What we’re about
Meetup for those interested in Natural History & Foraging walks in the DMV Washington DC metro area (although the preponderance of walks are likely to be located within Montgomery County, MD).
Share your knowledge, explore and learn. Co-leads & walk suggestions welcome.
Pace - naturalist shuffle to normal walking pace.
Children (w/ their parents) are welcome as long as they are old enough to do the walk/hike.
Please note the Meetup organizer and nominal leader of most of these walks is severely allergic / chemically sensitive to fragrances, petrochemicals, etc., so for most of these walks, participants are requested to restrain from using perfumes/colognes, scented sunscreen, and other scented personal care products; and with regard to bug spray restrain/minimize and only us if it becomes absolutely necessary.
RSVPs - As these types of walks necessitate limiting the number of participants**, please take your RSVP to attend our Meetup walk seriously** and change it promptly if your plans change, so that others who might want to attend may do so.
By replying "Yes" to attending this event, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety and agree not to hold the organizers / hosts responsible in the event of an accident or personal injury. Participating in the walk is done at the participants' own risk.
Foraging cautions and ethics
(thanks to Matt Cohen of Matts Habitats Nature Walks for authoring this write-up):
· Only eat something if you are absolutely sure of its identification. There are a minority of plants and fungi that can kill even if you eat a small amount. There are many more that can cause gastrointestinal distress and other discomfort.
· When sampling something for the first time, try a little bit and wait a few hours or a day. If it sits well with you, try more and wait. Everyone has different body chemistries and may react to new food unpredictably.
· As a general rule, all wild mushrooms (that are edible) should be cooked before being consumed.
· Cultivate a respectful attitude when foraging. Think of yourself as a gardener and nature is our shared yard. When harvesting plants, only take from species where there is an abundant population. Rare and threatened plants should be avoided altogether. Invasive, exotic plants can be harvested to your heart's content and beyond! Also, adhere to the rules of parks regarding any gathering of plants or fungi.
· Use caution in areas that may be polluted: roadsides, pesticides, contaminated water, etc. Plants and fungus can not only have contamination on the outside, but they can also uptake poisons in the ground or water.
· Learn to identify poison ivy. Check for ticks after a walk. (Long pants (preferably tucked into your socks) are helpful for preventing both.)
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Late Summer Nature walk/hike - Potomac, MDCarderock Recreation Area, Potomac, MD
Natural history, nature walk/hike (maybe some PawPaw) in the Carderock Recreation Area (Potomac, MD – along the Potomac River short ways from the Beltway) - a scenic area of the C&O Canal National Historical Park. If we are lucky maybe a few PawPaw fruit, it's been a very poor year for PawPaw. Note, the full walk includes some short steep "step" climbs and some short rock scrambles.
Pace - naturalist shuffle to normal walking pace.
Children (w/ their parents) are welcome as long as they are old enough to do the walk/hike.
Important - The walk leader is severely allergic / chemically sensitive to fragrances, petrochemicals, etc., do not wear perfumes/colognes, scented sunscreen, or other scented personal care products; or use any bug spray or sunscreen.
Bring hat (for both sun & any problems with gnats/flies), & water. Optional: field guides, camera.Step-by-step directions for how to get to the parking area we are meeting (there are 4 different parking areas):
1. From the Beltway (I-495), take exit 41
(Coming from MD, the sign will say: Carderock, Great Falls, MD. Coming from VA, the sign will say Clara Barton Pkwy, Carderock, Glen Echo.)
2. Take the Clara Barton Pkwy going west.
3. Take the next right (sign says "Carderock, Carderock Div. NavSurfWarCen").
4. Go up the ramp (you'll see an I-495 sign).
5. At the top of the ramp, go left at the stop sign.
6. Go across the bridge over the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue straight into the park (don't turn at the opposite end of the bridge).
7. Follow the road as it winds to the right and goes under the C&O canal bridge.
8. At the “T” turn left, and park in the large parking lot.
9. We will meet/gather at the pavilion (across the grass from where you enter that parking lot.Inclement weather - the walk will be cancelled) in the event of forecast rain/inclement weather, notice of cancellation will be sent to those who RSVP’d and posted on the Meetup group site by 9:00 am the day of the walk.
Note: This Meetup will be closing at the end of the year and "transferring" to Facebook at: Foraging & Natural History walks in Montgomery County, Maryland & Environs (Meetup has increased its charge to host a Meetup group to over $350 per year, that is not sustainable for me).
SAFETY & COURTESY
Please take your RSVP to attend our Meetup walk seriously and change it promptly if your plans change.
By replying "Yes" to attending this event, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety and agree not to hold the organizers / hosts responsible in the event of an accident or personal injury. Participating in the walk is done at the participants' own risk.Foraging cautions and ethics: See main page write-up.
Contact: Warren Black
E-Mail Contact: w.black@verizon.net
Cell: 301-785-2090 (Important: Please note that this cell phone is normally turned off, this number should only be used the day of the walk if you are having a problem finding the location or meeting up with the group) Call, not text.
