Sausalito resident leads foraging adventures

Winter brings a slate of guided foraging excursions through nearby forests and along the shoreline led by Sausalito resident Maria Finn of Flora & Fungi.

A sustainability educator, author and chef, Finn leads small-group outings that focus on how food is found, harvested responsibly and brought from the shore or forest floor to the table. Each experience blends ecology, technique and hands-on cooking.

Offerings through February include include a Dungeness crab workshop in Bodega Bay; mushroom foraging walks in West Marin and Santa Cruz focused on habitat, tree associations and identification skills; coastal foraging days in Jenner, Bodega Bay and Elk centered on sea urchin, mussels and edible seaweeds while examining kelp forest decline; and a clam-digging workshop in Bodega Bay that covers species identification, ethical harvest and preparation, ending with chowder.

Going further afield, Finn also leads a four-day Wild Food Camp in Alaska in August, combining foraging, kayaking and wildcraft cooking in a remote coastal setting.

Private experiences are also available. More information, class registration and Finn’s cookbook, “Forage. Gather. Feast.: 100+ Recipes from West Coast Forests, Shores, and Urban Spaces,” can be found at floraandfungiadventures.com.

Leanne Battelle is a freelance food writer and restaurant columnist. Email her at ij.lbattelle@gmail.com with news and recommendations and follow on Instagram @therealdealmarin for more on local food and updates on the launch of The Real Deal Marin restaurant search guide.