FAQ

We are based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. All programs meet on site, not at our office. Pre-registration is required.

Tours meet at one of several locations 5-45 minutes from downtown. The entire tour takes place at that location. For the optional restaurant component, see “Do we get to eat what we find?” below.

Directions are sent out by 5pm the day before the tour. For why we can’t send out directions sooner, see next question.

We can’t always announce where we’re going sooner than by 5pm the day beforehand because often, we don’t know. Like a snorkeling trip, we go where the conditions are best, depending on the weather and what is out at the time.

The stroll takes place at an in-town resort and lasts 1.5 hours. The foraging tour takes place 5-45 minutes outside of town and lasts three hours. The foraging tour includes a cooking demo/tasting and several restaurant options. On the stroll, we meet and taste edibles but don’t actually gather them. There is also no cooking demo and there is only one restaurant option: at the hotel.

Foraging can be fun every month of the year. While our main season runs from March-October, we go out November-March as well. And while most mushrooms come out July to mid-October, April’s the time for morels. Usually the greatest variety of plants is in April and the greatest variety of mushrooms is in September, but there’s a mix of everything year-round.

All told, our area has over 300 wild edibles. Only 10% or so, however, will be in season at any given time. And just because something is in season doesn’t mean we see it on every tour. This is especially true for mushrooms.

For all these reasons, you can’t see — or gather — everything in just one outing, and this is why we offer season passes.

Our tours run rain or shine, so be sure to check the weather and dress to be comfortable outside. In the event of severe weather (thunderstorms, etc), we may cancel a tour and give registrants the option to either reschedule or receive a full refund. If rain and temperatures below 40 degrees are predicted, registrants may request a refund up to 24 hours before the tour.

Yes! Our 3-hour tour includes a cooking demo, tasting, and a chance to enjoy your finds at one of several Asheville restaurants. Our stroll also includes a “find dining” option. For more info, see here.

Generally, no. Although there’s always at least a handful of mushrooms in season, even in winter, the main mushroom season runs July through September.

Second, even in season, foraging tours are like whale-watching tours: we can’t guarantee that mushrooms will make an appearance. Mushrooms, like the rain they rely on, are unpredictable, especially in the Appalachians.

Third, not all wild mushrooms are edible. For this reason, we usually bring at least one example of the top mushrooms currently in season to show if not to cook up.

Overall, remember, foragers can’t be choosers. Fortunately, there are over 150 other common edibles to “chew” from. Prepare to be surprised! And if you’re unhappy with the tour, we will gladly give you a refund.

For one, this is not a hike. Also, we don’t just go to the woods; we spend time in meadows as well, especially in Winter and Spring.

Mushrooms are not always out, but we always find at least a dozen wild edibles.

We don’t just gather things together, we teach you how to do it on your own. Still, this is a tour, not a workshop; you won’t learn everything in a day.

Tours include a tasting, not a meal, but if you dine at one of our local partner restaurants, you can enjoy a free appetizer created from your very own “catch of the day.”

If you want to hike, to be just in woods, to focus only on mushrooms, to focus on harvesting, to learn as much as possible, or to make a meal together, consider a private tour.

We allow children of all ages to attend — accompanied by at least one adult — with the following three requirements:

• you are responsible for keeping a careful eye on your child throughout the tour.

• you must make it very clear to your child that they must not taste anything unless specifically instructed to do so.

• on public tours, caregivers must take children out of earshot if they are crying or otherwise disruptive to the group.

Please also note that, while not strenuous, most of our walks are not suitable for strollers.

Yes, please visit our gift card page