Miner's Lettuce and Chickweed on San Antonio Creek. Photo by Ben Grangereau
San Antonio Creek Herb Walk (Tucker’s Grove)
4800 Cathedral Oaks Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
USA
REGISTER
PLEASE NOTE: Due to exceptional demand, I have added a second walk from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in addition to the original walk from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thanks to the winter rain we’ve had so far, water has returned to San Antonio Creek along with Miner’s Lettuce and other native and non-native edible greens. I will lead two 3-hour Herb Walks there on Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 18, the first from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the second from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. On this walk, we will identify, demonstrate and discuss the many uses of wild plants by foragers, herbalists, and naturalists seeking out plants for food, first aid, home remedies, survival, crafts, ceremony and more. Poisonous plants will also be identified.
Trailside discussion will include humankind’s role in the ecological balance, sustainable harvesting, Chumash plant uses, and other topics generated by the participants. This slow-paced walk is suitable for hikers of all levels able to walk 2 miles round-trip and stand for periods of time.
“Herb Walks” originated in Santa Barbara in the early 1970’s, the creation of renowned herbalist William LeSassier who was living in the Montecito foothills at the time. I was a neighbor, friend and student of William and began leading my own Herb Walks around the Ojai Valley in 1976 after he moved east. I also studied with Juanita Centeno, the late Chumash plant expert — right here on the San Antonio Creek Trail — in the late ’70s.
The cost for each walk is $25 for adults or $20 for full-time students 13-17 and seniors 62-and-older. No pre-payment is required to register. Kids 5-12 can go free, one per adult, by prior arrangement. Toddlers must be in a carrier. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No smoking and no dogs, please, as they can transmit poison oak on their fur.
Register now by clicking below or by calling 805-646-6281. You also can return to this website any time and click on the event listing itself in the right sidebar on the homepage or click on the “Register for an Event” link under ABOUT in the top menu. There is no pre-payment required for this walk, just your promise to let us know if your plans change. Registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info about a week prior.
Photo: Ben Grangereau