We had the good fortune of connecting with Cara-Lee Langston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cara-Lee, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. Most of my childhood was spent outdoors surrounded by the immense natural beauty of the Cape Floral Region. My parents are great nurturers who both worked in healthcare and always encouraged us to get outside. Almost every weekend they would pack my siblings and I up in their Volkswagen bus and take us on an adventure – to a nearby fishing village, a secret beach, a forest ravine trail. They instilled in me a deep connection to nature and compassion for all living things. We immigrated to the United States when I was 18 years old. I found myself in a completely unfamiliar botanical landscape and I was terribly homesick. I quickly learned that getting to know the flora and fauna of a place was as important as getting to know the people. In 2011, I met my mentor Patricia Kyritsi Howell, Director of the BotanoLogos School of Herbal Studies. She taught me all about the biodiversity, ethnobotany, herbal medicine, and traditional foodways of Southern Appalachia. Through her teachings, I found my healing place in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest; my new home. In 2016, my husband and I moved from Atlanta to the Northeast Georgia Mountains where we grow specialty crops, forest farm, and offer food and nature-based outdoor education programs for all ages.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Wildcraft Kitchen is a unique outfitter company that specializes in food and nature-based education. Our offerings include guided wild foods foraging tours, medicinal plant walks, mushroom forays, botanical property surveys, outdoor cooking experiences, herbalism workshops, and forest school programs. I am really proud to offer experiences that help people connect with nature and wellness and that foster stewardship through ethical wildcrafting.

Wildcraft Kitchen was originally a curriculum that I developed for my Master’s in Nutrition & Integrative Health thesis. It was designed to be a fun nutrition education tool particularly for kids. Manifesting Wildcraft Kitchen “the business” did come with some learning curves but I try to take each day as it comes. I would love to spend my days in the forest or the kitchen but I’ve learned that running a business means staying organized and on top of everything. I do it all – from leading outdoor trips, managing bookings, and bookkeeping to social media and website updates and I try to embrace every moment. Some days aren’t always easy but a few hours in the woods usually fixes that.

Authenticity, reciprocity, and stewardship are the major founding principles for Wildcraft Kitchen. When people think about food, I want them to immediately think about our environment. I want them to honor the indigenous people connected to that land and think about ways to be the best stewards of that land that they can possibly be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of my favorite greenspaces around the city are along the Beltline Trail, Piedmont Park, Kirkwood Urban Forest, Lake Claire Land Trust, Oakland Cemetery, Arabia Mountain Heritage Area, or Sweetwater Creek State Park. A picnic at one of these spots or bike ride along a trail is a great way to experience the “city in a forest.”

I’m a big fan of cultural foods so Papi’s Cuban, Desta Ethiopian, Lee’s Bakery, Tofu House, or just about anywhere on Buford Highway is on the top of my list. Favorites for local farm fare and great cocktails are Kimball House, Ticonderoga Club, Staplehouse, Miller Union, The Deer & The Dove, Little Bear, and Boccaluppo. I’m also always down for some Atlanta staples like Daddy D’z or Fox Brothers BBQ.

How about a trip to the Martin Luther King Center and historical tour through Old Fourth Ward? Afterwards, head on down to Lotta Frutta to pick up a delicious smoothie or fruit cup and then follow the Beltine from Krog Street to Ponce City Market.

You have to visit a local farmers market while you are in town and Ponce City Market, Decatur, Grant Park, East Atlanta, Oakhurst and Freedom Park are all great places to pick up fresh local produce and artisan goods. Support local y’all!

For a night out on the town, stroll through the East Atlanta Village to The Midway Pub, Argosy, or catch a show at 529 or The Earl.

When you get tired of the city, come visit us in our little town of Clayton, GA! You can knock out a couple of quick waterfall hikes to Angel Falls and Minnehaha Falls or Tallulah Gorge State Park. Feed the goats at Goats on the Roof. Taste local wine at Terra Incognita Vineyard, a remote outdoor recreation vineyard, at 2700 feet above Lake Rabun. Head to Downtown Clayton and visit the Wander North Georgia store. Have dinner at Fortify or Fortify Pi or the historic Clayton Cafe. Then head out to Chattooga Belle Farm or up to Black Rock Mountain, Georgia’s Highest State Park, to catch the sunset.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely stand on the shoulders of giants. I have been fortunate to learn from acclaimed herbalists such as Patricia Kyritsi Howell, Lorna Mauney Brodek, Mimi Hernandez, Bevin Clare, David Winston, Sevensong, Darryl Patton, and many others through the American Herbalists Guild. I am grateful for my program partners The Foxfire Museum & Heritage Center, Mainspring Conservation Trust, Elachee Nature Science Center, John C. Campbell Folk School, Terra Incognita Vineyard, and Alarka Expeditions who help to provide meaningful food and nature-based education programs for our community. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am without the love and support of my family and especially my husband, Keith, who has there for me every step of the way for the last 19 years.

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Website: www.wildcraftkitchenga.com

Instagram: wildcraft_kitchen

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wildcraftkitchenga

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