Herb Walks with Lanny Kaufer

A small sampling of the wildflowers I saw this morning in Wills Canyon and along the Ventura River in Ojai. Spring is busting out in Chumash territory. See my website at HerbWalks.com for schedule.

Hiked the Wills Canyon - Rice Canyon loop on the Ventura River Preserve this morning. Chumash land. Here are some spring wildflowers.

I'm writing after a wonderful nature walk his last weekend 11/29 by Lanny, with support from Rondia and Lorenz. Lanny's descriptions and stories about the nativ...e plants we encountered, elderberries, toyon, buckwheat etc. were spot-on and fulfilling. I learned a lot which integrated me with our local landscape. The tour was experiential and "hands on." Lanny showed how the native Chumash made their musical "clackers" from elderberry joints; and we crushed natural buckwheat flowers to see the seed-extraction process. After walking through the famous Ojai sunset "pink moment," the walk was capped by a superb viewing of the moon rising, so much like a chandelier. I strongly recommend taking Lanny's nature walks. See more

I'm leading a COVID-safe Full Moon Sunset Herb Walk on Monday, November 30, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. There are still a few spaces available. You can read about it at this link and sign up there.

I joined Lanny Kaufer, Christopher Nyerges and Keith Farrar for an encore presentation of Christopher's highly successful Fall Harvesting and Survival Workshop.... Lanny held the class at Euterpe Farms in Mira Monte, CA. Mira Monte is a small, rural community west of Ojai. The farm sits right above the Ventura Preserve. The farm is an idyllic setting and provides an abundant assortment of California native plants, trees and animals to observe and study. I taught healing with medicinal plants, living in balance, was able to heal several people and taught why Nopales are crucial to boosting your immune system. As usual, Christopher's unique teaching style kept everyone engaged. His wit, humor and abundant knowledge of many subjects made the class move quickly. One woman shared with me she did not expect a survival instructor to be so "erudite." I told her Christopher’s perspicuity is always on display. However, I truly believe everyone was impressed when Christopher began by clearly defining his survival philosophy. He believes working together is one of the most crucial aspects of survival. I have to agree. Be safe. Follow the science. Be well. Blessings. See more

I've been doing COVID-safe walks and workshops but not announcing them (so far) on facebook as they have filled up from my HerbWalks.com mailing list. There are two spaces open for Christopher Nyerges's encore workshop this Saturday. Visit https://HerbWalks.com to learn more and sign up.

More photos from Saturday's COVID-safe Fall Medicinal Plant Workshop with special guests James Adams, Enrique Villaseñor, and Michelle Wong. To find out about these in the future, join the mailing list by clicking the button up above or at https://HerbWalks.com.