Learn, Experiences
Learn how to make Plant Infused Farmer's Cheese!
Come join internationally recognized foraging instructor and author, Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, Ph.D. chemist & herbalist for a hands-on cooking class! Students will learn how to make farmer’s cheese infused with edible wild plants. The resulting cheese is semi-soft and is ideal for being used as a spread on crackers, stuffed into ravioli, mixing into salads, or spread across a bagel. This is a non-melting cheese so it’s not for pizza, fondue, or other recipes that require gooey cheeses.
Plants to be incorporated will depend on what’s available, but may include wood sorrel, curly dock seeds, goldenrod leaves, or assorted wildflower petals. These plants will be pre-harvested but Merriwether will teach how to properly identify them. The class is a beginner-level cooking experience but anyone who’s never made cheese, you’ll learn a great new, fun skill!
*****All ingredients and equipment will be supplied, though if you have an apron, please bring it. Please note, due to the high temperatures involved, this class is not recommended for children under twelve.*********
No special equipment is required to make this cheese, it can be ready in just a few hours, and is almost impossible to fail. This makes it ideal for a fun family activity or party experience. Eating food with others is fun but making the food as part of the meal adds a whole extra level of enjoyment!
Merriwether is author of the books Idiots Guide Foraging and Outdoor Adventure Guide Foraging, along with countless other articles, interviews, and YouTube videos about foraging, wilderness survival, and herbal medicine. He is the creator of the award-winning website www.foragingtexas.com which currently covers over 220 useful plants and mushrooms in great detail. He holds 16 patents on using the chemistry of natural products to solve the world’s problems. In 2020 he joined the herbal supplement company Medicine Man Plant Co. as their formulator, creating science-backed products using ancient plants to help modern humans. His products can be found at www.medicinemanplantco.com
This class will be held in the Gathering Hall at Herff Farm near the Nest Nature School campus at 33 Herff Rd.