GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE IN ANY AMOUNT. FULLY TRANSFERABLE & NEVER EXPIRES, CAN BE APPLIED TO ANY EAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD EVENT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.

TEXT OR EMAIL DAVE ODD FOR DETAILS 847-409-8623 Oddproduce@hotmail.com

From your own yard to the deep wilderness, Eat the Neighborhood has foraging and wildlife tours available for private groups, meetup groups, team-building outings, singles events, classrooms, camp groups, scouts, etc. for all ages and experience levels. Dave Odd, Chicago's only full time professional forager, will often be your guide, but many other experts are available as well. Tours available throughout the Chicago Metro area and the greater Midwest.

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Eat the neighborhood public tours

Eat the Neighborhood public foraging tours are set up arbitrarily in different parks, neighborhoods, state parks, and towns throughout the greater Chicago and surrounding Midwest area throughout the growing season (April-October) and can be found on the Events page. Most tours consist of a 2 hour walk through a park or neighborhood where you will learn at least 50 different edible/medicinal wild plants/mushrooms usually within only a block or two radius. Some tours have a foraged meal with a local restaurant or chef after the walk. Some of the tours in state parks and wildlife areas are typically all day affairs, we essentially just keep on going until you want to tap out or until it gets dark. Some tours are in conjunction with libraries or nature centers and ticketing is typically handled through those institutions. If you are interested in having a public tour in your area, you can contact me directly to recommend a place and to be a co-host for the tour and essentially being the local ambassador to help spread the word. Just contact Dave via text 847-409-8623 or email oddproduce@hotmail.com .

FORAGE & FEAST AT THE LAND OF ODD

Forage and Feast will happen the first weekend of every month throughout the growing season at The Land of Odd in Beaverville IL. An immersive out of the frying pan and into the fire experience where we will explore the rural wilderness of the Kankakee Sands, foraging for plants and mushrooms while meeting the wildlife of the region along the way. Great fishing is also available. We then return to The Land of Odd with our finds to collectively prepare a communal meal of our spoils, cooked over an open fire. Outside of salt and oil every ingredient we use will be something we personally foraged or was grown, produced, farmed, or hunted in the local area.

You can come down just for the day, or camp out and spend the weekend (you can arrive Friday night if you’d like). Tents are available by request if you don’t have your own. There is a full bathroom with shower available for campers. The Land of Odd can also accommodate recreational vehicles. JUMP TO EVENTS FOR DATES

PRIVATE FORAGING TOURS

Private foraging tours and events are available for quite literally any group or occasion from family/friend groups that would like a guided hike, to corporate outings, to educational groups like classrooms/camps/scouts that want to learn more, meetup groups, customer appreciation events, even just individuals that would like a one on one experience. Tours can be right in your backyard or neighborhood or a destination of your choice. Chefs are even available for preparing foraged meals or cooking tutorials after the tour. Contact Dave Odd via text or email 847-409-8623 oddproduce@hotmail.com

LOCALLY SOURCED FORAGING COURSE

Now that Odd Produce Inc has made the full transition to Eat the Neighborhood Foraging Tours and Events, I no longer have the need to protect my trade secrets. Which means, I am now offering foraging tours and classes to chefs, restaurants, restaurant groups & their staffs as well as related industries. Anything from a one off walking tour session around the restaurant, to multiple classes throughout the growing season and field trips. On each tour I will identify over 50 species of plants and mushrooms and their uses.

The sessions can include as much of the staff that wants to come from any position within the company, and can be broken up to two or more sessions through the day for larger groups. Sessions can be scheduled for any day of the week. Packages include: 1 off session around the restaurant & neighborhood, 3 classes throughout the growing season (spring, summer, fall) within 20 mile radius of the restaurant, 7 classes (once a month April-October) within 20 mile radius of the restaurant with one of those (of your choice) that can be a field trip to a state park/natural area anywhere within a 100 mile drive or a foraging campout at The Land of Odd in Beaverville IL. Multiple tours can be scheduled in a single day to break up staff into groups, or bring in staff from multiple restaurants. Contact Dave to schedule and for additional info 847-409-8623

Intensive team building survival outings available at The Land of Odd in Beaverville IL as well.

NOW OFFERING SEASON PASSES for $400 (good for a full year)

Includes unlimited free access to any Odd Produce controlled public tour event (meals not included)
Access to all Forage & Feast events (meals included)
Half price for any of your guests
Half price for private tours for you and your friends/family
Half price for any Land of Odd events or rental (meals included)
Open access to text or email for ID requests or advice anytime
Good for a full calendar year
Contact Dave at 847-409-8623 to purchase for you or as a gift or email oddproduce@hotmail.com

If you are serious about foraging I recommend attending a tour at least once per season to learn about seasonality of different plants and mushrooms as well as their growing habits throughout the seasons.

COVID-19 GAME CHANGER

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic our society has been turned upside down. In times like these, learning the skills to forage for food and medicine is more important than ever. Food security and the collapse of supply chains is a looming threat and even learning 5-10 edible/medicinal wild plants/mushrooms can be lifesaving knowledge. Now more than ever is a great time to learn about foraging, because when all other resources run out, knowledge never will.


For pricing and info please contact Dave Odd by phone or text at 847-409-8623

Anything from the most basic level foraging tour starting in your own backyard and perusing the surrounding blocks, to all day/weekend survival camps out in the wilderness at The Land of Odd in Iroquois County IL, where we only eat what we can forage and catch, we have a program to fit your needs. On any given tour, you are guaranteed to learn about at least 40 edible or medicinal plants.

Pricing for tours is factored on a per case basis,  sliding scale rates are available for educational institutions, and free tours for low income families and neighborhoods can be arranged. Regularly scheduled events are available for anyone to join or sign up, check Events page for details.

Odd Produce works with over 75 Chicago area restaurants and we can schedule foraging and dinner events paired with some of the restaurants that we work with. The tour will be followed by a meal at a host restaurant incorporating what was seen on the tour. Foraged meals can range anywhere from $20 to $100+ per person depending on the restaurant/chef and involvement of the meal and wine pairings and such. 

Foraging tours can be arranged for any neighborhood in any area throughout Chicagoland and even anywhere in the Midwest. The Land of Odd in Iroquois County IL just 70 miles south of the city nestled smack dab in the middle of the highest quality sand prairie in the Midwest is now open for campouts and events. It includes a nature lodge, campground with water/modern amenities/electric (supplied entirely by renewables), a fully stocked pantry and kitchen, even a dishwasher and washer/dryer, an extensive garden, a wood fired grill, an extensive natural history library, and hundreds of acres of vacant and state land to explore with amazing hunting and fishing opportunities in walking distance. It is available for overnight campouts, corporate team building outings, educational groups, to both private and public groups and even available for rent.

Our tours in wild areas will often include getting up close and personal with wildlife as well, as Dave's first love of nature was with insects, reptiles, and amphibians. He also has a history with haunted places so there may be some spooky places to visit nearby and stories to hear.

Not in or near Chicago but still want to get in on the fun? Dave or any of our other nature experts can come out to you and arrange a foraging event anywhere in the country. Just inquire.

Group rates and discount on all walking tours for students, military, and seniors. Low or no cost walking tours for low income individuals and families. Group rates available as well.

Call or text 847-409-8623 or email oddproduce@hotmail.com to inquire or schedule a tour or event and check the events page for events that are open to the public.