Fort Tryon Forage Walk

Photo: Lionel Martinez

I'll be leading a wild foods walk in Fort Tryon Park in late May. While Fort Tryon is familiar to residents of Washington Heights, many New Yorkers from Manhattan neighborhoods further south have never visited it. It's beautiful. One of the unusual aspects of the Heather Garden, above, is that it is situated high on a bluff above the Hudson River, with views of the river, George Washington Bridge and the Palisades, in New Jersey.

I know this park well under deep snow or in the bright colours of fall. Spring will be a new time for me.

Our point-not-pluck part of the walk begins in this cared-for garden, where we'll identify weeds and ornamental edibles, before turning wilder and woodsier as we head east and down some winding forest paths. I expect to find a collection of edible urban weeds (burdock should be out in profusion) as well as indigenous plants.

We will move in a wide circle, stopping for the traditional wild-inspired snacks on the way, before returning (steeply uphill) to our starting point. You may break off instead, and head north to the nearby Cloisters, and their kitchen gardens (this is a good way to have a taste of the best that botanical New York has to offer: public garden, park, and private institutional garden).

We meet at 1pm at top of the steps above the A subway stop at 190th Street. More details mailed to confirmed walkers the week before the walk.

WALK COMPLETE