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 NOTICE RE: COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS & UPCOMING EVENTS
We continue to follow public health reports and recommendations as they unfold.  
Our monthly educational programs will take place online this fall.
 Outdoor field trips with precautionary guidelines will be offered.
Stay tuned. Stay healthy!
The Ware River Watershed is home to over 100 species of edible wild plants, including native species like Black Raspberry and Shagbark Hickory, non-native weeds like Burdock and Chicory, and exotic invasive species like Japanese Knotweed. The region is also home to dozens of species of edible mushrooms. Russ Cohen, wild edibles enthusiast and author of the book "Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten” will guide us on an identification and foraging exploration to learn about some of the surprising array of edibles in our own backyard.
​

IN SEARCH OF
WILD EDIBLES  
with Russ Cohen
Saturday September 12th
1 -4 p.m.
[Foul weather date: September 13th]
 Hubbardston
Location TBA



​Until retirement in 2015, Russ Cohen was the Rivers Advocate for the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration, where one of his areas of expertise was in riparian vegetation. In addition to leading over three dozen foraging walks and talks each year, Russ has now taken on a role as a “Johnny Appleseed” of sorts for edible native species. He has a small nursery where he grows plants that he propagates from seed, some of which he collected himself. He partners with land trusts, cities and towns, schools and colleges, state and federal agencies, and others to plant plants from his nursery in appropriate places on their properties.
Number of participants is limited.
Hubbardston residents and WRNC members served first.
Face masks and social distancing required.
Contact warerivernatureclub@yahoo.com to register.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Hubbardston Cultural Council a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
 ZOOM MEETING 
       
EDIBLE WILD PLANTS
AND MUSHROOMS
IN AND AROUND
THE WARE RIVER WATERSHED
with Russ Cohen

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd 
​ 7 p.m.
 
 
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Hubbardston Cultural Council a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Join us for a PowerPoint presentation by Russ, in which he’ll discuss a great number of the tastiest species the region has to offer. Keys to the identification of each species will be provided, along with info on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as guidelines for safe, environmentally-
responsible foraging.
Please join us for this unique and fun exploration of the edibles in our neighborhood.
 
Sign up to receive the ZOOM link for this on-line meeting by sending a message to
 warerivernatureclub@yahoo.com
​ with ZOOM NATURE in the subject line.

FOSTER PARROTS SANCTUARY--
NO CAGE IS BIG ENOUGH
with
Rachel DeFronzo 
 
We hope to offer this as a remote program in the future.
Stay tuned!


Parrots are wild animals that have long suffered the consequences of pet trade exploitation and public misinformation. In this presentation, Rachel and Isaiah look into how parrots end up in captivity, why they are surrendered to the organization, and how Foster Parrots manages a sanctuary housing over 400 parrots. They'll discuss the challenges of keeping these wild animals in a captive setting as well as the organization's offsite conservation efforts for wild parrots in South America. Come learn why Foster Parrots believes that No Cage is Big Enough!
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​Rachel DeFronzo started her career in animal care as a zoo educator and bird trainer 5 years ago. It was in her position at the zoo that she learned about the plight of parrots in captivity and wanted to make a difference in the lives of abandoned and displaced parrots. Rachel has been working at Foster Parrots since 2017 as the Director of Adoptions and Education. Parrot rescue is her passion and working with Foster Parrots has been the most rewarding endeavor of her life. It has also led to the adoption of her own beloved birds, Max and Chuckie!