Jess Starwood

Gourmet Wild Food, Herbalism & Mycology

  • Lemon Rosemary Chicken of the Woods Mushroom

    I have found that this normally “dry” wild mushroom is an excellent candidate for sous vide, rather than the usual saute. Add in your favorite herbs and seasonings and its… Read more

  • Wild Greens and Pinyon Pine Cream Sauce

    I think the first “wild food” recipe that I ever made was a nettle pesto. I would speculate, though, that is probably most folks initiation into wild foods. It is… Read more

  • Cactus & Corn Tortillas

    Last weekend I hosted the incredibly knowledgeable Enrique Villasenor, local healer in training, who taught all about how to use Opuntia species of cactus (aka prickly pear) for healing a… Read more

  • The Unexpected Journey—Stories of a Solo Traveler

    The Unexpected Journey—Stories of a Solo Traveler “What am I doing?!” I said to myself as intense panic began to set in. I was standing on the edge of a… Read more

  • Brassicas: Wild and Tame

    I’ve been walking through my neighborhood lately to the library instead of driving. Its a nice four mile round trip loop that starts out in a pretty nice area with… Read more

  • Wild Black Sage + Turkey Tail Mushroom Tonic

    One of my favorite pairings of local wild flavors is the complex minty aroma of black sage (Salvia mellifera) with the rich heaviness of cacao. Its been a crowd-pleaser in… Read more

  • Herbs for Dealing with Wildfire Smoke Inhalation

    As the winds die down here and the danger of the wildfires have passed, we are left with our valleys filling with harmful smoke that can impact our breathing and… Read more

  • Wild Nettle Soup (vegan)

    Welcoming springtime also means the onset of weed season. While many reach for their choice of mass plant destruction (with herbicides being of greatest concern), there are gentler and more… Read more

  • Hummus with wild Tumbleweed

    This morning I was walking around the farm assessing the non-native plant situation where I’m planning to start my epic herb garden. Most things are going to seed and dying… Read more

  • Magic Potions Kids Workshop

    Join us for an interactive and educational experience for kids to learn about the magic of healing herbs and everyday weeds. After a brief tour of the local flora, we… Read more

Wild Food Articles & More

Jess currently teaches foraging, wild foods and nature education classes for children and adults. She founded The Wild Path, a wild food apprenticeship program in 2020 which strives to connect the community to nature in a positive and sustainable way through an immersive six month program. She also leads wild food group adventures on the West Coast and Southwest United States and Mexico.

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