Meet Our Instructors
Mike Wood – Founder & Lead Instructor
Mike Wood is the founder of Wild Utah Edibles, an educational resource dedicated to helping people safely identify, harvest, and use the edible and medicinal plants of the American West. Since beginning guided wild plant tours in 2010, Mike has spent thousands of hours exploring Utah’s mountains, deserts, forests, and valleys, documenting native and naturalized species through photography, field research, and hands-on experience. His practical, easy-to-understand teaching style has helped thousands of students gain confidence in identifying wild plants while emphasizing safety, ethical harvesting, and environmental stewardship. Whether leading a beginner’s foraging walk or an in-depth medicinal plant workshop, Mike’s goal is to inspire a deeper appreciation for nature and empower others with the knowledge to responsibly enjoy the abundance of wild foods and medicines growing all around us.
Kayla Tucker
Kayla Tucker is a community herbalist, wildcrafter, and educator based in Tooele County who is passionate about helping others connect with the healing power of local plants. Through guided plant walks and hands-on instruction, she teaches students how to confidently identify, ethically harvest, and responsibly use the edible and medicinal plants found throughout Utah. As the owner of Elska Herbs, Kayla creates handcrafted herbal products and regularly shares her knowledge with the community at local farmers markets. Her approachable teaching style and enthusiasm for herbalism make her classes welcoming for beginners while offering valuable insights for experienced plant enthusiasts alike.
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Jason D. Hone
Jason Hone is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with nearly three decades of healthcare experience and a lifelong passion for primitive skills, wild plants, and outdoor education. Combining modern medical knowledge with traditional wilderness skills, he teaches students how to safely identify edible and medicinal plants while developing practical outdoor skills and a deeper appreciation for Utah’s natural landscapes.
Learning From People Who Live the Foraging Lifestyle
When I launched Wild Utah Edibles in 2010, my goal was simple: help people safely discover the incredible edible and medicinal plants growing throughout Utah. What began as a personal passion for exploring the outdoors has grown into thousands of hours spent studying, teaching, photographing, and sharing the plants that make our landscapes so unique.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of leading countless plant walks, workshops, and educational presentations. Along the way, I’ve also met some truly exceptional herbalists, foragers, naturalists, and educators who share the same commitment to accurate identification, ethical harvesting, and responsible use of wild plants.
Today, I’m excited to expand Wild Utah Edibles by welcoming additional instructors to our team.
More Locations. More Expertise. More Opportunities to Learn.
Each instructor has their own unique background, favorite habitats, and areas of expertise. Some specialize in medicinal herbs, others focus on edible plants, wildcrafting, local ecosystems, or regional plant identification.
By working with multiple instructors, we’re able to:
- Offer tours in more locations throughout Utah
- Provide additional class dates and scheduling flexibility
- Share a wider variety of knowledge and experience
- Connect students with instructors who know their local areas exceptionally well
Every instructor featured here has been selected because of their passion for education, respect for nature, and commitment to teaching safe, responsible foraging practices.
The Wild Utah Edibles Standard
Whether you join me or one of our instructors, you can expect the same core values that Wild Utah Edibles has promoted since 2010:
- Accurate plant identification
- Safety-first education
- Ethical and sustainable harvesting
- Respect for Utah’s wild landscapes
- Practical, hands-on learning in the field
Our goal isn’t simply to show you plants—it’s to help you build the confidence to recognize, understand, and appreciate them for years to come.
Find the Right Instructor for Your Adventure
Each instructor profile includes information about their experience, teaching style, service area, and available tours or classes.
Take a look through our instructor profiles and find the guide that’s the best fit for your next outdoor adventure. Whether you’re completely new to foraging or looking to deepen your knowledge of Utah’s native plants, we’re excited to help you learn.
We look forward to seeing you on the trail!