asheville nc foraging tour

Take a "forage to table" tour with No Taste Like Home. Our area is a Garden of Eden with over 300 wild edibles. During a guided tour, gather wild mushrooms, plants, and other “extreme cuisine.” Then, a chef transforms your finds into a delicious meal. 

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Alan Muskat

author and educator

Why Forage?

Until about twelve thousand years ago – when people invented farming and began domesticating livestock – everyone on the planet made their living by hunting and foraging food. People lived as hunter-gatherers for the vast majority of human history.

Human beings were never designed for the poorly nourished, sedentary, indoor, sleep-deprived, socially isolated, frenzied pace of twenty-first-century life.

Stephen Ilardi, The Depression Cure

There are at least  seven reasons  to forage. For one, wild food is the truly natural food. Ideal for people and the planet, wild food is healthier, fresher and more flavorful than its garden-variety descendants, and it’s all superfood because it’s what we evolved to eat.

Despite urban legends and rare mishaps, foraging is also  quite safe . After all, it’s what everyone did “BC”— Before Costco. It’s what much of the world still relies on. In 2014, I spoke at The United States Botanic Garden (next to the Capitol building) on 9/11. My topic was foraging for “ home-land security .”

Hunger is a major driver of political instability. Ironically, when it comes to foraging, it’s foodies — those with the opposite of a hunger problem — who have been the ones leading the way, uncovering this treasure hidden in plain sight. In 2010,  Time  called foraging “the latest culinary obsession.” Noma Restaurant of Copenhagen, which is focused on foraging, was the  #1 restaurant in the world in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014. Still, foraging has not yet gone “mainstream.”

Now that “local” and “sustainable” have become household words, the next step is to recognize that the most local and sustainable food is available, free for the taking, right outside our door. Nature’s supermarket is open 24/7. You can’t beat the prices. Why pay more?

Foraging is the original “Easter egg hunt.” It is literally fun for the whole family. And the miracle that countless parents have discovered is that children with no interest in greens, mushrooms, and other “health food” suddenly become very interested when they gather it  themselves .

Take, for example, these picky eaters on the right. Mom says, “my little one won’t eat half the things I feed her, but if she picked it, she’ll eat it all.” Jackie Siegel, the “Queen of Versailles,” thanked me for taking her family out in 2014, saying “I praise the mushroom hunting for keeping my kids off their iPads and game boys for a whole day.” How’s that for a family gathering ?

Known primarily for food, foraging is also catching on for fitness. Foraging is exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise because it’s REAL . It’s a way to enjoy movement, sunshine, time in nature, and healthy food, all at the same time, without having to step inside a gym, and all for FREE.

Good health comes naturally when you go wild . Got “out to eat” today!

A family tradition in its purest form, foraging often brings together multiple generations and entire communities to swap tips, tricks, and yarns. Also, it’s a whole lot of fun.

Foraging Tours and Classes in North Carolina

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Foraging Tours, Walks, Classes, and Groups (Updated for 2024)

The list below has been curated to include only those groups and foragers that schedule regular events and are currently active. Please email us about any broken links or incorrect links so we can keep the list updated. If you offer classes or scheduled foraging events feel free to contact us about being added to the list.- [email protected]

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1. Abundance Healing Arts

Abundance Healing Arts were founded by Kim Calhoun, a North Carolinian girl. Located in Chatham County, North Carolina. She became immersed in healing arts and creating plant medicine at a young age and offers all-year-round walks, classes, and workshops.

• More information: https://abundancehealingarts.com/meet-kim/
• For inquiries: Click here.
• Events Schedule: https://abundancehealingarts.com/events/
• Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/AbunDance-Healing-Arts-141308000608/

2. Asheville Mushroom Club

Asheville Mushroom Club is dedicated to learning about fungi, located in Asheville, North Carolina. It offers forays, day trips, and adventure camping. Most of their foray activities were done in Western North Carolina.

• More information: https://ashevillemushroomclub.org/index.php/join-amc/about-the-club
• Contact: [email protected]
• Events Schedule: https://ashevillemushroomclub.org/index.php/join-amc/forays

3. No Taste Like Home

No Taste Like Home is a 25-year-old foraging ecotour company in Asheville, North Carolina. Its instructors are Becky Beyer, Dimitri Magiasis, Justin Holt, and Jillian Ras. They offer tours with at least 10 participants.

• More information: https://notastelikehome.org/
• Contact: [email protected]
• Events Schedule: https://notastelikehome.org/#tours
• Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/notastelikehome.org/

4. The WANDER School

Abby Artemisia is the founder of WANDER School. WANDER stands for Wild Artemisia, Nature, Discovery, Empowerment, and Reconnection. Located in Appalachian North Carolina. Her focus is on teaching Botany, wild edibles, medicinal plants, and DIY herbalism. North Carolina and other US territories are the places she went to.

• More information: https://www.thewanderschool.com/
• Contact: [email protected]
• Events Schedule: Classes & Events – THE WANDER SCHOOL
• Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pg/thewanderschool/about/?ref=page_internal

5. Wild Abundance

Wild Abundance is a school of permaculture, building, and land-based living. They offer in-person and online classes throughout the year, taught by local experts. Wild plants are a part of several programs, and their Wildcrafting and Medicine Making Intensive takes a deep dive, twice a year. 

• More information: https://www.wildabundance.net/about-us/
• Contact: [email protected]
• Events Schedule: https://www.wildabundance.net/foraging-classes-and-herbal-workshops/
• Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/WildAbundance.net , https://www.instagram.com/wildabundance/

6. Wildcrafting

Wildcrafting was founded by Ila Hatter. Located in Whittier, North Carolina. Ila Hatter is an interpretive naturalist, artist, wildcrafter, and gourmet cook. She has experience in exploring the South. It includes Texas to the Smoky Mountains, the Caribbean, Spain, and Southern Appalachia. She conducts foraging for educational purposes.

• More information: http://wildcrafting.com/
• Contact: [email protected]
• Events Schedule: http://wildcrafting.com/schedule/

30 Responses

Are there any mushroom foraging groups or classes closer to Highlands / Cashiers ? Also, is there someone I could pay to walk my property with me during mushroom foraging season to show me how to properly and safely collect the mushrooms on my property? I’m a new property owner on Lake Glenville.

I saw that https://abundancehealingarts.com/events/ Kim will come to your land and work with you.

If you’re still interested, No taste Like home will also come to your property. https://notastelikehome.org/

Is there anyone or any group near Hillsborough, NC that accept manners to venture with for foraging edible plants?

Hi Terri, I’m in Hillsborough as well and would love to find something. I’ll reply here if I find anything.

I am near Wilmington, North Carolina, and would love to learn about foraging safely. That would include what to look out for regarding snakes, bears, etc., as well as the foods themselves and their poisonous look-alikes. I am a total newbie. Does anyone know of any groups or classes in this area?

Hi are there any classes in Eastern NC? I don’t have the ability to drive 4 hours to the mountains but I would love to expand my knowledge of what around my area

Hello, Im in Oak Island, NC. I’d love to get together and learn

I’m also interested in meeting up with foragers in eastern NC, Preferably near Ft. Bragg, NC.

I’m also near Fayetteville NC and inquiring about a local foraging group

Me too! Did you find anybody?

I just started a FB group for foraging in fayetteville , feel free to add yourself and share with friends https://www.facebook.com/groups/970315847730835/

Hi Martha, I am in Fayetteville and looking for the same!

I’m interested in connecting with foragers in eastern NC- Fayetteville/Spring Lake/Lillington area- too

Me too! I’m in Fayetteville looking for a group

I’m in Murphy, NC and I’m looking to connect with foragers near me!

Hi Dana. I’m also In Murphy. Did you find anyone near this area. Thanks Renee

I am from charlotte and eager to join foraging group

Me too. If you find anything, please let me know.

I’m north of Charlotte. Yes, we need someone to teach us. I know some basics. Just getting into it. I wish I had started this 30 years ago.

There will be a foraging walk/class Sept 18 just north of Lenoir, NC https://bit.ly/WNCMushroomForaging

Hi Con K, I’m north of Charlotte as well, in the Mooresville/Lake Norman area. Have you found someone to teach/mentor in foraging in our area yet? You can contact me on FB under Pat Melchor (see the dragonfly image).

If you contact me, use a topic in first few lines like “fellow forager” or ‘want class in foraging,” so that I will actually open your email. I don’t open emails from people I don’t know.

Hi Prudhvi, I’m north of Charlotte, in the Lake Norman/Mooresville area. Have you found someone to teach foraging yet? I can’t tell one leaf from another. You can contact me on FB under Pat Melchor (see dragonfly image).

I’m in the Mooresville area 30 minutes north of Charlotte. Maybe we could find something to go to together. Write me at [email protected] .

I live in the Mooresville/Lake Norman/Statesville area of NC. Near us is Charlotte, Denver, Lincolnton, Troutman, Davidson, Cornelius, Kannapolis, and Concord. Does anyone know of a Foraging Class/Tour or a Mentor in Foraging Wild Foods? I can’t tell one leaf from another and there are poisonous plants that are look-a-likes to some of those common ones everyone tells you to go out and look for. I want someone I can take a leaf to and make sure I’m not feeding my family something that will make them sick or kill them. You can contact me on FaceBook under Pat Melchor (see the dragonfly image).

I live near Fayetteville NC also and would love to join a foraging class/group.

Hello, I’m in Columbus County, NC. In between Wilmington and Fayetteville. 1 hour either way. I would love to learn what is edible in my area.

I am looking for foraging classes in Union County. South of Charlotte, NC. Anyone out there?

I have always been interested in foraging would love to take some classes. I am in Eastern NC (Havelock)

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Recent Posts

Prunus maritima – beach plum, xerocomus illudens, asparagus officinalis – wild asparagus, macrolepiota procera – parasol mushroom, rosa rugosa – beach rose, commelina communis – asiatic dayflower, sarcodon imbricatus – scaly hedgehog, rubus allegheniensis – common blackberry, baorangia bicolor – bicolor bolete, clinopodium vulgare – wild basil.

Beach plum (Prunus maritima) is a native plant with edible fruit. It is often found in dunes. It prefers full sun and has a high

Xerocomus illudens is an edible bolete that fruits July-October. It forms mycorrhizal relationships with oaks and possibly other hardwoods. The cap is cinnamon-brown or pinkish-cinnamon

Wild Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is the same species as cultivated asparagus. The plant has escaped cultivation and can now be found growing in riverbanks and

The Parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) is an edible mushroom that fruits August-October. It can be found in open woodlands near conifers or hardwoods or on

Beach rose (Rosa rugosa) is an invasive plant from Asia that was brought to the U.S. as an ornamental. It is salt tolerant so is

Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis) is a non-native annual that can be found in disturbed areas in partial shade. It has the ability to spread quickly,

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This Asheville, NC experience teaches you how to forage for your food

Asheville, NC -- Outside of the tropics, southern Appalachia is home to the most biodiversity anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. So, it's no surprise why No Taste Like Home has been described as the foremost foraging experience in the entire country.

From learning how to safely identify and collect wild plants to having your haul prepared in one of five restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina, the tours they offer certainly have a lot to boast about. But as their expert guides will tell you, foraging is much more than a fun activity, it's a way of life.

CEO and philoso-forager, Alan Muskat, describes the ability to feed ourselves through wild foods as a birthright.

"Our mission is to help people feel at home wherever they are. And that's not just in nature -- the idea is that you can trust others. Whether they're humans, plants, snakes, bugs, or mushrooms: you don't have to be afraid of the world," said Muskat.

Their tours can last anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours. They teach you about anything you would need to know, from how to use the equipment to what kind of plants and mushrooms to seek. At the end of the tour, you get to sample what you've collected and take the bulk of what you find home. But if you so choose, you can opt-in to having your foraged goods prepared at a high-end restaurant like Asheville staple The Bull and Beggar.

As restaurant owner Matthew Dawes puts it, "not only is the food more nourishing, more meaningful, and more enjoyable, it also has a ripple effect that can help environmentally."

Muskat's self-described nature-education organization hopes to provide the public with a chance to take back our ancestral skillset, "When you forage, that is a spiritual experience: I belong here, I'm provided for, I'm at home...that's what I want people to feel."

Do not attempt foraging yourself without the guidance of experts, as it could be dangerous. As an old Croatian proverb reads, "All mushrooms are edible; but some only once."

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Wild Food Foraging Tour

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From season to season, different types of bounty nature provides becomes abundant and ripe for the taking. Find your own culinary ingredients as you explore the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina with  No Taste Like Home , founded by famed forager and educator Alan Muskat.

Foraging & Private Tour Explore the landscape of Western North Carolina and discover how to forage and enjoy edibles through a brief cooking lesson and tasting. Once you return to the hotel, deliver your found ingredients to the Guest Services desk and our Chef will create an appetizer highlighting your findings, to accompany your meal at Vue 1913*. Note: Tour location can be up to 45 minutes from the resort. Please account for travel when making dining arrangements.

Wild Food Stroll Stroll the beautiful landscape of Sunset Mountain and learn about the art of foraging, right on resort grounds. For this experience, you will leave the foraging to the experts and edible findings will be provided to our Chef, who will prepare an appetizer with the found ingredients to accompany your meal at Vue 1913*

*Advanced dining reservations at Vue 1913 are required in addition to Foraging Tour or Wild Food Stroll reservations with No Taste Like Home. Be sure to mention No Taste Like Home when booking dining.

Click here to book your Wild Food Experience

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This Asheville, NC experience teaches you how to forage for your food

Asheville, NC -- Outside of the tropics, southern Appalachia is home to the most biodiversity anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. So, it's no surprise why No Taste Like Home has been described as the foremost foraging experience in the entire country.

From learning how to safely identify and collect wild plants to having your haul prepared in one of five restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina, the tours they offer certainly have a lot to boast about. But as their expert guides will tell you, foraging is much more than a fun activity, it's a way of life.

CEO and philoso-forager, Alan Muskat, describes the ability to feed ourselves through wild foods as a birthright.

"Our mission is to help people feel at home wherever they are. And that's not just in nature -- the idea is that you can trust others. Whether they're humans, plants, snakes, bugs, or mushrooms: you don't have to be afraid of the world," said Muskat.

Their tours can last anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours. They teach you about anything you would need to know, from how to use the equipment to what kind of plants and mushrooms to seek. At the end of the tour, you get to sample what you've collected and take the bulk of what you find home. But if you so choose, you can opt-in to having your foraged goods prepared at a high-end restaurant like Asheville staple The Bull and Beggar.

As restaurant owner Matthew Dawes puts it, "not only is the food more nourishing, more meaningful, and more enjoyable, it also has a ripple effect that can help environmentally."

Muskat's self-described nature-education organization hopes to provide the public with a chance to take back our ancestral skillset, "When you forage, that is a spiritual experience: I belong here, I'm provided for, I'm at home...that's what I want people to feel."

Do not attempt foraging yourself without the guidance of experts, as it could be dangerous. As an old Croatian proverb reads, "All mushrooms are edible; but some only once."

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Harris' Fighting for Reproductive Freedom bus tour stops in Asheville

by WLOS Staff

SEPT. 8, 2024 - Representatives of Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris stop in Asheville, North Carolina, for what they're calling the Fighting for Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour. (Photo: WLOS Staff)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Representatives of Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris are in North Carolina for what they're calling the Fighting for Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour.

The tour stopped in Asheville on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, before heading to Raleigh on Monday.

Organizers said they're hoping to rally voters and hold former President Donald Trump accountable for recent abortion bans across the country.

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The tour is expected to make at least 50 stops in key states. With the Tar Heel state so divided politically, Harris campaign representatives hope to transcend party lines with this message

"We have very recent examples as for why every single vote can matter here in North Carolina," Democrat Lindsey Prather, NC-115 district representative, said. "The Republicans have a super majority by a single seat in the legislature. They are the ones who have been able to push for the abortion ban that we have in North Carolina. And so every single vote absolutely matters and absolutely affects the rights we have here in North Carolina."

PENNSYLVANIA KEY THIS ELECTION, WITH MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN LIKELY TO FOLLOW SUIT: EXPERT

After Tuesday night's presidential debate, Harris is expected to kick off her own four-day campaign trip through major swing states. Its first stop will be in North Carolina on Thursday.

The New Way Forward Tour is part of the final sprint before the November election.

Kamala Harris to visit Greensboro and Charlotte after presidential debate this week

Vice President Kamala Harris will make two stops in North Carolina after her first presidential debate this week.

After Harris takes the debate stage in Philadelphia against her opponent Donald Trump , she will rally in Charlotte and Greensboro as a part of her "New Way Forward" battleground tour.

Presidential debate: 7 things to watch at the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump debate

With less than 60 days until Election Day on Nov. 5, the Harris campaign is making a push to flip the Tar Heel State, which has voted Republican the past three election cycles.

Harris will rally in Charlotte first around 4:30 p.m. Thursday then she will head to Greensboro where she will take the stage again in the evening around 8 p.m.

Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team.

Attendees must RSVP for tickets online and further details on location will be given to ticketed guests.

She is expected to focus on the future and positivity that has been at the center of her campaign so far, while also slamming Project 2025.

Harris' visit rides on the tails of her husband, Doug Emhoff, and her running mate, Tim Walz' wife, Gwen Walz, who are set to visit Raleigh Monday as a part of their fighting for reproductive freedom bus tour.

The last time Harris was in the Tar Heel State, she unveiled her economic plan , which emphasized supporting the middle class through tax cuts, $25,000 for first-time home buyers' down payment, rent controls, a $35 cap on insulin for everyone and a federal ban on grocery price-gouging.

Wild Food Stroll

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• Hour Glass Duration: 1.5 hours
• Calendar Availability: Thurs.

Young Child

Ages 4 and younger.

On this leisurely tour, just five minutes from downtown Asheville, we meet about a dozen of the area’s top wild foods. That evening, you can return to the hotel for a stunning view of the sunset and dinner at Vue 1913 featuring edibles seen on the tour. Note: this tour does not include foraging.

• Experts lead all ages and abilities
• Meet 10 – 12 edible wild plants and maybe mushrooms
• Restaurant appetizer with your finds at The Grove Park Inn
• 15% discount on any Asheville Food Tours or Navitat Zipline booking

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between the wild food stroll and the foraging tour? The foraging tour takes place 15 – 45 minutes outside of town, lasts twice as long, and includes actual foraging, a cooking demo/tasting, and several restaurant options.

Does the tour include a meal? No, but groups opting to have dinner at the hotel restaurant enjoy a complimentary appetizer featuring wild foods you met on the tour. For more info, see here .

What if it rains? Tours are generally rain or shine. Check the forecast and dress appropriately. For last-minute concerns, see our Contact Page .

Where exactly does the tour meet? See directions here.

For more info and other FAQ, see here .

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Foraging Tour

Wander through woods and meadows with expert guides, gathering any of over 500 edibles depending on the weather and the season. Enjoy a cooking demo, tasting, and the option to have your finds prepared at one of Asheville’s top restaurants.

• Hour Glass 1.5 hours , 3 hours

Private Tour

This is a private version of either our  Foraging Tour  or  Wild Food Stroll , which we can customize for your group. Please request a tour and we will confirm within 48 hours.

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Alan Muskat

Termites, thumb-sized green tomato worms, garden slugs, inky black mushrooms — Alan Muskat has eaten them all. As Asheville's resident forager, he finds, identifies and eats wild mushrooms, fruits, greens, nuts, seeds, flowers and shoots.

In all, over 300 edible species grow in the Asheville area, and Muskat reveals them through his tour company, No Taste Like Home. “Wild food is not difficult to find, and most of it grows in the city,” he says. “This Garden of Eden we live in here is very real, and the foundation is natural.”

Muskat started foraging for his own table in 1992, and over the following years, he began offering classes. Recently, he's witnessed a surge of interest in foraging. He attributes the trend to an increased focus on economics, health and environment: Wild food is free, pure and easy on the planet.

Asheville offers plenty of inspiration for the forager; Muskat has lived here 20 years, and he's still exploring. These mountains are one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world, he says, with more plant and animal species than just about anywhere except a tropical rainforest.

The landscape creates a place for creativity both in nature and in business, Muskat explains. “People throughout history have come here to do their own thing,” he says. “The reason the Scotch-Irish came here was because there are a lot of nooks and crannies. That's what also creates the natural diversity: micro-climates. There's a lot of other cities that can have a beer scene or a foodie scene, but when that kind of homegrown, do-it-yourself attitude is rooted in the geography, then you really have a foundation for something interesting.”

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Harris-Walz reproductive freedom bus tour continues in North Carolina

by WLOS Staff

SEPT. 8, 2024 - Representatives of Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris stop in Asheville, North Carolina, for what they're calling the Fighting for Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour. (Photo: WLOS Staff)

RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — The Harris-Walz "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" bus tour continues in Raleigh, North Carolina Monday.

Organizers said they're hoping to rally voters and hold former President Donald Trump accountable for recent abortion bans across the country.

Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and the wife of vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, Gwen Walz, are expected to discuss how Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance will use Project 2025 to ban abortion nationwide.

The tour is expected to make at least 50 stops in key states. With the Tar Heel state so divided politically, Harris's campaign representatives hope to transcend party lines with the following message:

We have very recent examples as for why every single vote can matter here in North Carolina," Democrat Lindsey Prather, NC-115 district representative, said. "The Republicans have a super majority by a single seat in the legislature. They are the ones who have been able to push for the abortion ban that we have in North Carolina. And so every single vote absolutely matters and absolutely affects the rights we have here in North Carolina.

After Tuesday night's presidential debate , Harris is expected to kick off her four-day campaign trip through major swing states. Its first stop will be in North Carolina on Thursday.

The "New Way Forward" tour is part of the final sprint before the November election.

_____ Editor's note : Alexx Altman-Devilbiss with The National Desk contributed to this report.