Art of Foraging: Aotearoa

A celebration of land and season. Exprience Nordic style foraging of New Zealand native plants.

During the guided 3 hour experience, your senses will be awakened with a 16-course tasting feast created with native and seasonal flowers, fruits, leaves and seeds.

Bookings can be made here for seasonal events and here for private group walks. 

How can you grow roots if you never eat from the soil? Mamakan, a botanical artist of Danish heritage, invites you to ponder about roots and ancestry by exploring the edible botanical history of Aotearoa New Zealand afresh.

Learn how to ID native edible plants from their look, touch, taste and smell. Set yourself and your family up for a higher level of wellbeing by investing in your bushcraft skills and knowledge.

Part art installation, part cooking lesson, part nature walk, the Art of Foraging workshop explores new dimensions of wisdom, wonder and wellbeing in harmony with the natural seasons.

REVIEWS 

“Loved it! I think everyone should do it” - Sally Stockwell, Singer/Songwriter and Actress

 “Walking in the NZ bush will never be the same again!” - Dany Leong

“We were blown away by ‘The Art of Foraging’ walk. The tasting and smelling of various plants was a surprise and a treat! My wife, our son, and I came away with our eyes and hearts opened to the abundance and beauty of our land” - Leo H. and Martien J.

“I thought everything about the foraging walk was awesome” - Jennifer Spithill, Nutritionist and Health Coach  

“Mamakan led us on a beautiful, informative and uplifting walk through the grounds of the school bringing a variety of native plants and trees into respectful focus. The preparations made from flowers, foliage, and stems were exquisitely thought through and presented. I've been excited to have and pass on little bits of my learning already”- Michaela Hendry

“The Art of Foraging walk was a creative experience that both myself and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed. Mamakan's facilitation brought through a strong sense of reverence for beauty and connection for these plants and trees on the land. An experience of joy, wonder and magic that enabled us to enter into a deepening relationship and receive some of the gifts that these plants offer to us if we just allow the space and time” - Amanda 

“It felt like a very full experience that was well put together. The weaving of the Maori and Scandinavian mythologies was quite unique. I loved the thoughtful and artistic attention to detail in the presentation” - Susanne C.

"I came away feeling very grounded and in awe of the native plants, we live amongst. The smells and tastes we experienced were incredible. All beautiful magic potions!  The potential in what you are offering is very inspiring. I loved the way you introduced each plant, like a very special friend, full of respect and appreciation. Such openness to sharing your knowledge and encouraging others to share their own. A very welcoming sense of "homecoming" opportunity for all of us, new migrants, visitors, and residents. I will be recommending The Art of Foraging to many special people who I know you will enjoy the company of also" -  Renee Tanner

"Thank you sincerely for your work in gathering and sharing knowledge regarding foraging practices related to the plants of Aotearoa. This is valuable work and I wish you well in connecting with more people who have the knowledge to share; and those who can help further your vision/intentions regarding raising awareness regarding the unique and precious taonga of the sights, smells, tastes, and benefits of these plants. 

I feel that I have begun gathering a kete of knowledge today regarding the edible uses of Aotearoa plants and I shall enjoy sharing this knowledge with my family and friends; empowering my son in particular to explore the bush with all his senses and know what is safe to eat" -  Marie W.

"Thanks for the foraging workshop last weekend – we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and found the foraging information fascinating. We had only a basic understanding of some of the trees and which leaves we could eat and learned a lot. I wouldn’t change anything with the format it worked perfectly. We also  discussed re-booking later this year to sample a different season" - Chris, Kathy + Hannah

"We met on a brisk autumnal morning. After a welcoming warm tisane and meeting our fellow indoctrinates we began our introduction to foraging. The map didn’t do justice to the beautiful location even though the photos showed off the wonderful plants at their best. Mamakan, with the help of her daughters, managed to pass on an awful lot of useful information in our allocated time. It left us wanting to learn more and looking forward to a second course. Hopefully it can  be on just as beautiful a day" -  Ruawai Rakena & Moi Becroft

"I thoroughly recommend this experience to young and old. In fact, I felt embarrassed that it had taken me the best part of 50 years to seek out this fascinating and practical information which really enhances your connection with NZ flora. If we’re lucky enough to live in paradise the least we can do is make ourselves aware of the wonder that surrounds us!  I was lucky to be given this as a birthday gift. It’s truly the gift that will keep on giving now that my interest is piqued… and its also my number one option for gifts to friends. Thanks Mamakan for providing this wonderful insight" - Michael Hall

"The art of foraging is a wonderful experience that will stay with us for a long time. Learning about native plants and feeling connected to them was magical" - Jennifer Carter

"The foraging walk and tasting experience were well organised and beautifully presented. I loved learning more about our native plants and seeing them from a different perspective.  I really like how we were able to taste examples of how to use each plant as we walked around. One other thing that would have been handy would be some notes about how to make fermentation’s, pickles, or syrups. I think I remembered most of it but will look out for your future book as well!" - Mariano and Ella Meisel

"Mike and I absolutely loved our time with you and learning so much — an impactful awakening through the senses! The tasting sessions at the start and through the walk were wonderful and kudos to you for your many talents and generosity of spirit!  The botanical information and tasting the leaves themselves was also fabulous! The walk was perfect. I have recommended your foraging walks to several of my friends. Mike and I will definitely come again in another season or to another workshop / activity" - Nicola B

"It was great value for money and overall a wonderful experience. Lemonwood, hangehange and kumarahou were my favourites - Mostly because I had never thought of them before. I seriously was most impressed by the overlooked and very common hangehange" - Carly Black 

"Thank you very much for your experience it was well enjoyed and I learned a lot. I’m now regularly using a couple of plants from my garden and local bush in my cooking. I’m looking forward to attending another workshop in the future and interested in what summer offers" - Sam Jupe 

"Thanks for the very memorable afternoon. One of our lockdown projects will be to create a menu from the plants that we can find in the bush up behind our house in Hillsborough" - Tim Stirrup  

"It (Art of Foraging) reignited our commitment to honour our whenua in our kai x. A truly magical day!" - Taimi, Stew and Jimmie x

"A reinvigorating encounter that captivates all of the senses. This made me realise the great multitude of amazing multi-purposed native plants that surround us, whether they are at the local park or in the ancient national forests. The way that Mamakan teaches through storytelling and her own experiences, engages you within a world that is more connected to nature. A grounding experience to reset from the disconnectedness of the modern age" - Frasier Cho

“My time at Art of Foraging was transcendental. Connecting with the whenua via foraging created a new and fortified appreciation of our native species, which fed my wairua in a way that I needed. Mamakans’ knowledge and excitement were infectious and incredibly helpful. I highly recommend this course to everyone, it has changed my life. Thank you Mamakan” - Natalie Jean Rogers

"I just wanted to say thank you for such a wonderful experience on Saturday. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it was an elevated experience, and I'll be raving about it to our friends. There is a real gap in NZ for immersive experiences, so I really think you are on to something special." - David Butler-Smith

"Such a thoughtful and beautiful experience" - Devon Taylor

"I just loved it" - Tracy Berno