Ojai & Southern California Herb Walks with Lanny Kaufer

Fall Harvesting & Survival Workshop with Christopher Nyerges
2020-11-07 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Euterpe Farms, 587 S. Rice Rd., Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
Christopher demonstrating primitive firemaking at a previous Ojai workshop. Photo: Lanny Kaufer
Please note: This event is full but please register for the waiting list as there may be cancellations.

UPDATE (11/4/20): We are considering scheduling another workshop on Saturday, November 14, but only if there is enough interest. If you are interested in attending on that day, please email register@herbwalks.com ASAP.

REGISTER
Join me and renowned author/forager/survivalist Christopher Nyerges on Saturday, November 7, in Ojai for an outdoor Fall Harvesting and Survival Workshop.
Participants will:

learn to identify edible and medicinal plants
practice making cordage from yucca leaves, and
process acorns and black walnuts for eating.

Conditions permitting, Christopher will demonstrate starting a campfire using only natural plant materials. There may be other activities, depending on seasonal foods and supplies available.
The workshop will begin with a morning herb walk among the native plants on the fringes of Euterpe Farms, bordering the Ventura River Preserve. The afternoon workshop will take place under an oak tree. Everyone will have a chance to participate.
The following COVID-19 safeguards will be in place unless conditions and state requirements change by then:

Attendance will be limited to 20 participants.
Those with flu-like symptoms will be asked to remain at home.
Temperatures will be checked upon arrival.
Everyone will be required to wear a mask or face covering and observe 6 feet of physical distancing.

Christopher Nyerges is an author, forager, survivalist and ethnobotanist with a lifelong interest in how native peoples lived off the land. He has been teaching classes and leading field trips since 1974 to over 40,000 students. Nyerges has authored nearly two dozen books, including Foraging California, Guide to Wild Foods, Nuts and Berries of California, How to Survive Anywhere, Extreme Simplicity, and many others. He most recently was the editor of American Survival Guide magazine, and served as editor of Wilderness Way magazine for 7 years. He has written several thousand newspaper and magazine articles in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly, Whole Life Times, Countryside, Mother Earth News, Acres USA, American Survival Guide, and others.
Nyerges has appeared on the late Huell Howser’s public television series, KCET’s “Life and Times,” and National Geographic’s “Doomsday Preppers.” For two years, he appeared on Fox TV’s “X Show,” where he demonstrated survival skills on the streets of Los Angeles. He currently serves as a consultant to the “Naked and Afraid” show on Discovery. Christopher Nyerges’ web site is at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.
Please note: This workshop will go on RAIN OR SHINE with the exception of a heavy downpour in the morning and/or a 100% chance of heavy rain that day. No dogs or smoking, please.
Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the workshop. They also will receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants identified and recipes. No dogs or smoking, please.
REGISTRATION INFO:
The cost for the workshop, including all materials, is $85 for adults and $45 for children under 18, one child per adult.
Please note: This event is full at this time. Please register anyway for the waiting list as there usually are cancellations. I always try to fill them and issue a refund if I’m successful.
REGISTER

Halloween Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk
2020-10-31 17:00 - 20:00 | Shelf Road Trailhead at top of N. Signal St., 1300 N. Signal St., Ojai, CA, 93023
Siegfried and the Rhine Maidens by Albert Pinkham Ryder (1891)
PLEASE NOTE: This event is full. Please use the REGISTER links at the top or bottom of this page to join the waiting list.
REGISTER
On Saturday evening, October 31, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., I’ll lead a Halloween Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous sunset and moonrise. The sun will set and the full moon will rise at about 6:30 p.m., giving us a perfect window of time to take it all in. Attendance will be limited to 12 participants, temperatures checked on arrival, face coverings will be required, and we will maintain 6 feet of physical distance at all times. Anyone with possible COVID-19 symptoms is asked stay home and a refund will be issued if you notify me of COVID-19 related cancellation prior to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. See regular cancellation policy below.
Note: The moon will be officially full at 7:49 a.m. on Saturday so it will appear full on both Friday and Saturday nights. This will be the second full moon in October, making it a “blue moon.”
We’ll meet at the Shelf Road trailhead at the top of N. Signal Street between 4:45 and 5:00 p.m. Then we’ll gradually walk about 1.25 miles to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable edible and medicinal plants, which may include:
Coastal Sagebrush
Toyon
Black Walnut
Prickly-Pear
Purple Sage and
Hollyleaf Cherry
After witnessing the sunset and moonrise, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the trailhead between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION INFO:
The cost for the walk is $25. Please use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to sign up before securing your space with the PayPal button (including $1 fee) or personal check. Once your registration is accepted, you will receive instructions to mail a check if you prefer not to use PayPal. Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the walk. Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or chance of thunderstorms will cancel. Participants will also receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. No dogs or smoking, please.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Paid reservations are refundable up to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 28. After that, if I receive your cancellation with enough time to fill your space you will receive a refund. After that I will try my best to fill your space but cannot guarantee a refund. The exception is that I will refund you up to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, if you cancel due to COVID-19 diagnosis or symptoms.
PLEASE NOTE: This event is full. Please use the REGISTER links at the top or bottom of this page to join the waiting list.
REGISTER

Blue Moon Sunset Herb Walk
2020-10-30 16:30 - 19:30 | Shelf Road Trailhead at top of N. Signal St., 1300 N. Signal St., Ojai, CA, 93023
Photo of full moon over Topa Topa Bluffs by Lanny Kaufer (with color adjustment help from Apple Photos software)
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Please note: This event filled up today (October 8). Please register anyway for the waiting list as there are usually cancellations. I always try to fill them and issue a refund if I’m successful.
On Friday evening, October 30, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., I’ll lead a Blue Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous sunset and moonrise. The sun will set and the full moon will rise at about 6:00 p.m., giving us a perfect window of time to take it all in. Attendance will be limited to 12 participants, temperatures checked on arrival, face coverings will be required, and we will maintain 6 feet of physical distance at all times. Anyone with possible COVID-19 symptoms is asked stay home and a refund will be issued if you notify me of cancellation prior to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 30.
Note: The moon will be full at 7:49 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, making the evening of October 30 the closest time to the actual full moon, as well as an earlier, more convenient time in the evening to see it. This will be the second full moon in October, making it a “blue moon.” Contrary to the image above, this moon will not look any bluer than other moons.
We’ll meet at the Shelf Road trailhead at the top of N. Signal Street between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m. Then we’ll gradually walk about 1.25 miles to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable edible and medicinal plants, including:
Coastal Sagebrush
Toyon
Black Walnut
Prickly-Pear
Purple Sage and
Hollyleaf Cherry
After witnessing the sunset and moonrise, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the trailhead between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION INFO:
The cost for the walk is $25. Please use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to sign up before completing your payment with the PayPal button or personal check to secure your space. Once you register you will receive instructions to mail a check if you prefer not to use PayPal. Paid reservations are refundable up to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 27. After that, if I receive your cancellation with enough time to fill your space you will receive a refund.
Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the walk. Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or chance of thunderstorms will cancel. Participants will also receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. No dogs or smoking, please.
Please note: This event filled up today (October 8). Please register anyway for the waiting list as there are usually cancellations. I always try to fill them and issue a refund if I’m successful.
REGISTER

Fall Medicinal Plant Workshop with Professor Emeritus James Adams of USC School of Pharmacy
2020-10-17 10:00 - 15:00 | Euterpe Farms “tienda”, 587 S. Rice Road, Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
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Please note: This event filled up today (October 6) when the newsletter went out. Please register anyway for the waiting list as there are usually cancellations. I always try to fill them and issue a refund if I’m successful.

Due to COVID-19, we are limiting the number of participants and holding the entire event outdoors. Everyone will have their forehead temperature checked on arrival, wear a facial covering, and maintain 6 feet of physical distance.

Please join me and special guest Professor Emeritus James Adams of USC School of Pharmacy for a Fall Medicinal Plant Workshop in Ojai on Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dr. Adams has been a frequent and popular contributor to my events for the past seven years. This workshop is based on his ground-breaking pharmacological studies on local native plants and his personal commitment to sharing the traditional medicinal practices he learned from Chumash healer Cecilia Garcia. He will be joined by plant educator Enrique Villasenor and acupuncturist Michelle Wong, co-authors of Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West: Cultural and Scientific Basis for Their Use.

The workshop will be held at Euterpe Farms, bordering the Ventura River Preserve. The morning outing from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will be a slow-paced walk identifying and discussing local medicinal plants. It will involve stopping for discussion for periods of time. A lightweight campstool could be useful for those uncomfortable standing.
Left to right, co-presenters Enrique Villaseñor, Jim Adams, and Michelle Wong introducing the Summer 2020 Medicinal Plant Workshop at Euterpe Farms in Ojai.

After a half-hour lunch break, the afternoon hands-on session from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. will take place in the shade of a giant live oak. The focus will be on preparing seasonal edible and medicinal products for winter health from wild foraged plant material. Plant preparations onsite may include, among others:

Yerba Santa tea and steam inhalation
Acorn dish
Wild California buckwheat pancakes
Gordolobo tea
Datura hand soak
Black sage foot soak
Black walnuts
Prickly Pear fruits

At 3:00 p.m. Dr. Adams will sign copies of his books. After the workshop, participants will receive a complete list of all plants that are identified and/or utilized as well as recipes and other info.

ABOUT JAMES ADAMS, PH.D:
Dr. Adams brings to Ojai a wealth of scientific knowledge and field experience as well as a singular perspective on herbal medicine. As he tells it, “My family came to Virginia in 1635 and has always survived by using American Indian healing. On the frontier, there were no doctors. American Indian healing was better than European medicine anyway. I continue this tradition.”

Now retired from active teaching and enjoying his new status as Professor Emeritus, Dr. Adams taught pharmacy students, medical students, doctors and other healthcare professionals for over 25 years at USC while researching the natural pharmaceutical compounds in native plants. He has over 200 publications.

Running parallel with his academic career, Dr. Adams has worked with the Chumash people since 1998 and studied Chumash healing with Cecilia Garcia for almost 15 years. They wrote a book and 30 journal articles together. Jim is now the carrier of the healing knowledge passed to him by his teacher.

Dr. Adams is the co-author, with Michelle Wong and Enrique Villaseñor, of the fourth edition of the groundbreaking book, Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West: Cultural and Scientific Basis for Their Use. The cultural portion is based on the teachings of Cecilia Garcia and the scientific portion on Dr. Adams’ laboratory studies. It can be purchased beforehand at that link and will also be available for purchase and signing at the event.

“Humans have used plant medicines ever since humans came into existence, about 200,000 years ago,” Dr. Adams explains in Healing with Medicinal Plants. “That means that our ancestors experienced an intense natural selection. Those who responded to plant medicines survived and passed their genes on. We are the products of this natural selection. Our bodies are designed to respond to plant medicines.”

Here is an excellent 2017 article about Dr. Adams from USCStorySpace.com: “A Scientist’s Calling to Practice Chumash Healing.”

Please note: This workshop will go on RAIN OR SHINE with the exception of a heavy downpour in the morning and/or a 100% chance of heavy rain that day. No dogs or smoking, please.

The cost for the Fall Medicinal Plant Workshop is $85, including all materials for preparing plant medicines. A limited number of scholarships for pharmacy, medical, and herbal medicine students are available.

Please note: This event filled up today (October 6) when the newsletter went out. Please register anyway for the waiting list as there are usually cancellations. I always try to fill them and issue a refund if I’m successful.
REGISTER

Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk
2020-09-30 17:00 - 20:00 | Shelf Road Trailhead at top of N. Signal St., 1300 N. Signal St., Ojai, CA, 93023
Photo: Samantha Hoapili

Please note: This event is full. Please use the REGISTER link below to sign up for the waiting list. It’s not unusual for there to be cancellations. I keep track of date and time of additions to the list and fill spaces accordingly. There is another walk scheduled on Friday, October 30, for the October blue moon. Visit this link to sign up for that one while spaces are still open.
REGISTER
On Wednesday evening, September 30, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., I’ll lead a Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous sunset and moonrise. The sun will set at about 6:30 p.m. and the full moon will rise at about 6:45 p.m., giving us a perfect window of time to take it all in. Attendance will be limited to 12 participants, temperatures checked on arrival, face coverings will be required, and we will maintain 6 feet of physical distance at all times. Anyone with possible COVID-19 symptoms is asked stay home and a refund will be issued if you notify me of cancellation prior to 5:00 p.m. There will be no onsite book sales but I will offer free shipping for online orders of $25 or more for participants at this walk.
Note: The moon is full at 12:33 a.m. on October 1, making the evening of September 30 the closest time to the actual full moon, as well as an earlier, more convenient time to see it.
We’ll meet at the Shelf Road trailhead at the top of N. Signal Street between 4:45 and 5:00 p.m. If you can’t make it right at 5:00 due to work schedule just let me know and we will arrange for you to meet us where will circle up near the trailhead. Then we’ll gradually walk about 1.25 miles to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable edible and medicinal plants, including:
Coastal Sagebrush
Toyon
Black Walnut
Prickly-Pear
Elderberry
Purple Sage and
Hollyleaf Cherry
After witnessing the sunset and moonrise, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the trailhead between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION INFO:
The cost for the walk is $25. Please use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to sign up before completing your payment with the PayPal button to secure your space. Once you register you will receive instructions to mail a check if you prefer not to use PayPal. Paid reservations are refundable up to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 29. After that, if I receive your cancellation with enough time to fill your space you will receive a refund.
Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the walk. Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or chance of thunderstorms will cancel. Participants will also receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. No dogs or smoking, please.
Please note: This event is full. Please use the REGISTER link below to sign up for the waiting list. It’s not unusual for there to be cancellations. I keep track of date and time of additions to the waiting list and fill spaces accordingly. There is another walk scheduled on Friday, October 30, for the October blue moon. Visit this link to sign up for that one while spaces are still open.
REGISTER

Fall Equinox Nature Hike on Pine Mountain
2020-09-26 08:30 - 16:00 | Maricopa Plaza for caravan to trailhead, 1207 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
Mixed conifer forest at sunset near Reyes Peak. Photo: Bryant Baker
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HIKE POSTPONED: The closure of the Los Padres National Forest for fire prevention has been extended to October 1 so this hike is postponed. I plan to reschedule it for Saturday, October 10, if the forest is opened again on October 2. Please use the REGISTER button above to be notified if the October 10 hike is going on.
FYI: Following COVID-19 guidelines as of July 1, 2020, I am limiting participants to 12. We will caravan instead of the usual carpool. Also, all participants must be symptom-free, have their forehead temperature taken on arrival, wear a face covering, and maintain 6 feet of physical distance.
Sugar pine cones (Pinus lambertiana). Photo: Lanny Kaufer
On Saturday, September 26, 2020, I will lead my 8th annual Fall Equinox Nature Hike in the peaceful Mixed Conifer Forest on the “sky island” known as Pine Mountain (elevation: 7000 feet) at the time of year when the pine nuts are dropping. I promise that first time visitors to this area will be surprised and delighted to find a thick forest of pines, fir and incense-cedar so close to the Ventura coast.
According to Craig Carey, author of Hiking and Backpacking Santa Barbara and Ventura, the Reyes Peak Trail along the northern slope of the peak is “quite simply one of the most beautiful stretches in the southern Los Padres.”
Biogeographers include Pine Mountain in a select group of “sky islands,” defined as isolated mountains surrounded by radically different lowland environments. We can expect to see several high altitude plants and trees like White Fir and Sugar Pine more commonly found in the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Weather and marine layer permitting, we will have panoramic views of the Cuyama Valley to the north and the Channel Islands to the south.
Rondia and friends enjoying lunch. Photo: Chris Kudelka
The outing will start at 8:30 a.m. with a car caravan of about 35 miles up Highway 33 from the Maricopa Plaza, (1207 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA 93023) to the Reyes Peak trailhead. The final 5.5 miles are on a narrow, winding paved road and the very last half-mile is dirt. Trucks or SUV’s are preferred for the last stretch but most passenger cars with high clearance can also make the drive.
Lanny examines the needles of a White Fir sapling on the Reyes Peak Trail. Photo: John Griffith
We will start walking into the Sespe Wilderness from the trailhead (where there is a restroom) at about 10:00 a.m., stop for lunch (not provided) in the forest, and return to the trailhead by about 3:00 p.m., arriving back at the Maricopa Plaza by about 4:00 p.m. We will hike on a well-used trail through mixed conifer forest habitat, stopping often to identify and discuss native plants, birds and wildlife.
This intermediate level hike is suitable for moderately experienced hikers or physically fit beginners. There will be some elevation gain and loss skirting the north side of Reyes Peak, sometimes traversing hillsides on a narrow trail. The total hiking distance will be about 3 miles. PLEASE NOTE: Those with respiratory or circulatory issues possibly affected by altitude should consult with a physician before attempting this hike.
View of the Channel Islands from Reyes Peak. Photo: Erika Klohe
This hike is another in a series of backcountry walks and hikes under an Operating Permit from the Ojai Ranger District Office of the U.S. Forest Service designed for guides who provide recreational and interpretive services to the public. After the hike participants will receive a detailed follow-up email including a list of all plants identified.
PLEASE NOTE: Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or thunderstorms will. Once you register you will receive weather updates.
The cost is $45. Senior and student discounts available upon request. Kids 5-12 can go free, one per adult, pending request and approval. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No dogs or smoking, please.
HIKE POSTPONED: The closure of the Los Padres National Forest for fire prevention has been extended to October 1 so this hike is postponed. I plan to reschedule it for Saturday, October 10, if the forest is opened again on October 2. Please use the REGISTER button below to be notified if the October 10 hike is going on.
REGISTER

View north of the Cuyama Valley from Pine Mountain
Photo: Enrique Villaseñor

Arroyo Hondo Preserve Herb Walk
2020-09-05 09:30 - 12:30 | Arroyo Hondo Preserve, Gaviota, CA, United States
REGISTER
Please note: this event is currently full. Use the REGISTER link at top of bottom of this page to be added to the waiting list. There is a good chance someone will cancel and you will be able to attend.
This place is amazing! The ocean is just across the highway and the lushness of the landscape and sheer diversity of plants and plant communities at the Preserve are exceptional.
In the creekside riparian habitat we’ll see an array of Southern California native trees, including White Alder, California Bay, Blue Elderberry, Bigleaf Maple, and Coast Live Oak. Under their canopy we’ll look for shade-loving natives like Gooseberry, Mugwort, and Hummingbird Sage.
The “Padre Pear” tree, planted in 1820 and still bearing fruit! Photo: Robin Kent
In the sunnier sage scrub and chaparral areas, native Toyon, Black Sage, Coastal Sagebrush, Prickly-Pear, Lemonade Berry, and “Mountain-Lilac” (Ceanothus) are thriving. The Preserve is also home to numerous birds and other wildlife.
We’ll gather by the barn on Saturday, September 5, at 9:30 a.m. After some easy walking, identifying plants, sampling their scents and tastes, and discussing their uses, we’ll stop by the creek at Hollister Meadow for a snack break. We’ll make our way back to the barn by 12:30 p.m. or thereabouts when I’ll break out my curated mobile bookstore.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, I have made some changes from previous walks, in effect until further notice:

Attendance will be limited to 12 participants.
Those with flu-like symptoms will be asked to remain at home.
Temperatures will be checked upon arrival.
Everyone will be required to wear a mask or face covering and observe 6 feet of physical distancing.

No dogs or smoking, please.
The cost for the walk is $35. The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County also requests a suggested $5 donation at the site to cover stewardship of the land. Please be sure to use the REGISTER link below before clicking on the PayPal button to complete payment and secure your space. Note: Online payment includes PayPal fee. To avoid that, you may mail a check. Please note that when you register and instructions will be emailed.
Please note: this event is currently full. Use the REGISTER link at top of bottom of this page to be added to the waiting list. There is a good chance someone will cancel and you will be able to attend.
REGISTER

September Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk
2020-09-01 18:00 - 20:30 | Shelf Road Trailhead at top of N. Signal St., 1300 N. Signal St., Ojai, CA, 93023
Ojai Full Moon Photo: Joe P. Powers

Please note: This event filled up quickly. There is another walk just like this one on Wednesday, September 30. It’s also full. Please visit Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk on Wednesday, September 30 to sign up for the waiting list for that one or use the REGISTER link below to sign up for the waiting list for September 1.
REGISTER
On Tuesday evening, September 1, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., I’ll lead a Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous moonrise and sunset. The full moon will rise at about 7:30 p.m. and the sun will set at the same time, giving us a perfect window of time to take it all in. Attendance will be limited to 12 participants, temperatures checked on arrival, face coverings will be required, and we will maintain 6 feet of physical distance at all times. Anyone with possible COVID-19 symptoms is asked stay home and a refund will be issued if you notify me of cancellation prior to 6:00 p.m. There will be no onsite book sales but I will offer free shipping for online orders of $25 or more for participants at this walk.
We’ll meet at the Shelf Road trailhead at the top of N. Signal Street between 5:45 and 6:00 p.m. Then we’ll gradually walk about 1.25 miles to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable edible and medicinal plants, including:
Coastal Sagebrush
Toyon
Black Walnut
Prickly-Pear
Elderberry
Purple Sage and
Hollyleaf Cherry
After witnessing the rising of the moonrise and sunset, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the trailhead by approximately 8:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION INFO:
The cost for the walk is $25. Please use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to sign up before completing your payment with the PayPal button to secure your space. Once you register you will receive instructions to mail a check if you prefer not to use PayPal. Paid reservations are refundable up to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 29. After that, if I receive your cancellation with enough time to fill your space you will receive a refund.
Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the walk. Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or chance of thunderstorms will cancel. Participants will also receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. No dogs or smoking, please.
Please note: This event filled up quickly. There is another walk just like this one on Wednesday, September 30. It’s also full. Please visit Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk on Wednesday, September 30 to sign up for the waiting list for that one or use the REGISTER link below to sign up for the waiting list for September 1.
REGISTER

Arroyo Hondo Preserve Herb Walk
2020-08-15 09:30 - 12:30 | Arroyo Hondo Preserve, Gaviota, CA, United States
REGISTER
Please note: This walk is full. I scheduled another morning walk here on Saturday, September 5. Please visit this link to sign up for it or let me know at register@herbwalks.com if you would like to be added to the waiting list for August 15.
This place is amazing! The ocean is just across the highway and the lushness of the landscape and sheer diversity of plants and plant communities at the Preserve are exceptional.
In the creekside riparian habitat we’ll see an array of Southern California native trees, including White Alder, California Bay, Blue Elderberry, Bigleaf Maple, and Coast Live Oak. Under their canopy we’ll look for shade-loving natives like Gooseberry, Mugwort, and Hummingbird Sage.
The “Padre Pear” tree, planted in 1820 and still bearing fruit! Photo: Robin Kent
In the sunnier sage scrub and chaparral areas, native Toyon, Black Sage, Coastal Sagebrush, Prickly-Pear, Lemonade Berry, and “Mountain-Lilac” (Ceanothus) are thriving. The Preserve is also home to numerous birds and other wildlife.
We’ll gather by the barn at 9:30 a.m. After some easy walking, identifying plants, sampling their scents and tastes, and discussing their uses, we’ll stop by the creek at Hollister Meadow for a snack break. We’ll make our way back to the barn by 12:30 p.m. or thereabouts when I’ll break out my curated mobile bookstore.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, I have made some changes from previous walks, in effect until further notice:

Attendance will be limited to 12 participants.
Those with flu-like symptoms will be asked to remain at home.
Temperatures will be checked upon arrival.
Everyone will be required to wear a mask or face covering and observe 6 feet of physical distancing.

No dogs or smoking, please.
The cost for the walk is $35. The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County also requests a suggested $5 donation at the site to cover stewardship of the land.
Please note: This walk is full. I scheduled another morning walk here on Saturday, September 5. Please visit this link to sign up for it or let me know at register@herbwalks.com if you would like to be added to the waiting list for August 15.
REGISTER

Seaside Wilderness Park Herb Walk
2020-07-25 09:00 - 12:30 | Seaside Wilderness Park, 1600 W. Main Street, Ventura, CA, 93001, United States
REGISTER
PLEASE NOTE: This event is full. Use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to sign up for the waiting list in case of a cancellation.
Join me on Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to discover the variety of native plants that live in the interface between land and sea. Feel the sea breeze far from the inland heat. We will park on the far end of West Main Street in Ventura, just before it enters the northbound 101 to Santa Barbara outside the entrance to Seaside Wilderness Park. It’s also known as Emma Wood Group Camp (NOT the Emma Wood Beach RV Camp which is further on under the overpass). You are welcome to driveinto the Group Camp to park but it costs $10.
Beach Sand-Verbena, Beachbur, Beach Morning-Glory and Ice Plant in their natural habitat. Photo by Rondia Kaufer
From streetside parking, we will enter the Group Camp and start the herb walk on the River’s Edge Trail at the east end of the Group Camp. We’ll walk through the woods to the Ventura Rivermouth and Estuary, identifying and learning about the plants with all of our senses. Then we’ll complete the loop on the Ocean’s Edge Trail in the sand dunes on the beach. All along the way, we will be discussing and demonstrating uses of the plants of the Riparian Woodland, Coastal Sage Scrub, and Coastal Strand plant communities.

Sacred Datura
Due to COVID-19 concerns, I have made some changes from previous walks, in effect until further notice:

Attendance will be limited to 12 participants.
Those with flu-like symptoms will be asked to remain at home.
Temperatures will be checked upon arrival.
Everyone will be required to wear a mask or face covering and observe 6 feet of physical distancing.

PLEASE NOTE: This event is full. Use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to sign up for the waiting list in case of a cancellation.
The cost is $25. No dogs or smoking, please.

REGISTER

Seaside Wilderness Park Herb Walk
2020-07-19 09:00 - 12:30 | Seaside Wilderness Park, 1600 W. Main Street, Ventura, CA, 93001, United States
REGISTER
Please note: This event is full. Please use the REGISTER link at top or bottom of this page to sign up for the waiting list.
Join me on Sunday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to discover the variety of native plants that live in the interface between land and sea. Feel the sea breeze far from the inland heat. We will park on the far end of West Main Street in Ventura, just before it enters the northbound 101 to Santa Barbara outside the entrance to Seaside Wilderness Park. It’s also known as Emma Wood Group Camp (NOT the Emma Wood Beach RV Camp which is further on under the overpass). You are welcome to driveinto the Group Camp to park but it costs $10.
Beach Sand-Verbena, Beachbur, Beach Morning-Glory and Ice Plant in their natural habitat. Photo by Rondia Kaufer
From streetside parking, we will enter the Group Camp and start the herb walk on the River’s Edge Trail at the east end of the Group Camp. We’ll walk through the woods to the Ventura Rivermouth and Estuary, identifying and learning about the plants with all of our senses. Then we’ll complete the loop on the Ocean’s Edge Trail in the sand dunes on the beach. All along the way, we will be discussing and demonstrating uses of the plants of the Riparian Woodland, Coastal Sage Scrub, and Coastal Strand plant communities.

Sacred Datura

Due to COVID-19 concerns, I have made some changes from previous walks, in effect until further notice:

Attendance will be limited to 12 participants.
Those with flu-like symptoms will be asked to remain at home.
Temperatures will be checked upon arrival.
Everyone will be required to wear a mask or face covering and observe 6 feet of physical distancing.

This event is full. Please use the REGISTER button below to sign up for the waiting list.
The cost is $25. No dogs or smoking, please.

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Summer Medicinal Plant Workshop with Professor Emeritus James Adams of USC School of Pharmacy
2020-06-27 10:00 - 15:00 | Euterpe Farms “tienda”, 587 S. Rice Road, Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
Photo: Dr. Adams making a point about elderflowers
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PLEASE NOTE: This event is full. Please use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to be added to the waiting list in case of a cancellation. Due to the COVID-19 situation we are limiting the number of participants and holding the entire event outdoors. Everyone will be asked to wear a facial covering and do their best to maintain 6 feet of physical distance.

Please join me and special guest Professor Emeritus James Adams of USC School of Pharmacy for a Summer Medicinal Plant Workshop on Saturday, June 27, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dr. Adams has been a frequent and popular contributor to my events for the past seven years. This workshop is based on his ground-breaking pharmacological research on local native plants and his studies in Chumash healing.. He will bring special guests to assist with aspects of wild food and home remedy preparation, including Enrique Villaseñor, expert on the history and uses of Prickly-Pear cactus (Opuntia).

The plant identification walk and workshop will take place at Euterpe Farms. In the morning, Dr. Adams will identify and discuss the medicinal and spiritual uses of a variety of native plants. The afternoon hands-on preparation session will be held outdoors as well, in the “tienda.” After the workshop, participants will receive a follow-up email with a complete list of all plants that are identified and/or utilized as well as recipes and other info.

The morning outing from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. will be a slow-paced walk around the property which borders the Ventura River Preserve. It will involve stopping and standing for discussion for periods of time. A lightweight campstool could be useful for those who are uncomfortable standing.

After a 1/2 hour break, the afternoon session from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. will focus on preparing seasonal edible and medicinal products for winter health from wild foraged plant material. Participants will go home with their own jar of sagebrush liniment. Seasonal plants and products to be featured may include, among others:

Elderflowers
Elderberries
White Sage
Sagebrush liniment
Sacred Datura hand soak
Nopales (Prickly-Pear) salad

At 3:00 p.m. Dr. Adams will sign copies of his books.

ABOUT JAMES ADAMS, PH.D:
Dr. Adams brings to Ojai a wealth of scientific knowledge and field experience as well as a singular perspective on herbal medicine. As he tells it, “My family came to Virginia in 1635 and has always survived by using American Indian healing. On the frontier, there were no doctors. American Indian healing was better than European medicine anyway. I continue this tradition.”

Dr. Adams is the co-author of the groundbreaking book, Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West: Cultural and Scientific Basis for Their Use. The book is based on the teachings of Chumash healer Cecilia Garcia and Dr. Adams’ pharmacological studies. It can be purchased beforehand at that link and will also be available for purchase and signing at the event.

As an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Southern California for 32 years, Dr. Adams taught pharmacy students, medical students, doctors and other healthcare professionals while researching the natural pharmaceutical compounds in native plants. He has over 200 publications.

Running parallel with his academic career, Dr. Adams has worked with the Chumash people since 1998 and studied Chumash healing with Cecilia Garcia for almost 15 years. In addition to the book, they collaborated on 30 journal articles. Jim is now the carrier of the healing knowledge passed to him by his teacher.

“Humans have used plant medicines ever since humans came into existence, about 200,000 years ago,” Dr. Adams explains in Healing with Medicinal Plants. “That means that our ancestors experienced an intense natural selection. Those who responded to plant medicines survived and passed their genes on. We are the products of this natural selection. Our bodies are designed to respond to plant medicines.”

Here is an excellent 2017 article about Dr. Adams from USCStorySpace.com: “A Scientist’s Calling to Practice Chumash Healing.”

Please note: This workshop will go on RAIN OR SHINE with the exception of a heavy downpour in the morning and/or a 100% chance of heavy rain that day. If weather prevents the morning walk, a slideshow will present the plants. No dogs or smoking, please.

The cost for the Summer Medicinal Plant Workshop is $85, including all materials for preparing plant medicines. A limited number of scholarships for pharmacy, medical, and herbal medicine students are available. After the workshop, participants will receive a detailed follow-up email including plant lists and recipes.

REGISTER

Summer Solstice Nature Hike on Pine Mountain: Saturday, June 20, 2020
2020-06-20 08:30 - 15:30 | Maricopa Plaza for caravan to trailhead, 1207 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
Photo: Erika Klohe
REGISTER
PLEASE NOTE: There is one space left for this hike. Please use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to receive a link to a PayPal page to secure that space for yourself.

FYI: Due to the COVID-19 situation, I am limiting participants to 10 and we will caravan instead of the usual carpool. Also, all participants must be symptom-free, wear a face covering, and maintain 6 feet of physical distance.
Join our annual Summer Solstice Nature Hike on Pine Mountain. We’ll visit some of the most spectacular scenery and habitat that Ventura County has to offer just when many late spring wildflowers are blooming up there at an elevation of 7000 feet. According to Craig Carey, author of Hiking and Backpacking Santa Barbara and Ventura, the Reyes Peak Trail along the northern slope of the peak is “quite simply one of the most beautiful stretches in the southern Los Padres.”
Rondia and friends enjoying lunch. Photo: Chris Kudelka
The outing will start at 8:30 a.m. with a car caravan of about 35 miles up Highway 33 from the Maricopa Plaza, (1207 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA 93023) to the Reyes Peak trailhead. The final 5.5 miles are on a narrow, winding paved road and the very last half-mile is dirt. Trucks or SUV’s are preferred for the last stretch but most passenger cars with high clearance can also make the drive.
Lanny examines the needles of a White Fir sapling on the Reyes Peak Trail.
We will start walking into the Sespe Wilderness from the trailhead (where there is a restroom) at about 10:00 a.m., stop for lunch (not provided) in the forest, and return to the trailhead by 2:30 or 3:00 p.m., arriving back at the Maricopa Plaza by 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. We will hike on a well-used trail through Yellow Pine Forest habitat, stopping often to identify and discuss native plants, birds and wildlife.
This intermediate level hike is suitable for moderately experienced hikers or physically fit beginners. There will be some elevation gain and loss skirting the north side of Reyes Peak, sometimes traversing hillsides on a narrow trail. The total hiking distance will be about 3 miles. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the elevation, those with respiratory or circulatory issues possibly affected by altitude should consult with a physician before attempting this hike.
Weather and marine layer permitting, we will have panoramic views of the Cuyama Valley to the north and the Channel Islands to the south. This hike is another in a series of backcountry walks and hikes under an Operating Permit from the Ojai Ranger District Office of the U.S. Forest Service designed for guides who provide recreational and interpretive services to the public. After the hike they will receive a detailed follow-up email including a list of all plants identified.
PLEASE NOTE: Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or thunderstorms will. Once you register you will receive weather updates.
The cost is $30 for adults, $25 for seniors 62 and older, and $15 for full-time students 13-17. Kids 5-12 can go free, one per adult, pending request and approval. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No dogs or smoking, please. Please use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to receive a link to a PayPal page to secure that space for yourself.
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View north of the Cuyama Valley from Pine Mountain
Photo: Enrique Villaseñor

CANCELLED: May Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk & After-Party
2020-05-06 17:30 - 20:30 | Ojai Park-and-Ride for carpool to trailhead, 500 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, 93023, United States
George Inness. Winter Moonlight (Christmas Eve), 1866.
CANCELLATION NOTICE: I’m sorry to say that the latest Stay-Well-At-Home order from the Ventura County Health Officer requires me to cancel the May 6 Full Moon Herb Walk and After-Party. I waited as long as possible in the hope that things would improve enough to allow it but that is not the case.
In the meantime, if you haven’t already, please see my latest email bulletin with news about:

an online course on antiviral herbs by David Crow
a discount on an indispensable guidebook to local native plants for your personal hikes
my new stay-at-home video consultations

Azu Restaurant and Ojai Valley Brewery remain open for takeout. Please support them and other local food establishments if you are able to.

Be well and stay safe,

Lanny

On Wednesday evening, May 6, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., I’ll lead another Supermoon Sunset Herb Walk to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous moonrise and sunset. The full moon will rise at about 7:20 p.m. and the sun will set at about 7:45 p.m., giving us a nice window of time to take it all in. Following the walk is an optional “after-party” at 8:45 p.m. at Azu Restaurant and Ojai Valley Brewery for delicious food and local, native herb-infused beers and non-alcoholic beverages.
We’ll meet at the Park-and-Ride lot downtown between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. and carpool to the trailhead to minimize the crowded parking situation there. Then we’ll gradually walk about 1.25 miles to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable native plants including:
Coastal Sagebrush
Toyon
Black Walnut
Prickly-Pear
Elderberry
Purple Sage and
Hollyleaf Cherry
After witnessing the rising of the moon and setting of the sun, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the Park-and-Ride lot by 8:30 p.m.
Then at 8:45 p.m. you’re invited to join me and Rondia across the street from the Park-and-Ride lot at the combined Azu Restaurant & Ojai Valley Brewery where manager Elizabeth Haffner, brewmaster Jeremy Haffner and the chef have planned a special prix fixe Beer Paired Tasting Menu (see below) featuring a flight of 4 beers paired with a seasonal menu. Those who complete payment for the walk will receive instructions for reserving the custom dinner. If they choose not to reserve, they can still order beverages, appetizers or entrees à la carte from the regular menu.
Jeremy’s brews change with the seasons and reflect the plants of Ojai. Three staples you’re likely to find on his list any time of year are Sugar Bush IPA, brewed with wild local Ojai “Sugar Bush” Sumac; White Pixie Ale, brewed with Pixie tangerine zests and orchard blossoms; and an amazing Chaparral Ale flavored and bittered with White and Black Sage and local Sagebrush instead of the usual Hops. Jeremy describes it as “built to mimic the scent on Shelf Road.” That’s where we’ll be walking! Non-alcoholic offerings also change with the seasons and may include an Elderflower-Blackberry Spritzer.

REGISTRATION INFO:
The cost for the walk portion of the event is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62-up, or $15 for students 13-17. Kids 5-12 can come along free, one per adult, by prior arrangement.
Please use the REGISTER HERE button at top or bottom of this page to sign up before completing your payment with the PayPal button to secure your space. Once you register you will receive instructions to mail a check if you prefer to not use PayPal. Paid reservations are refundable up to 72 hours before the event. After that point I will try to fill your space but cannot guarantee it.
Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with instructions for reserving the prix fixe dinner followed by a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the walk. Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain will. They also will receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. No dogs or smoking, please.

CANCELLED: Earth Week Herb Walk in Matilija Canyon
2020-04-19 09:00 - 15:00 | Maricopa Plaza for caravan to trailhead, 1207 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
Upper North Fork Matilia Creek. Photo: Heidi Anderson
UPDATE: Given the April 9 Stay Well At Home order from the Ventura County Health Officer banning all gatherings of 2 or more unrelated persons, I am cancelling this event. Please subscribe to my newsletter to be informed of upcoming and rescheduled events. In the meantime, here are some suggestions for how you can continue your herbal education while supporting my gathering-dependent small business:
1) If you’ve already pre-paid for this or another cancelled event, transfer your payment to an existing future event or maintain a credit for a future event.
2) Schedule a one-to-one video consultation to learn first-hand about the plants on your property or local trail. I will be with you via FaceTime, Google Duo, or Facebook Messenger as you go outside with your device to experience the plants.
3) Visit the Herb Walks Store and buy a gift certificate for a future event or select a book from my carefully curated collection.
4) Visit my website’s page of free online Resources and discover scores of handpicked, free websites with info on plant identification, herbal medicine, growing native plants, and much more.
Stay well and thanks for understanding,
Lanny
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by kicking off the week with a slow-paced herb walk on Sunday, April 19, in Matilija Canyon deep in the mountains of the Matilija Wilderness in Los Padres National Forest. The hike will take place northwest of Ojai on Matilija Creek. We will cover approximately 1 mile each way on a mostly level trail through chaparral and riparian settings, beginning at 1500 feet. The terrain includes two creek crossings. Otherwise, we will be on a wide, level, dirt road most of the time. This walk is suitable for physically fit beginning hikers with the proper footwear.
We’ll identify useful wild herbs and their plant families and explore the many ways native plants have been used by the indigenous Chumash, herbalists, campers and gardeners for food, medicine, wildcrafting, survival, landscaping and more. The canyon is home to White Sage, Coastal Sagebrush, Yerba Santa, Matilija Poppy, Manzanita, and many more wonderful and useful native plants.

We will also look for birds, butterflies and other wildlife and discuss the ecology of the Southern Los Padres National Forest. As always, but especially in honor of Earth Week, we’ll discuss traditional and modern methods of sustainable foraging, resource conservation, and mindful enjoyment of nature.

This walk is presented under a Special Use Permit from the Ojai Ranger District Office of the U.S. Forest Service designed for guides who provide recreational and interpretive services to the public.
The day will begin with a caravan from the Maricopa Plaza parking lot in Ojai at 9:00 am and return there by 3:00 pm. Along the way we’ll take a relaxing lunch break along the upper north fork of Matilija Creek. The cost is $30 for adults, $25 for seniors 62-and-older, and $15 for students 13-17. Kids 5-12 can go free, one per adult, by prior arrangement. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Toddlers must be in a carrier. No dogs or smoking, please.
Register by clicking on the REGISTER link at the top and bottom of this page before using the PayPal button to secure your space. Registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info. After the hike they will receive a detailed follow-up email including a list of all plants identified.
PLEASE NOTE: Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain or thunderstorms will. Once you register you will receive weather updates.

CANCELLED: April Supermoon Sunset Herb Walk & After-Party
2020-04-07 17:30 - 20:30 | Ojai Park-and-Ride for carpool to trailhead, 500 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, 93023, United States
Ojai moonrise photo: Joe P. Powers (https://joepowersphotography.com)
REGISTER HERE
UPDATE (March 28): As recently as a week ago, considering that walking and hiking in nature are considered essential activities, I consulted with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and, based on their approval of my plan, I was going to offer the April 7 walk with a limit of 10 people who would be asked to maintain 6 feet of social distancing. We would not have a carpool to the trailhead and the Azu restaurant “after-party” would be left out of the equation. Since then I’ve come to realize that even though my strategy was most likely safe it’s best if I cancel the event and do my part to encourage maximum compliance with sheltering at home, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding crowds on trails.
If you were already signed up and pre-paid for this walk, please see the email that went out to you today from register@herbwalks.com.
On Tuesday evening, April 7, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., I’ll lead another Supermoon Sunset Herb Walk to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous sunset and moonrise. The the sun will set at about 7:00 p.m and full moon will rise at about 7:25 p.m., giving us a perfect window of time to take it all in. Following the walk is an optional “after-party” at Azu Restaurant and Ojai Valley Brewery for delicious food and local, native herb-infused beers and non-alcoholic beverages.
When the full moon occurs during the Moon’s closest approach to Earth, when the center of the Moon is less than 360,000 kilometers (ca. 223,694 miles) from the center of Earth, it is often called a “supermoon.” This is the second of two supermoons in 2020.
We’ll meet at the Park-and-Ride lot downtown between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. and carpool to the trailhead to minimize the crowded parking situation there. Then we’ll gradually walk about 1 mile to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable native plants including:
Coastal Sagebrush
Toyon
Wild Oats
Elderberry
Purple Sage and
Hollyleaf Cherry
After witnessing the rising of the moon and setting of the sun, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the Park-and-Ride lot by 8:30 p.m.
Then at 8:45 p.m. you’re invited to join me and Rondia across the street from the Park-and-Ride lot at the combined Azu Restaurant & Ojai Valley Brewery where manager Elizabeth Haffner, brewmaster Jeremy Haffner and the chef have planned a special prix fixe Beer Paired Tasting Menu (see below) featuring a flight of 4 beers paired with a seasonal menu. Those who complete payment for the walk will receive instructions for reserving the custom dinner. If they choose not to reserve, they can still order beverages, appetizers or entrees à la carte from the regular menu.
Jeremy’s brews change with the seasons and reflect the plants of Ojai. Three staples you’re likely to find on his list any time of year are Sugar Bush IPA, brewed with wild local Ojai “Sugar Bush” Sumac; White Pixie Ale, brewed with Pixie tangerine zests and orchard blossoms; and an amazing Chaparral Ale flavored and bittered with White and Black Sage and local Sagebrush instead of the usual Hops. Jeremy describes it as “built to mimic the scent on Shelf Road.” That’s where we’ll be walking! Non-alcoholic offerings also change with the seasons and may include an Elderflower-Blackberry Spritzer.

REGISTRATION INFO:
This event is full. I have started a waiting list in case someone needs to cancel. Once registered, you will receive an email when your name reaches the top of the list or it might be a text message if it’s a late cancellation.
The cost for the walk portion of the event is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62-up, or $15 for students 13-17. Kids 5-12 can come along free, one per adult, by prior arrangement.
Please use the REGISTER HERE button at top or bottom of this page to sign up for the waiting list. FYI: Requests for refunds by those already pre-paid will be honored up to 72 hours before the event. After that, refunds will be issued if I am able to fill the space from the waiting list.
Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with instructions for reserving the prix fixe dinner followed by a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the walk. Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain will. They also will receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. No dogs or smoking, please.
REGISTER HERE

POSTPONED: Spring Foraging & Survival Workshop with Christopher Nyerges
2020-03-28 10:00 - 15:00 | Euterpe Farms, 587 S. Rice Rd., Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
REGISTER HERE
PLEASE NOTE: Given the rapidly tightening restrictions on small events and considering that Christopher and I are in the age group asked by the governor to self-isolate, in an abundance of caution, we are postponing this event until further notice. We will be re-scheduling it when the future is more certain. Please use the REGISTER HERE links at top and bottom of this page to be added to the list to be notified when it is rescheduled.
Join me and special guest author/forager/survivalist Christopher Nyerges on Saturday, March 28, in Ojai to learn seasonal foraging and primitive firemaking. Participants will identify and process edible greens, soap sources, and other useful plants, learn to ignite a fire using only natural plant materials, and enjoy other activities from Christopher’s vast repertoire as time permits.
The workshop will begin with a foraging walk on the fringes of Euterpe Farms followed by an afternoon workshop under a live oak where Christopher will direct preparation of a wild salad and demonstrate the primitive skill of starting a fire. Everyone will have a chance to practice.
Christopher Nyerges is an author, forager, survivalist and ethnobotanist with a lifelong interest in how native peoples lived off the land. He has been teaching classes and leading field trips since 1974 to over 40,000 students. Nyerges has authored nearly two dozen books, including Foraging California, Guide to Wild Foods, Nuts and Berries of California, How to Survive Anywhere, Extreme Simplicity, and many others. He most recently was the editor of American Survival Guide magazine, and served as editor of Wilderness Way magazine for 7 years. He has written several thousand newspaper and magazine articles in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly, Whole Life Times, Countryside, Mother Earth News, Acres USA, American Survival Guide, and others.
Nyerges has appeared on the late Huell Howser’s public television series, KCET’s “Life and Times,” and National Geographic’s “Doomsday Preppers.” For two years, Nyerges appeared on Fox TV’s “X Show,” where he demonstrated survival skills on the streets of Los Angeles. He currently serves as a consultant to the “Naked and Afraid” show on Discovery. Christopher Nyerges’ web site is at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.
Please note: This workshop will go on RAIN OR SHINE with the exception of a heavy downpour in the morning and/or a 100% chance of heavy rain that day. No dogs or smoking, please.
REGISTRATION INFO:
The cost for the workshop, including all materials, is $85 for adults and $45 for children under 18. Please use the REGISTER HERE link at top and bottom of this page to be added to the list to be notified when it is rescheduled. A PayPal button will be added to this page at that time.
Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the workshop. They also will receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants identified and recipes. No dogs or smoking, please.
REGISTER HERE

POSTPONED: Spring Equinox Nature Hike & Native Plant Sale
2020-03-21 09:00 - 13:00 | Maricopa Plaza for caravan to trailhead, 1207 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
Photo of Taft Gardens by Godfred Tong
REGISTER HERE
UPDATE (March 16): Given the rapidly tightening restrictions on small events and considering that I am in the age group asked by the governor yesterday to self-isolate I called a local physician this morning who advised that I postpone Saturday’s event. So, in an abundance of caution, that is what I am doing. Personally, I feel we could pull it off safely under normal flu season conditions but this is not such a time. For your own health and safety, please continue to consult current California Department of Health Guidelines for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
I will be re-scheduling this event when the future is more certain. In the meantime, I am contacting those already signed up and leaving the event info below for those who would like to sign up for the re-schedule which will follow pretty much the same itinerary. Thanks, Lanny.
Now that Mother Nature has had three winters worth of rain with which to recover from the 2017 fire, we’re going back to this amazing private property for a private tour of the Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve, operated by the Conservation Endowment Fund (CEF) in the mountains above Lake Casitas west of Ojai.
This rare and special place has no public trails connecting it to the outside world. The land includes plants and features beyond what we usually encounter on my outings, including the world renowned, Mediterranean-climate, Taft Botanical Garden. We’ll see an unparalleled collection of Australian and South African plants. A docent will be present to share some of the rare exotic plants found in the garden. Of course, we’ll also take a walk on the adjacent Nature Preserve to identify and learn about the diverse edible and medicinal native plants of the area.
We will meet at Maricopa Plaza in Ojai between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m. for a caravan to the property. The travel time from the caravan meeting place to the trailhead will be 20-30 minutes. Directions will be given to those coming from Santa Barbara who wish to meet us at the Gardens. Beginning at 9 a.m., total walking distance will be approximately 1.5 miles including gradual elevation gain.
PRIVATE NATIVE & MEDICINAL PLANT SALE:
Immediately following the walk, from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m., native and medicinal plant grower Nathan Whitman will host a private sale of selected plants. Registrants will have the opportunity to order in advance. The list of native and other medicinal plants available at direct-from-grower prices includes White Sage, Milkweed, Dudleya, California Buckwheat, Echinacea, St. John’s Wort, Yerba Mate, Tea Tree, Spearmint, Peppermint, Catnip, Ashwaganda and more.
LUNCH:
Lunch will not be provided but participants are invited to stay and enjoy their sack lunch or snacks in a beautiful setting after the tour.
Light rain will not cancel, heavy rain will. Registrants will be updated. No dogs or smoking, please.
REGISTRATION INFO:
The cost is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62-up, and $15 for students 13-17. Kids 5-12 can attend free, one per adult, pending request and approval. An additional $10 donation per person is requested by CEF and strongly encouraged by me. There is a donation box at the start of the tour where cash or checks can be deposited. CEF survives on donations to support the operations and upkeep of the garden and open space.
Please use the REGISTER HERE button at top or bottom of this page to be added to the list to be contacted when this event is re-scheduled.
REGISTER HERE

March Supermoon Sunset Herb Walk & After-Party
2020-03-08 16:30 - 19:30 | Ojai Park-and-Ride for carpool to trailhead, 500 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, 93023, United States
Photo: Joe P. Powers (https://joepowersphotography.com)
REGISTER HERE
PLEASE NOTE: This event is full. I have started a waiting list in case someone needs to cancel. See REGISTRATION INFO section below for more details.
On Sunday evening, March 8, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., I’ll lead a Supermoon Sunset Herb Walk to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous sunset and moonrise. The full supermoon will rise at about 6:15 p.m. and the sun will set at about 6:45 p.m., giving us a nice window of time to take it all in. Following the walk is an optional “after-party” at Azu Restaurant and Ojai Valley Brewery for delicious food and local, native herb-infused beers and non-alcoholic beverages.
When the Full Moon occurs during the Moon’s closest approach to Earth, when the center of the Moon is less than 360,000 kilometers (ca. 223,694 miles) from the center of Earth, it is often called a “supermoon.” This is the first of two supermoons in 2020. The next is on Tuesday, April 7. While the March moon is technically full on Monday, March 9, at 10:47 a.m., the night before gives us the best timing for seeing it full before it’s too late in the evening for a walk.
We’ll meet at the Park-and-Ride lot downtown between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m. and carpool to the trailhead to minimize the crowded parking situation there. Then we’ll gradually walk about 1 mile to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable native plants including:
Coastal Sagebrush
Toyon
Horehound
Elderberry and
Purple Sage
After witnessing the rising of the moon and setting of the sun, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the Park-and-Ride lot by 7:30 p.m.
Then at 7:45 p.m. you’re invited to join me and Rondia across the street from the Park-and-Ride lot at the combined Azu Restaurant & Ojai Valley Brewery where manager Elizabeth Haffner, brewmaster Jeremy Haffner and the chef have planned a special prix fixe Beer Paired Tasting Menu (see below) featuring a flight of 4 beers paired with a seasonal menu. Those who complete payment for the walk will receive instructions for reserving the custom dinner. If they choose not to reserve, they can still order beverages, appetizers or entrees à la carte from the regular menu.
Jeremy’s brews change with the seasons and reflect the plants of Ojai. Three staples you’re likely to find on his list any time of year are Sugar Bush IPA, brewed with wild local Ojai “Sugar Bush” Sumac; White Pixie Ale, brewed with Pixie tangerine zests and orchard blossoms; and an amazing Chaparral Ale flavored and bittered with White and Black Sage and local Sagebrush instead of the usual Hops. Jeremy describes it as “built to mimic the scent on Shelf Road.” That’s where we’ll be walking! Non-alcoholic offerings also change with the seasons and may include an Elderflower-Blackberry Spritzer.

REGISTRATION INFO:
This event is full. I have started a waiting list in case someone needs to cancel. The cost for the walk portion of the event is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62-up, or $15 for students 13-17. Kids 5-12 can come along free, one per adult, by prior arrangement.
Please use the REGISTER HERE button at top or bottom of this page to sign up for the waiting list.
Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with instructions for reserving the prix fixe dinner followed by a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the walk. Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain will. They also will receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. No dogs or smoking, please.
Ojai moonrise photo by Joe P. Powers https://joepowersphotography.com
REGISTER HERE

Presidents' Day Herb Walk & "Stone Soup" Picnic
2020-02-17 09:00 - 13:30 | Euterpe Farms, 587 S. Rice Rd., Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
REGISTER HERE
PLEASE NOTE: This event is full. Please see registration info below.
Join me on Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 17, for an Herb Walk and “Stone Soup” Picnic at Euterpe Farms in Ojai. We’ll walk the borders of the farm adjacent to the Ventura River Preserve identifying edible and medicinal plants such as sagebrush, purple sage, white sage, and elderberry. Then we’ll gather around an oak wood fire for wild food processing demos and a “stone soup” picnic based on the folk tale of the same name. The soup will be built around a California bay leaf (in place of the stone) and onsite-foraged dwarf nettles.
A foraged salad topped with local wild black walnuts might include seasonal greens such as miner’s lettuce, chickweed, thistle, sweet fennel, and mustard. Time permitting, we may also prepare acorn pancakes.
The walk will begin at 9 a.m. At approximately 11:30 a.m. we’ll begin preparing for the picnic which will conclude around 1:30 or 2:00 p.m. The cost is $35 including all materials other than vegetables and herbs contributed to the stone soup.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Please click the REGISTER HERE button below to join the waiting list. Per my usual policy, if someone cancels in time for me to fill the space I will issue a refund and add the person(s) at the top of the waiting list. They will then receive an email with a link to a PayPal button to secure their space. Please note: final PayPal amount includes a processing fee.
Confirmed registrants will receive an email in the days before the event with detailed instructions and directions. Afterwards, they will receive a follow-up email with plant list, recipes and other info.
REGISTER HERE

February Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk & After-Party
2020-02-08 15:30 - 18:30 | Ojai Park-and-Ride for carpool to trailhead, 500 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, 93023, United States
REGISTER HERE
PLEASE NOTE: This event is full. I have started a waiting list in case someone needs to cancel. See REGISTRATION INFO section below for more details.
On Saturday evening, February 8, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., I’ll lead a Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous sunset and moonrise. The full moon will rise at about 5:15 p.m. and the sun will set at about 5:25 p.m., giving us a nice window of time to take it all in. Following the walk is an optional “after-party” at Azu Restaurant and Ojai Valley Brewery for delicious food and local herb-infused beers and non-alcoholic beverages.
We’ll meet at the Park-and-Ride lot downtown between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. and carpool to the trailhead to minimize the crowded parking situation there. Then we’ll gradually walk about 1 mile to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable native plants including:
Coastal Sagebrush
Toyon
Horehound
Elderberry and
Purple Sage
After witnessing the rising of the moon and setting of the sun, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the Park-and-Ride lot by 6:30 p.m.
Then at 6:45 p.m. you’re invited to join me and Rondia across the street from the Park-and-Ride lot at the combined Azu Restaurant & Ojai Valley Brewery where manager Elizabeth Haffner, brewmaster Jeremy Haffner and the chef have planned a special prix fixe Beer Paired Tasting Menu (see below) featuring a flight of 4 beers paired with a seasonal menu. Those who complete payment for the walk will receive instructions for reserving the custom dinner. If they choose not to reserve, they can still order beverages, appetizers or entrees à la carte from the regular menu.
Jeremy’s brews change with the seasons and reflect the plants of Ojai. Three staples you’re likely to find on his list any time of year are Sugar Bush IPA, brewed with wild local Ojai “Sugar Bush” Sumac; White Pixie Ale, brewed with Pixie tangerine zests and orchard blossoms; and an amazing Chaparral Ale flavored and bittered with White and Black Sage and local Sagebrush instead of the usual Hops. Jeremy describes it as “built to mimic the scent on Shelf Road.” That’s where we’ll be walking! Non-alcoholic offerings also change with the seasons and may include an Elderflower-Blackberry Spritzer.

REGISTRATION INFO:
This event is full. I have started a waiting list in case someone needs to cancel. The cost for the walk portion of the event is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62-up, or $15 for students 13-17. Kids 5-12 can come along free, one per adult, by prior arrangement.
Please use the REGISTER HERE button at top or bottom of this page to sign up for the waiting list. You can also register for the Supermoon Sunset Herb Walk & After-Party on Sunday, March 8, which will be virtually the same as this event.
Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast, a few days prior with detailed info and directions. Light rain will not cancel. Heavy rain will. They also will receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. No dogs or smoking, please.
Ojai moonrise photo by Roshelle Castillo.
REGISTER HERE

Lunch and Learn: "Edible and Medicinal Plants of Arroyo Hondo Preserve"
2020-01-15 12:30 - 13:30 | Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, 1528 Chapala St., Rm 305, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, United States
This Lunch and Learn talk on “Edible and Medicinal Plants of Arroyo Hondo Preserve” is open and free to the public but those interested must email Jennifer Stroh at jstroh@sblandtrust.org to reserve a seat as the room has limited seating. The Lunch and Learns are from 12:30pm-1:30pm next door from the Land Trust office at 1528 Chapala St., Room 305.
The talk will be followed by an optional walk at Arroyo Hondo on Sunday, February 2, 2020. See a separate event listing here to sign up for the walk.

Winter Medicinal Plant Workshop with Professor James Adams of USC School of Pharmacy
2020-01-11 10:00 - 16:00 | Euterpe Farms “tienda”, 587 S. Rice Road, Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
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PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is almost full. Please use the REGISTER button above to register. A PayPal payment link will be emailed to you if there is still a space available at that time.

Please join me and special guest Professor James Adams of USC School of Pharmacy for a Winter Medicinal Plant Workshop on Saturday, January 11, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dr. Adams has been a frequent and popular contributor to my events for the past seven years. This workshop is based on his ground-breaking pharmacological studies on local native plants. He will bring Enrique Villaseñor and Helen Sweany to assist with aspects of wild food preparation.

Weather permitting, the plant identification session will take place on the pathways at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Cluff Vista Park and the Ojai Valley Museum’s Chumash Garden, two native plant gardens in downtown Ojai, where Dr. Adams and I will identify and discuss the medicinal uses of a variety of native plants. The afternoon hands-on preparation session will be held at a community kitchen nearby. After the workshop, participants will receive a complete list of all plants that are identified and/or utilized as well as recipes and other info. In the event of heavy rain, a slideshow presentation will substitute for the morning walk.

The morning outing from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will be a slow-paced walk around the two gardens. They are both wheelchair-accessible. The morning session will involve stopping for discussion for periods of time. A few benches are scattered about. A lightweight campstool could be useful as well for those uncomfortable standing for periods of time.

After a one-hour lunch break, the afternoon kitchen session from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. will focus on preparing seasonal edible and medicinal products for winter health from wild foraged plant material. Products to be prepared onsite include, among others:

Yerba Santa steam inhalation
Toyon (“California Holly”) berries
Everlasting Flower tea
Acorns with Helen Sweany
Nopales with Enrique Villaseñor

We’ll sample Jim’s homebaked Lemon Toyon Berry Muffins and see me demonstrate a traditional method of processing acorns and describe how I harvest and dry Toyon berries. At 4:00 p.m. Dr. Adams will sign copies of his books.

ABOUT JAMES ADAMS, PH.D:
Dr. Adams brings to Ojai a wealth of scientific knowledge and field experience as well as a singular perspective on herbal medicine. As he tells it, “My family came to Virginia in 1635 and has always survived by using American Indian healing. On the frontier, there were no doctors. American Indian healing was better than European medicine anyway. I continue this tradition.”

Dr. Adams is the co-author — with the late Chumash healer Cecilia Garcia — of the groundbreaking book, Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West: Cultural and Scientific Basis for Their Use. The book can be purchased beforehand at that link and will also be available for purchase and signing at the event.

As an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the prestigious University of Southern California, Dr. Adams has been teaching pharmacy students, medical students, doctors and other healthcare professionals for over 25 years while researching the natural pharmaceutical compounds in native plants. He has over 200 publications.

Running parallel with his academic career, Dr. Adams has worked with the Chumash people since 1998 and studied Chumash healing with Cecilia Garcia for almost 15 years. In addition to their book, they wrote 30 journal articles together. Jim is now the carrier of the healing knowledge passed to him by his teacher.

“Humans have used plant medicines ever since humans came into existence, about 200,000 years ago,” Dr. Adams explains in Healing with Medicinal Plants. “That means that our ancestors experienced an intense natural selection. Those who responded to plant medicines survived and passed their genes on. We are the products of this natural selection. Our bodies are designed to respond to plant medicines.”

Here is an excellent 2017 article about Dr. Adams from USCStorySpace.com: “A Scientist’s Calling to Practice Chumash Healing.”

Please note: This workshop will go on RAIN OR SHINE with the exception of a heavy downpour in the morning and/or a 100% chance of heavy rain that day. As stated above, if heavy rain prevents the morning walk, a slideshow will present the plants. No dogs or smoking, please.

The cost for the Winter Medicinal Plant Workshop is $85, including all materials for preparing plant medicines. A limited number of scholarships for pharmacy, medical, and herbal medicine students are available. After the workshop, participants will receive a detailed follow-up email including plant lists and recipes.

To register for this event, please use the REGISTER button below or at the top of this page. You will be notified if a space is available for you.
REGISTER

PhytoPhunk Dance & Herbal Elixir Bar
2019-11-16 20:00 - 23:00 | Greater Goods, 145 W. El Roblar Dr., Meiners Oaks, CA, 93023, United States

The Forest Table: A Wild Food Dining Experience: Saturday, November 16
2019-11-16 18:00 - 21:00

Herbal Marketplace
2019-11-16 11:00 - 2019-11-17 18:30 | Chaparral Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA, 93023, United States

Ojai Herbal Symposium
2019-11-16 09:00 - 2019-11-17 17:00

Acorn Processing Workshop with Christopher Nyerges
2019-11-02 10:00 - 15:00 | Euterpe Farms, 587 S. Rice Rd., Ojai, CA, 93023, United States
REGISTER
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is currently full but we are starting a waiting list in the event someone has to cancel. Please use the REGISTER link above. We will keep track of time of waiting list registrations and send a PayPal link if something opens up.
Join me and special guest author and forager Christopher Nyerges for an Acorn Processing Workshop in Ojai on Saturday, November 2, to learn all aspects foraging, processing and preparing acorns. The workshop will begin with a morning plant walk on the Ventura River Preserve followed by an afternoon workshop under a Coast Live Oak at Euterpe Farms. In addition to processing acorns onsite, participants will learn to identify oaks and other useful plants, make cordage from yucca, see an introductory demonstration of primitive firemaking, and other activities prepared by the multi-talented Nyerges.
Christopher Nyerges is an author, forager, survivalist and ethnobotanist with a lifelong interest in how native peoples lived off the land. He has been teaching classes and leading field trips since 1974 to over 40,000 students. Nyerges has authored nearly two dozen books, including Guide to Wild Foods, Foraging California, Nuts and Berries of California, How to Survive Anywhere, Extreme Simplicity, and many others. He most recently was the editor of American Survival Guide magazine, and served as editor of Wilderness Way magazine for 7 years. He has written several thousand newspaper and magazine articles in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly, Whole Life Times, Countryside, Mother Earth News, Acres USA, American Survival Guide, and others.
Nyerges has appeared on the late Huell Howser’s public television series, KCET’s “Life and Times,” and National Geographic’s “Doomsday Preppers.” For two years, Nyerges appeared on Fox TV’s “X Show,” where he demonstrated survival skills on the streets of Los Angeles. He currently serves as a consultant to the “Naked and Afraid” show on Discovery. Nyerges’s web site is www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.
Please note: This workshop will go on RAIN OR SHINE with the exception of a heavy downpour in the morning and/or a 100% chance of heavy rain that day. No dogs or smoking, please.
The cost of the workshop including all materials is $75. To register, please use the REGISTER button at top and bottom of this page or call 805-646-6281. Then, if you move to the top of the waiting list, I will send you a PayPal link to secure your space.
REGISTER

"All About California Native Plants" Free Seminar
2019-10-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Green Thumb Nursery, 1899 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA, 93033, United States

Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk
2019-10-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Ojai Park-and-Ride for carpool to trailhead, 500 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, 93023, United States
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On Sunday evening, October 13, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., I’ll lead another Herb Walk up to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous sunset and moonrise. The sun will set at 6:27 p.m. and the full moon will rise at 6:47 p.m., giving us a nice window of time to take it all in. Following the walk is an optional “after-party” at Azu Restaurant and Ojai Valley Brewery for delicious food and native plant infused beers and non-alcoholic beverages
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution on September 24, 2019, proclaiming the Second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Ventura County, joining over 130 other cities, counties and states who have taken that action. In honor of this walk occurring on the eve of Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Monday, October 14), I have invited a special guest, Chumash elder Patrick Tumamait, to join us and begin the walk with the Ojai Chumash Welcoming Song passed on to him by his father Vincent Tumamait. I always start my walks and hikes in Chumash territory with that song which I learned from his sister Julie Tumamait-Stenslie so it will be an honor to have Pat lead the song for us. Also, I will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the walk to the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians.
We’ll meet at the Park-and-Ride lot downtown between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. and carpool to the trailhead to minimize the crowded parking situation there. Then we’ll gradually walk about 1 mile to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable native plants including:
Coastal Sagebrush
Elderberry
Hollyleaf Cherry
Purple Sage and
Toyon
After witnessing the setting of the sun and rising of the moon, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the Park-and-Ride by 8:00 p.m. On our August walk we saw a tarantula, a bat, an owl, and heard the distinctive songs of at least two species of crickets on our moonlit return to the trailhead.
At 8 p.m. you’re invited to join me and Rondia across the street from the Park-and-Ride lot for beverages, appetizers or dinner at the combined Azu Restaurant & Ojai Valley Brewery where brewmaster Jeremy Haffner has created some truly delicious lager-style craft beers and ales using some of the same local plants found earlier on the trail. His brews change with the seasons and reflect the plants of Ojai. Three staples you’re likely to find on his list any time of year are Sugar Bush IPA, brewed with wild local Ojai “Sugar Bush” Sumac; White Pixie Ale, brewed with Pixie tangerine zests and orchard blossoms; and an amazing Chaparral Ale flavored with White and Black Sage and local Sagebrush instead of the usual Hops. Jeremy describes it as “built to mimic the scent on Shelf Road.” That’s where we’ll be walking! Non-alcoholic offerings also change with the seasons and may include an Elderflower-Blackberry Spritzer.
The cost is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62-and older, and $15 for students 13-17. Kids 5-12 can come along free, one per adult, by prior arrangement. There is no pre-payment required for this walk, just your promise to let me know if your plans change. If it fills up, priority will be given to those who registered in advance.
Please use the REGISTER button at top or bottom of this page to sign up. Registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info a few days prior and a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants and wildlife seen. No dogs or smoking, please.
REGISTER
