(Canastota, NY – Jan. 2014) The Great Swamp Conservancy’s annual membership meeting will be held Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. at the Canastota Library, at the corner of Main and Center streets. There will be the yearly election of officers, presentation of the annual budget, a year in review and the goals set for 2014.

Following the business meeting will be an entertaining presentation by author, teacher and wild edibles expert, William Chapman.  Currently a teacher at West Canada and an adjunct at Mohawk Valley Community College Chapman has written 10 books about nature including “Birds of the Adirondacks,” “Wild Flowers of the Northeast,” “Orchids of the Northeast” and Plants and Flowers of the World.”  His first book “Hickory, Chicory and Dock,” long out of print has been recently revised and will be reprinted soon.

Chapman began college at Corning Community College, earning an AAS degree, he went on to obtain his Masters at SUNY Oneonta. HE has extended his education at Empire State College, Syracuse University and Utica College. He has taught wild food courses at MVCC and Utica College. He is currently teaching at West Canada High School and is an adjunct at MVCC.