Learn to Forage Wild Plants in Dunlap — Summer Plant Walk at Bird Fork Farm 🌿

As interest in local food systems and plant knowledge grows across Sequatchie Valley, Bird Fork Farm is hosting a hands-on forage walk that connects residents directly to the edible and medicinal plants thriving in their own backyards and woodlands. This is the kind of skill-building event that strengthens community self-reliance and deepens appreciation for the natural abundance of the region.

On Saturday, July 11, 2026, Bird Fork Farm will lead a guided walk through its on-farm ecosystems in the Cagle area just west of Dunlap. 🥾 Participants will learn to identify edible and medicinal plants, discover their seasonal changes, understand how to prepare them, and taste wild treats along the way. The walk is designed to awaken your senses to the flora around you—and to teach you things that will genuinely impress your friends.

✨ Why You’ll Want to Be There

This isn’t a lecture. You’ll be walking through real ecosystems—orchards, gardens, and cleared woodland trails—learning from someone who has spent years studying plants across multiple states and Latin America. Alysia Leon, the instructor and founder of Bird Fork Farm, is a self-taught bioregional folk herbalist who crafts hyper-localized plant remedies and products from what grows here. She’ll teach you practical skills: how to properly identify plants, spot common look-alikes, understand how plants change through the seasons, and prepare them for eating or medicine. 🌱

The experience is designed to be accessible. The walk is slow-paced, mostly flat through the orchard and garden areas, then moves to a relatively cleared, slightly sloped woodland trail. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult, making this a family-friendly opportunity to learn together. You’ll snack on wild edibles as you go—a sensory experience that makes the learning stick. 🍃

🗓️ When & 📍 Where

Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM CDT (note: the walk begins promptly at 12:10 PM EST / 11:00 AM Central, so arrive early). The event takes place at Bird Fork Farm in Cagle, Tennessee, just west of Dunlap. Exact location details will be emailed to ticket holders the week of the event. ⏰

📋 What to Bring & Know

This is an outdoor event, so come prepared: wear comfortable walking shoes (closed-toe), bring a water bottle, sunscreen, bug protection, scissors, and a notebook. Dress for the weather. Feel free to bring snacks if you’d like. The walk will last approximately 90 minutes, allowing time for questions. After the forage walk, The Apothecary (the farm‘s shop) will be open for browsing and shopping. 🎒

🎟️ How to Go

Registration is required. A ticket fee applies for ages 14 and up; younger children accompanied by an adult can participate. To register and purchase tickets, visit https://birdforkfarm.square.site/events. Spots are limited, so don’t wait. 🌟

💚 Why This Matters Locally

In a region where many residents have deep roots in the land and a growing interest in sustainable living, learning to identify and use wild plants connects people to both practical skills and ecological knowledge. Understanding what grows around you—native plants and even “invasive” species—builds awareness of your local ecosystem and your role in it. For families, gardeners, herbalists, and anyone curious about what the land offers, this walk bridges the gap between curiosity and real knowledge. 🌾

Bird Fork Farm has been expanding its culinary and medicinal herbal work since 2020, becoming a hub for plant-based learning in the valley. Events like this strengthen the local food and wellness community, creating connections between people who care about plants, health, and place.

❓ Questions Worth Thinking About

• What edible or medicinal plants are already growing in your yard or nearby woods that you didn’t know about?
• How might learning to forage change the way you think about a walk in nature?
• Who in your family or friend group would enjoy learning this skill together?
• How does understanding local plants deepen your connection to where you live?

Mark your calendar for July 11 and bring a friend—or better yet, bring a family member who’s curious about plants. This is the kind of hands-on learning that stays with you long after the walk ends. 🌿✨

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