Explore the Buxton Farm, an organic wonder right in our midst. Learn how acquiring wild food from your environment fosters community and sense of place. This workshop will help you develop skills related to identifying, harvesting, processing, cooking and preserving wild edible plants and mushrooms. You will make and leave with cordials (wild fermented sodas that turn to wine and then vinegar) from wildflowers and a drying rack for preserving food.

A $70.00 class fee plus a $30.00 materials fee.

Ben feels driven to share the knowledge he has been given from people and the earth. He says, “If I teach someone a plant, bird, mushroom etc., it is a gift that will impact them forever; then they must care! I have spent the last 10 years coming to understand how special Iowa is. How it needs skilled individuals to represent, live with and fight for it. This place formed my land ethic with help from a slew of passionate individuals.”

Ben has worked as a botanist and lepidopterist (butterflies and such!) and has a master’s degree from UNI in Biology. He studied prairie ecology and has worked to manage land in Iowa for 10 years. He canoed the whole Mississippi River. He has cooked fish and foraged food over a fire most every night and he would love to do that again!

When asked about his work, he says, “This whole time I have been learning the names and stories of the wild plants and mushrooms (I’ve eaten/used close to 80 species of mushrooms and countless plants) that live here. I incorporate their uses in my daily life for food and medicine. When I have the time, I use crafted items to make art, and the experiences I have with all of these things inspire my banjo music! “

Guests and friends are welcome! You will cook and eat what we are gifted from the land! Musical instruments are encouraged.

Ben’s website: Ephemeral Midwest

Welcome to Ephemeral! This is the home site of me, Ben Hoksch, a foraging instructor, local food provider, and general Iowa enthusiast amongst other things. With this site I intend to share how I move through the seasons by creating local products and experiences that capture the fleeting nature of our unique environment. I hope that through providing this I can make Iowa a better place and honor the ancient connection to land that binds us all together.