Team Building in the Wild

AN AFTERNOON OF FORAGING, LEARNING, AND TEAM CONNECTION

At Rancho Vignola, we believe that understanding where food comes from helps us appreciate it even more. Earlier this month, our team had the opportunity to step away from the warehouse and into the forest for an inspiring afternoon of learning, discovery, and connection.

Just minutes from our Armstrong warehouse, our team was welcomed to the beautiful property where forager, educator, and author Mikaela Cannon lives and works. Mikaela, who is married to our Warehouse Manager Peter Glimm and was previously part of the Rancho Vignola team many years ago, hosted us for an immersive hands-on workshop on wild foods and responsible foraging.

Mikaela began our afternoon by sharing the history of the land they steward and introducing us to her philosophy of foraging: slowing down, observing carefully, and developing a meaningful relationship with the environment. Through a thoughtful exercise, she demonstrated how paying close attention to both the similarities and subtle differences between plants can help us confidently and safely identify edible species.

From there, we set off on a guided walk through the forest. Along the way, Mikaela introduced us to a variety of edible plants commonly found in our region, explaining how they have been traditionally used, their nutritional benefits, and the many ways they can be incorporated into everyday life. Our walk concluded at a special gathering site where we enjoyed an incredible selection of treats prepared using many of the very plants we had just learned to identify, including a warming burdock "coffee," catmint cookies made with Rancho Vignola Almond Flour and Chocolate Chips, and a hearty nettle bread with delicate rocket flower jelly.

The experience was a wonderful reminder that food can nourish more than just our bodies.  It can strengthen our connection to the land, our communities, and one another.

Mikaela's passion for wild foods and sustainable living is beautifully captured in her book, Foraging as a Way of Life, which explores a full year of seasonal foraging and offers practical guidance, recipes, and inspiration for anyone interested in connecting more deeply with the natural world.

NEW RECIPE | CATMINT COOKIES

Mikaela's delicious foraged recipes bring a taste of the wild into your own kitchen.  This unique Catmint Cookie Recipe combines freshly foraged catmint with our Almond Flour, chopped Almonds, Golden Cane Sugar, and Chocolate Chips to create a sweet, herbaceous treat with a truly local touch. 

Perfect for adventurous bakers and foraging enthusiasts alike.

https://www.ranchovignola.com/recipes-archive/catmint-cookies