Foraging Walks, Workshops, Retreats & Courses
I offer a variety of immersive educational experiences that are uniquely designed to inspire learning, connection and transformation in participants. These events include foraging walks, farm tours, hands-on workshops, courses, retreats and more. I’ve taught 10,000+ people through my public events and collaborations with major universities, nonprofits, farms and other organizations over the years.
Want to collaborate or find out more information?
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Upcoming Workshops and Events
Farm & Forage Fellowship Program 2025
The Farm and Forage Fellowship Program is a comprehensive, multi-season immersion into foraging and small-medium scale diversified farming/gardening in the Mid-Atlantic region! This program is perfect for people who want to greatly enhance their farming and foraging skills, become healthier and more resilient, start a new farm/garden project, or develop a deeper connection to the land around them. The skills and techniques we discuss will be applicable to many types of ecosystems around the world.
Cultivate the skills you need to confidently start a garden, grow and forage your own food, safely identify wild plants and mushrooms, cook and process fresh ingredients into food and medicine, cultivate mushrooms at home and more!! This is a fantastic opportunity to learn practical skills, spend time outdoors and connect with like-minded community.
This will be an experiential course where participants will get to work alongside me in the garden and the forest and put to practice the skills they are learning in every class. Each time we meet we will learn and practice new techniques for cultivation, harvesting and processing, discuss different plants and mushrooms, and sample new foods and teas from the landscape. Plus participants will have the opportunity to take home plants and projects that we work on in class. Students will also receive additional resources via email after each class (These classes will be far more immersive than my typical monthly Foraging Walks and Farm Tours).
TOPICS & SKILLS COVERED:
Organic, low-cost vegetable and fruit cultivation
Harvesting and processing of greens, herbs, fruits, roots and mushrooms
Vegetable gardening throughout the seasons
Irrigation, pest/disease management, hand tools, tool maintenance
Mushroom cultivation at home
Fruit tree and shrub maintenance
Plant propagation and tree grafting
Identification of wild plants and mushrooms
Medicinal properties of herbs and mushrooms
Making medicinal extracts and teas with herbs and mushrooms
Cooking and preserving freshly harvested ingredients
Soil science and ecology
Composting strategies
Sustainable foraging
Seed saving and more…
SCHEDULE:
12 x 4-hour classes (48 hours total)
Every class will go from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Saturday, April 12th - Forested Farm
Sunday, May 18th - Silver Spring, MD
Saturday, May 24th - Forested Farm
Saturday, June 14th - Forested Farm
Sunday, June 29th - Greenbelt, MD
Saturday, July 19th - Forested Farm
Saturday, August 16th - Silver Spring, MD
Sunday, August 17th - Forested Farm
Sunday, September 14th - Forested Farm
Saturday, October 18th - Washington DC
Sunday, October 19th - Forested Farm
Saturday, November 15th - Forested Farm (Make-up / Recap day)
**Dates may be subject to slight changes based on weather/emergencies in which case we will reschedule or use the Nov. 15th make-up date.**
Here's an example of a schedule for a program day.
April 12th, 12-4 pm (Forested):
Opening circle / introductions
Measuring out and creating vegetable beds, bed prep, basic soil science on the go
Essential tools and equipment
Direct seeding veggies by hand, planting seedlings
Spring farm tour
Shiitake mushroom harvest
Harvesting and processing greens
Building and eating a salad together
Steamed greens from the farm
Fresh tea with wild herbs
LOCATION:
Some of the classes will take place at Forested Farm and Education Center in Bowie, MD. For other classes we will meet at local parks around Montgomery County and Prince George counties in Maryland and perhaps we will meet once in Washington DC.
REGISTRATION:
Maximum registration of ~20 participants (THERE ARE 5 TICKETS REMAINING). There are three payment tiers for this course. This payment system is designed to accommodate participants with different levels of financial flexibility. Please choose your payment tier based on the guidelines provided below:
$600 - Low Income (your annual income is less than $40,000)
$800 - Getting Along (your annual income is $40,000 to $80,000)
$1,000 - Financially Secure (your annual income is greater than $80,000 AND/OR you possess multiple properties, a trust fund, or other substantial financial assets)
To register please send a $300 non-refundable deposit payment via Zelle to bodhi.vasilopoulos@gmail.com or via Venmo to bodhi-vasilopoulos (the remainder of the payment will be due before the program begins on April 12th).
There are two discounted $400 BIPOC tickets available for folks whose financial reality reflects the “Low Income” category listed above (please email me at bodhi.vasilopoulos@gmail.com to claim one of the two BIPOC discounted tickets - PLZ NOTE: 1 BIPOC TICKET REMAINING).
ACCESSIBILITY:
No background in foraging/farming is required and all levels of experience are welcomed. Access to a personal vehicle or arranging carpooling will be required for this course. Classes will be held on uneven terrain, including grassy fields and woodlands so it is important that all attendees are capable of walking and moving, as well as performing all other executive functions without assistance. A portable chair will be provided for anyone who is uncomfortable standing for the duration of class.
PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL AT BODHI@NATURESLOVEANDWISDOM.COM IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!!
Foraging Walks
I organize public foraging walks throughout Maryland and Washington DC that are open for all to join. This is a great way to learn about the diversity of edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms growing throughout our region.
Nature is abundant with food, medicine & more yet we have forgotten our ancient ways of working with the botanical and fungal relatives growing all around us. Learning about wild foods takes time and focus but in the process we are rewarded with greater health, happiness, resilience and connection to the natural world.
During these walks we will discuss topics such as:
Plant & mushroom Identification
How to harvest sustainably and prepare different wild edible foods throughout the seasons
Basics of botany, mycology, field herbalism and medicinal preparations
Planting & propagation techniques
Agroforestry practices
Temperate ecology & more
Private Foraging Lessons
Foraging and botany lessons for individuals, small groups and organizations. For small groups or individuals who want to take a deep dive into these topics and prefer to learn in a smaller group setting. Be prepared for immersive, experiential learning in our local ecosystems, and walk away with the skills to process wild plants and mushrooms into food and medicine for yourself and your community.
Workshops & Presentations
Along with my public foraging walks and private lessons, I also teach other experiential workshops and can be booked to speak for conferences, panel discussions, festivals, etc. I collaborate with major universities, non-profits and other organizations in order to share this important work with the community.
I have facilitated workshops and presentations for organizations such as George Washington University, University of Maryland, Shepherd University, the Silver Spring Garden Club, Montgomery County Parks, Ancestral Knowledge, and many more.
Check out some of my offerings below and reach out to book me for an event.
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Foraging Walks
Nature is abundant with food, medicine & more yet we have forgotten our ancient ways of working with the botanical and fungal relatives growing all around us. Learning about wild foods takes time and focus but in the process we are rewarded with greater health, happiness, resilience and connection to the natural world. During these walks we will discuss topics such as:
Plant & Mushroom Identification
How to harvest sustainably and prepare different wild edible foods throughout the seasons
Basics of botany, mycology, field herbalism and medicinal preparations
Planting & propagation techniques
Agroforestry practices
Temperate ecology & more
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Fruit & Nut Tree Grafting
This hands-on, experiential workshop will cover the basics of fruit and nut tree grafting.
Participants will learn about different grafting concepts and techniques, such as the Cleft craft, Z graft, Stump graft and more, that are effective and appropriate in different scenarios. Plus you will get to graft your very own fruit tree and take it home to plant wherever you want!
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Plant Propagation
In this workshop we will focus on PLANT PROPAGATION!! This topic is often overlooked but one of the most important and magical skills to cultivate when it comes to working with plants 🌰 🌱 ✨
Not only will we talk about different methods of propagation but we will actually propagate Elderberry cuttings, divide comfrey roots, do some guerilla gardening, and you will walk home with your own plant friends to propagate.
We will also discuss the medicinal properties of elderberry and other wild plants/mushrooms and how to use them.
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Fruit & Nut Tree Pruning
This hands-on workshop will cover the basics of winter fruit & nut tree/shrub pruning!
There are many reasons to prune and maintain your trees and winter is a great time to do so. During colder months plants are dormant and focusing most of their energy in their roots so pruning at this time causes less damage to above ground growth. Pruning can increase productivity and ease of maintenance when done correctly, but can also make maintenance more challenging if done incorrectly. Learning a few basic techniques and principles will help prepare you to prune your own trees with confidence.
Participants will put what they learn into action and help prune a tree in our orchard during the workshop in order to better understand the concepts and principles of pruning.
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Cultivating Connection Through Forest Gardening
This is an approximately 90 minute powerpoint presentation.
Forest Gardening is a framework for cultivating food, medicine, fuel, habitat for wildlife and more in a regenerative manner that models natural forest ecosystems. It also empowers us to develop a deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us by providing the opportunity to become co-creators with mother Earth. The forest gardening movement also helps foster a more holistic cultural mythos that recognizes the innate interconnectedness between human beings and the land around us.
Learn Through Volunteering
Forested in Bowie, MD hosts volunteer hours every Friday from 10am to 2pm.
“Join other forest gardeners working in the garden, or just come enjoy some time outside. Kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.”
2025 Natural Abundance Immersion Retreat
The Natural Abundance Collective, a partnership endeavor focused on fostering connection to the natural environment, would like to invite you to join us for a 5-day all inclusive foraging, mindfulness and natural abundance retreat.
Connect deeply to nature, yourself and community while relaxing and restoring in leisure. For this retreat we will leave behind the burdensome narratives that prevent us from living fully present and embodied lives. This immersive getaway will leave you feeling inspired, rejuvenated and ready to walk a path of deeper beauty, wisdom and abundance. If you have ever wanted to learn to identify and forage plants and mushrooms, process and preserve wild foods, craft your own herbal medicine, cultivate deeper authenticity and self-awareness, and step into a central role in your health and wellness then this retreat is for you! This event is ideal for people of all skill levels and backgrounds.
