Pine Needle Basketry

Jess Dort is the founder of Wild Element and a lifelong steward of the natural world. Before launching Wild Element, she built a career in community services, where she developed a deep appreciation for connection, support, and collective well-being. Those values now guide her mission to help others build a thriving relationship with both their communities and the natural landscapes around them. Her early fascination with plants, wildlife, and outdoor exploration grew into a pursuit of ecological knowledge and hands-on wilderness skills. Discovering foraging and wildcrafting transformed a personal interest into a meaningful vocation. After experiencing the flavors and bounty of Michigan’s native wild foods, Jess’s calling was firmly cemented in educating as many people as possible about the great gifts available to those who respectfully seek them. Today, Jess leads classes, walks, and workshops that empower participants to confidently identify, harvest, and appreciate wild plants. When she’s not teaching or exploring, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen, spending time with loved ones, or practicing ancestral crafts.