Early Summer Foraging with Sam Thayer

Programming Cost:  $95/person for the Saturday. Lunch is included. Start registration by clicking the RSVP link; After you submit a registration, we will send you an invoice for payment.

Location: on-site at “Iowisota”, 2472 IA-26, Lansing, Iowa.

What to expect for the Saturday event: We will start with a short overview of the site history and habitats, what plants we might expect to find, and tips on responsible foraging. We will spend most of the day in the field, learning to identify and use the plants we encounter along the way. There is a rich variety of plants on site. Expect to hike up to two miles.

Overnight “B&B” stay: Additional $75/person (own bedroom) per night or $100/room per night for multiple family members in the same room. Camping is available on-site for $40. Breakfasts are included. Lodging taxes will be added.

    · Stay in one of our 6 guest bedrooms, with all the modern amenities. (See the accommodations tab of the website for information on all the rooms).

    · If you want to camp on-site, we can help you find a good spot to meet your needs. We have several good spots for tents, and a few good spots for small camping trailers. Camping on-site includes access to the bathrooms and common space inside the main Iowisota house, and breakfasts.

    · The setting of Iowisota includes nearly 200 acres of private forest and many trails to hike and explore. The sleeping rooms are a delightful blend of historic, rustic, and modern. The “gathering room” with its stone fireplace, expansive windows, and comfortable seating provides a place to hang out and chat with the hosts and other guests.

About the speaker/guest expert: Samuel Thayer is a renowned author and forager and internationally recognized authority on edible wild plants. Along with speaking and writing, he is also a maple syrup producer, wild rice harvester, and owns a small organic orchard. In addition to wild food foraging, Sam is an all-around naturalist with particular interest in reptiles, amphibians, bird watching, botany, and mammals.

About your hosts: Linda and Dennis Haugen both recently retired from careers as forest health specialists with the US Forest Service. Linda grew up on the Iowisota property, moving here with her parents in 1968. Linda and Dennis built the new residence/retreat center and moved back to northeast Iowa in 2023. They have a wealth of knowledge about natural resources in general, and about the Iowisota property specifically.

How to sign up and pay: Registration is limited to 18 participants. On-site accommodation is limited. Click the link for registration, and then fill out the registration form. This will hold your space. Once you have completed the form, we will email you an invoice that you can pay by check, credit card, or paypal. If payment has not been received within 2 weeks of registration, your spot will be released. We anticipate this session filling up; we will maintain a waiting list.