Botany Field Course for Herbalists: January – November 2027

In January of 2025, a longtime friend of mine and Herb Walks attendee asked if she could study plant identification with me to supplement her college class in Ecological Restoration. After we brainstormed how that might look, she created a draft of a course description, including duration, goals, cost of program, and a cost breakdown per student for 6 students. The course became a reality for 24 Monday mornings from January into November. Those students signed on for a second-year course in 2026 and I started a new beginning course on Tuesdays.

I’m now accepting inquiries from those interested in joining one of those two courses in 2027. They will continue to run on Monday and Tuesday mornings from January to November. The opening classes are on Monday and Tuesday, January 11 and January 12.

I’m also interested in hearing from interested students who may want to fill a space that may open up in one of those courses this year (2026). If you might be that student, please continue reading.

No previous knowledge is required for the beginning course. Some foraging experience or previous plant study is required for the advanced course. My use here of the words “for herbalists” in the course title is broad, along the lines of Merriam-Webster’s definition #2 of an herbalist: “a person who collects or grows herbs.” Most likely you already fit that definition.

Course Goals & Summary:

• Introduce a group of 6 students to edible and medicinal wild plants and their seasonal life cycles
• Develop skills in plant identification, botanical terminology, and ecological observation
• Track changes in plants over time at several sites for comparative learning
• Follow-up email after each class with plant list, notes, extra info, and links to custom resources available only to course students

Details:

• Schedule: 24 Tuesday classes from January 11-12 – November 15-16, 2027
• Duration: Each class 2.5 hours, approximately twice a month, start time of 10 a.m. in the colder months and 9 a.m. in the warmer months 
• Locations: Various trails in and around Ojai and Ventura
• Cost : $50 per student for each class ($1200 total for the year)
• Payment Schedule: Payments of $300 due 12 weeks apart on January 4, March 22, June 14, and September 6

Testimonials:

“This engaging, informative, and entertaining outdoor class is freeform, motivating, and encourages you to explore the world of medicinal and edible California native plants in greater depth. Lanny is enthusiastic and happy to share stories and his wide range of knowledge, while also promoting participation, questions, comments, and observations. If he doesn’t know something, he will find out. He loves learning from others and fosters group discussions and involvement. If you enjoy plants and nature, you’ll develop a greater appreciation and knowledge of how to identify plants correctly, while also gaining a new perspective on the plant world.” 
–Richard Flowers, California Certified Nursery Professional, Green Thumb Nursery

“Lanny Kaufer teaches with a rare reverence that transforms plants from specimens into living stories. Each leaf, flower, and root becomes part of a larger narrative of ecology and Indigenous wisdom, revealed through his thoughtful guidance. On guided walks through the shifting seasons, you’ll witness native plants grow, adapt, and endure – an experience that deepens your knowledge while restoring your sense of belonging to the land itself.”
– Tara Saylor, Upper Ojai Search & Rescue

“As the naturalist John Muir said, ‘In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.’ Perfect description of Lanny’s class! Did I mention, it’s fun as well!”
– Jeff Grimes, JeffGrimesPress.com

“Lanny’s Botany Field Course has been a journey into real relationship with local plants and ecosystems. I have lived in Ojai my entire life and have had a close connection to the plants and animals here, but it wasn’t until this class that all those little pieces of knowledge I had picked up over the years began to weave themselves together into more holistic patterns of wisdom. Lanny moves slowly and intentionally, and gives space for you to really get to know each plant on an intimate level. I have found a deeper appreciation for the world around me, a more profound respect for the process of learning in community, and an incredible expansion of confidence in my skills and understanding. If you have any interest in the plants and herbs of our local area; you owe it to yourself to learn from the guy who quite literally wrote the book on Medicinal Herbs of California!”
– Lauren Snyder, Lead Herbalist & Owner of Thimble & Seed

“It’s been almost a year of cruising around with Lanny Kaufer, asking: ‘Hey, Lanny, what’s that?’ What began as a 6-month class will continue into another year, at our request. The good news is, he loves it as much as we do, so he will start another group up in January. It’s a natural way to learn (no pun intended), just hanging out with someone talking about what they know and love, right in your own backyard. It’s more than learning to identify a plant, it’s also a deepening connection with place, and a satisfying way to start a Monday morning.”
– Alicia Morris, Lymphatic Therapist, Ayurvedic Health Counselor

REGISTRATION: Please contact me at lanny@herbwalks.com if you’re interested.

ABOUT LANNY KAUFER:

Lanny Kaufer has been leading Herb Walks and Nature Hikes in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties since 1976, educating thousands of locals and visitors on the flora of the area with a focus on herbs that can be used for food and medicine. As an herbal educator, Lanny also leads workshops and presentations throughout the Ojai-Ventura-Santa Barbara area on the edible and medicinal uses of California plants. He holds a degree in Biology from UC Santa Cruz, serves on the faculty of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University, Channel Islands.

Lanny is the author of Medicinal Herbs of California: A Field Guide to Common Healing Plants (Falcon Guides, 2021). Lanny hosts the Ojai Herbal Retreat and serves as chief consultant on medicinal plants for the Swimmer Medicinal Garden in Playa Vista and the Chumash Garden at Ojai Valley Museum.

You can find Lanny online at:
Website: HerbWalks.com
Instagram: @OjaiHerbal
Facebook: https://facebook.com/HerbWalks
Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/lanny-kaufer-8019b4a9