Organizer Nicole Carman is a genius. This event brought 182 participants to Mt. Pisgah State Park to participate in events ranging from kayaking and horseback riding to firearms, ATV safety, and wild game cooking.
If you can do it in the outdoors, there was someone to teach you how in a mini-workshop. I learned about WITO from my friend, Bird Lady, who attended as a participant this year, rather than a presenter.
We took knot tying, firearms, wild game cooking and gardening basics.
I’d never held a gun. It’s a lot like a camera, only heavier. My aim is excellent with a rifle, good with a shotgun and pretty dismal with a muzzle -loaded pistol. With all the emotional energy our nation invests in firearms, it’s too bad people don’t learn about safety and use the way I did.
Bird Lady teased me for only eating fruit and home-made ice cream at lunch, given the banquet spread before us. I walked by the fresh corn, glorious salads and meat dishes with mouth-watering aroma with great difficulty.
We both knew I made the right decision when we got to the wild game cooking class. I learned that wild meat does not have to taste “gamey.” Simply remove the fat and the bones from the meat. We sampled moose and caribou roasts which our instructor had marinated and cooked slowly in a crock pot. We poked cubes of marinated venison into a fondue pot with hot oil. We breaded and fried cubes of elk marinated in Dijon mustard and wild turkey dipped in seasoned flour. We sampled venison meatballs and venison hot dogs.
I also learned that we can freeze marinated meat. As we waddled out of there, I thought about how much harder it would have been to catch and preserve this delicious food had I been equipped only with a muzzle loader or bow and arrow.
Bird Lady and I agreed that even though we understand basic gardening, you can always learn something from a presenter you don’t know. Many gardeners encourage nurturing native plants, avoiding invasives and approaching gardens as habitats for wildlife. I was astounded at the number of plants that can be used as natural dyes.
I wish I had brought along my copy of The Forager’s Harvest. The discussion of milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) came up. I mentioned the similarity of dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) and no handy field guide included dogbane. We toured the park gardens, sampling one milkweed pod. It was fun to see the looks on people’s faces when they tasted the immature seeds.
We got to a few exhibits, including a beekeeper and a wildlife wood carver during the lunch break. Otherwise the entire day was busy, but never rushed.
We didn’t stay for the silent auction or door prizes, opting instead to head back in time for me to harvest fresh tomatoes, cabbage, onions, and herbs from Bird Lady’s garden. Bird Lady didn’t want me to feel I missed something, so she gifted me two original watercolors. She had donated artwork to support the WITO fundraisers.
Bird Lady is a blessing; she’s a friend and a mentor. I would not have known about this program, or met Nicole - who is just as impressive.
I’m still digging through the contents of my goody bag. This is a sturdy canvas bag with handles. Inside, I found the usual trinkets and coupons, as well as copies of high-quality publications.
My idea of a successful event is whether I’m drained or energized at the end of the program. I’m energized - and awed. Nicole must be a networking genius weaving 96 donors of supplies and services, not to mention 75 prize donors.
I’m equally impressed by the attendees. I saw people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, people in wheelchairs, teenagers, grandmothers, mothers with their daughters; I wanted to find out how far everyone had traveled. Apparently this event started seven years ago, with 40 women. Clearly it was built on a solid foundation. I could find no flaw - excellent signage, no injuries, no waiting at the bathrooms, no unemptied garbage pails, and not one frown on any face.
If there’s an academy awards for events, this one is a true winner. I am already planning to attend next year.