Raw pie? Really? But what about the uncontested, very best part of any pie—the flaky, browned, butter pastry crust hot from the oven? Surely this raw imposter couldn’t hold a candle to mom’s homemade loganberry pie, right? WRONG!

What’s the best way to learn anything? For me it’s all about DOING. We helped gather the groceries from the field and combined them for the main course.

The most surprising thing for me, I think, from that entire day was the sumptuous drink our hosts made out of common weeds from the yard.

This surprisingly delightful salad is made with what many consider to be a noxious and too-bountiful weed: purslane. Add to that the sweet/tart flavor of local wild-ish apricots and you have a gourmet delight.

The sour flavor of Oregon grape combines perfectly with the cooling effect of cucumber and the sweetness of the apples. If you do not have Oregon grape in your neighborhood, replace the berries with one lemon.