🍄 Wild Foods Day Brings Foraging, Wilderness Skills & Community Learning to Spencer

Fall Creek Falls State Park is hosting an all-day celebration of traditional food knowledge and outdoor survival techniques at Piney Creek Group Camp on Saturday, October 31, drawing together foragers, naturalists, and curious learners for hands-on workshops in mushroom identification, wild plant uses, and primitive skills.

📅 A Full Day of Workshops & Demonstrations

Wild Foods Day runs from 9:00 AM throughout the afternoon at Piney Creek Group Camp, 591 Camp 2 Road, Spencer, Tennessee 38585. The schedule opens with a 9:00 AM discussion on feral swine management and park ecology, followed by a rotating series of skill-building sessions. Participants can learn to identify and forage for wild mushrooms at 1:00 PM, explore native edible and medicinal plants at 11:00 AM, and discover how to prepare wild breads and desserts using acorn, walnut, hickory, and persimmon at noon. 🌿

🎨 Hands-On Learning Across Multiple Topics

The event spans foraging, cooking, art, and wilderness survival. A 10:00 AM session focuses on wild jams and jellies made from native fruits, while a 3:00 PM tea workshop explores sustainable foraging practices and medicinal plant benefits. From 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM, participants can create natural ink art using black walnut and pokeberry, with all supplies provided. A 2:00 PM primitive wilderness skills demonstration showcases techniques used by early Native Americans and other cultures for survival and everyday living. 🔥

🦌 Why This Matters for the Region

Events like Wild Foods Day connect residents and visitors to the natural heritage of the Cumberland Plateau and Sequatchie Valley region. Foraging knowledge, traditional food preparation, and wilderness skills represent cultural practices that have sustained communities in East Tennessee for generations. By offering free or low-cost public workshops, Fall Creek Falls State Park strengthens community ties to the land and encourages stewardship of local ecosystems. ✨

Residents interested in learning more about the event or registering can contact Fall Creek Falls State Park directly at 1-888-867-2757 or visit the park’s official website for additional details and any registration requirements.