Forest to Table: A Unique Dining and Educational Experience

The third annual Forest to Table strolling dinner event was recently held at the Johnson Nature Center, where guests enjoyed a variety of beautiful scenery, joyful entertainment, local beverages, and tasty dishes curated specifically for this event.

Alan Jaros, Director of the Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center, expressed to the guests how his experiences at Bowers and the JNC as a young person shaped his passion for these incredible spaces in our school district.  “As a student and graduate of BHS, I remember coming here. It shaped me into the conservationist I am today.” Jaros reminded guests that this space, traditionally used as part of the instructional programming at BHS, would be turned over to the adults for the evening for a different kind of learning experience.

Chefs Chris Gadulka from local restaurant Sylvan Table and Johnny Prepolec from Alchemi in Royal Oak designed a menu to include native, sustainable, seasonal, and invasive species, both plant and animal, in order to show guests how oftentimes the things we look to get rid of can actually be eaten and enjoyed. In the words of Chef Johnny, “The concept of eating invasive species is just a fantastic strategy.” Chef Chris added, “The things we spray for and kill to get those amazing lawns actually have tremendous flavor and nutrients.”

Stephanie Potier, BHS Middle School French teacher and avid JNC guide, was stationed at a table offering sweet tastes of maple cream. Potier explained, “My father‘s first job was in the Sugarbush making maple syrup in Ontario, Canada, so when I moved to the area and started working for our school district, I decided I needed to be in the Sugarbush as well.”

Zach Mork, one of the instructional guides at the JNC, was stationed along the path with a display about water quality and pollution, a topic covered in the fifth grade science curriculum. Mork demonstrated how one rainfall can affect an entire community.

Cass Arsenault, Lead Interpretive Naturalist at the JNC, led activities along the stroll, such as the extensive challenge of building with nature.

Thank you to the Friends of the JNC, especially Erin Watson, Paulina Hakopian, and Mihaela Cobb, for your time, efforts, and love of nature to create such a magical evening. The event was a complete success, raising funds for the JNC, and awareness of our lands and natural resources.