This immersive course invites participants into a living relationship with the land through the ancient practices of foraging, medicine-making, and mindful attention. Guided by Rev. Genjo Sam Conway, a Zen monk and seasoned herbalist, students will learn to receive the wild—not as something to conquer or extract from, but as a generous teacher offering nourishment, healing, and insight.

Set in the fields and woods surrounding Avon Hills Folk School, the class blends practical instruction with contemplative practice. Participants will learn to identify common regional plants for food and medicine, understand ethical and sustainable harvesting, and explore basic preparations such as teas, tinctures, and simple foods. Alongside botanical knowledge, the course emphasizes slowing down, refining perception, and cultivating gratitude—learning how to meet plants as living beings rather than mere resources.

This session weaves together walking meditation, sensory awareness, folklore, ecology, and hands-on practice. No prior experience with foraging, herbalism, or Zen is required—only curiosity and a willingness to listen to each other and the land.