can someone get back in touch with me?
Appreciate it.