Texas Foraging Academy - Spring Curriculum (March 20th-22nd)

Purchase Tickets and Find More Information at the Link Below:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/texas-foraging-academy-spring-curriculum-march-20th-22nd

The Texas Foraging Academy is a three-day, two-night immersive retreat designed for serious foragers and curious nature enthusiasts alike. It's for those who want to truly learn how to ethically and sustainably utilize nature’s bounties. Guided by two of the region's top experts in plant and mushroom identification, Courtney Taylor and Sebastian Tabibi, you'll delve into the fascinating and often-overlooked ecosystems of North Texas

Texas Foraging Academy: Spring Curriculum

March 20th – 22nd
.
With combined decades of experience, Courtney and Sebastian will lead you through a series of hands-on forays, engaging presentations, and live cooking demonstrations. This event isn't just a class; it's a chance to build a deeper relationship with the land and foster a vibrant community of fellow nature lovers. Every moment is crafted to inspire a lifelong passion for ethical foraging, from learning the fundamentals of mycology and plant anatomy to preparing the wild ingredients you find.

Friday: Arrival & First Forays


4:00 PM: Gates Open & Registration - Arrive at the beautiful Tree of Life Farm, set up your camp, and begin to settle in. This is your chance to get acquainted with the serene natural surroundings, unpack, and prepare for a weekend of discovery.

4:30 PM: Welcome Orientation - Gather for a brief but essential orientation with your expert guides. They'll share a rundown of the weekend's goals, essential safety guidelines for foraging, and a preview of the incredible activities planned. This is a great time to ask any initial questions and connect with your fellow participants.

5:00 PM: Introductory Evening Foray - Courtney and Sebastian will lead a relaxed walk through the forest as the sun begins to set. This foray will serve as a gentle introduction to the different habitats we'll explore and the various species we'll be looking for throughout the weekend, including an overview of the terrain and some notable species of plants and fungi.

7:00 PM: Community Potluck - Join your fellow foragers for a communal potluck dinner. We ask that participants bring a vegan or vegetarian dish to share during this social hour of communal connection.

8:00 PM: Presentation: “Fungi Unveiled: An Introduction to Mycology” - Gather around for Sebastian's captivating presentation on the basics of mycology. This session will lay the groundwork for understanding the biology, ecological roles, and incredible diversity of fungi. You'll learn about fungal anatomy, life cycles, and their vital importance to the ecosystem.

9:00 PM: UV Foray - As darkness falls, we'll embark on a unique UV foray with specialized lights to search for the enchanting fluorescent plants, fungi, and insects that glow in the dark.

9:30 PM: Evening Concludes with Optional Stargazing & Social Hour - Relax around a fire and take this opportunity to socialize as we conclude the day's activities and share memories under the stars.



Saturday: Hands-On Learning & Community


8:00 AM: Gates Open (Non-Campers) - Non-campers are invited to arrive at the farm, sign our waivers, and get settled in for the day's events.

8:30 AM: Orientation, Light Breakfast & Snacks - Fuel up for a day of hands-on discovery with a light breakfast and snacks, including coffee and tea, provided by Tree of Life Farm. This will be an opportunity to ask questions during a brief orientation.

9:00 AM: Morning Foray – Mushroom & Plant Identification -Building on your newfound knowledge, we'll head into the forest for a longer, more focused foray. Courtney will guide you in applying your plant identification skills while Sebastian teaches you how to recognize common edible and medicinal mushrooms in their natural habitats.

11:00 AM: Presentation: “Learning How to Identify Mushrooms – Spring Edition” - Sebastian will lead a presentation focused on the fundamentals of mushroom identification. You'll learn what to look for—from gill color and stalk texture to spore prints and cap shapes—and understand the practical benefits and ecological roles of various species in the Texas landscape.

12:00 PM: Intermission + Cooking Demonstration & Lunch - Enjoy a delicious, catered lunch on-site. The meal will feature a mushroom-infused cooking demonstration, where you'll see how to transform foraged ingredients into a gourmet dish. This is a great chance to refuel and share your morning findings.

1:30 PM: Courtney Presents Her eBook: “North Texas Edible Wild Plant Basics”- Gather for an informative presentation over Courtney’s eBook, as she details the anatomy of a plant, how to begin foraging plants in North Texas, and how to become familiar with some of the more common species in our area.

3:00 PM: Intermission - Take this time to relax and catch up on the knowledge you’ve absorbed throughout the day.

3:30 PM: Afternoon Foray – Mushroom & Plant Identification - This is an opportunity to apply your newly acquired identification skills on a more extensive foray, guided by both Courtney and Sebastian. This session encourages independent discovery with expert guidance on hand.

5:00 PM: Specimen Discussion - We'll reconvene to examine and discuss all the interesting plants and mushrooms we've collected throughout the day. This is a fantastic chance to ask specific questions about your finds and gain expert insights.

6:00 PM: Second Cooking Demonstration – Community Dinner - Join us for a communal dinner, which will include another dynamic cooking demonstration featuring foraged and cultivated ingredients. This is a time to relax, share stories, and celebrate the day's discoveries.

7:00 PM+: Live Music, Social Hour & Communal Drum Circle (Open to Public) - The evening will transition into a relaxed social hour with live music and a communal drum circle.



Sunday: Identification & Farewell


8:00 AM: Gates Open (Non-Campers) - Non-campers are invited to arrive, sign our waivers, and get settled for the final day.

8:30 AM: Light Breakfast & Snacks + Orientation - Grab some coffee and a light breakfast before our final morning walk.

9:00 AM: Final Morning Foray + Final Specimen Discussion - Our last guided foray will be a final opportunity to apply all the skills you've learned. This extended walk will allow for deeper exploration and a chance to find specimens to discuss before the weekend concludes.

11:00 AM: Presentation: “Introduction to the Common Edible & Toxic Mushrooms of Texas – Spring Edition” - Sebastian will lead a critical and informative presentation on how to safely identify the most common edible mushrooms in Texas and, most importantly, how to distinguish them from their dangerous toxic lookalikes. This is a foundational session for any aspiring forager.

12:00 PM: Intermission + Final Cooking Demonstration & Lunch - Enjoy a delicious, catered lunch featuring a mushroom-infused cooking demonstration, showcasing how to use foraged ingredients in a new and exciting way.

1:30 PM: Presentation: “Making Wild Tinctures & Teas” - Courtney will lead a workshop on how to create wild tinctures and teas using wild medicinal herbs.

3:00 PM: Open Q&A, Free Time, & Farewell - Take some time to pack up your camp and say your goodbyes to your new friends and guides.

4:00 PM: Cleanup & Farewell - We will wrap up the weekend with a final discussion and heartfelt thank you to all of the participants. Share your favorite memories and discoveries before we begin the cleanup.

4:30 PM: Cleanup & Departure - A collective cleanup to ensure we leave the Tree of Life Farm as beautiful as we found it. We hope you leave with new knowledge, new friendships, and a deep appreciation for the natural world around us!



Important Notes & Recommendations


Contact & Support: Should you have any questions or concerns prior to registering, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help make your experience as smooth as possible. You can contact us directly by email at Y29udGFjdCB8IHRyZWVvZmxpZmVmYXJtICEgb3Jn.

Refund & Transfer Policy: We understand that plans can change. For that reason, refunds are available upon request up to 15 days before the event begins. Please note that after March 15th, 2026, we will no longer be able to honor refund requests, as logistical preparations will be well underway. However, we encourage you to transfer your ticket to another individual who would be excited to attend in your place.

Waivers & On-Site Registration: For the safety of all participants and our farm, please be prepared to sign our liability waiver forms upon your arrival and registration.

Food & Meals: Small to Moderate Meals will be provided through light breakfasts and cooking demonstrations. We ask that you bring enough food for yourself and your party for the entire duration of your stay. The event will feature a vegan/vegetarian potluck dinner on Friday nigh if you feel inspired to bring something to share with others. There is an outdoor kitchen area available for use throughout the weekend.

Camping & Fires: Camping is included with the price of your admission. We offer dispersed camping options throughout the property, allowing you to choose your own secluded spot in nature. Each night, a communal fire will be lit around the main congregation area for everyone to gather and share stories. To ensure the safety of our farm, personal fires are not permitted. We also kindly ask that you follow a "pack in, pack out" policy for any items you bring to help us maintain the pristine environment of the farm.

Bathroom Facilities: As part of our commitment to sustainability and permaculture design, we have installed compostable toilets for your use. Please be prepared to utilize these facilities during your stay.

Recommended Supplies: To make the most of your foraging experience, we highly recommend bringing the following items:

* A foraging basket to collect your finds.
* A notebook and field guide for documenting and identifying species.
* Enough food for yourself and your party for the duration of your stay.
* A camera to capture your discoveries.
* Given that this is an outdoor event, please be prepared for varying weather conditions. While most activities will be outdoors, presentations will occur indoors in Sage Cottage, a multi-purpose building we hope to complete using a portion of the proceeds from this event.

You may also like the following events from Sebastian Tabibi:

• Next month, 20th December, 09:30 am, Winter Solstice Celebration: A Full Day Retreat at the Tree of Life Farm in Ravenna
• Happening on, 17th January, 06:30 pm, Gather & Groove: Potluck & Drum Jam in Ravenna
• Happening on, 4th April, 11:30 am, Spring Foraging in Texas: An Introduction to Edible, Medicinal, and Toxic Mushrooms & Plants in Ravenna

Also check out other Music events in Ravenna, Food & Drink events in Ravenna, Entertainment events in Ravenna.