SEASONAL FORAGING: Autumn session. Wild Food and Useful Plants by the Season

Saturday, September 21, 10 a.m.    WILD FOOD AND USEFUL PLANTS BY THE SEASON

This series of workshops, one per season, will show you nature through the seasons, from a forager’s perspective.  The essence of this class is to develop seasonal knowledge and observational skills: How to look, where to look, what to look for.  Plus, we will also focus on responsible and sustainable gathering methods, including collection of seeds and cuttings so you can grow plants in your own backyard.

You’ll learn how to identify and collect foods, medicines, soaps, fire-materials, and other useful parts of plants.  You’ll learn to think like foragers of the past, who had to have an intimate knowledge of the seasons, and foresight for the future.  (For example, sometimes you do NO foraging in an area if the plant or seed is not abundant.)

Join us each quarter for an insightful walk into a wild area, with a focus on interpreting what’s available that season.  Each session will include demonstrations, hands-on practice, and sampling of the seasonal foods.  Each session includes a list of what is normally available in that season.

AUTUMN

In early autumn, it is usually dry, and plants are in a dormant phase.  It’s typically hot, and dry. Streams will be dry, or running low.  You’ll only find the hardiest of plants for eating, such as mustards.  There still might be some manzanitas left to collect, and the acorns will just be starting to mature and to fall. Though it’s still early for toyon berries, you’ll be able to observe what sort of crop will be coming. You’ll be able to take note of what to look for in the next few months.

You never know what to expect, but  you might find some greens as well, usually the hardiest greens, and the late-blooming greens.  This is a good way to look at the environment at a lean time, with an eye to the future.

We’ll also share a few bushcrafting skills.

Location: San Gabriel Mountains.  Meeting location to be sent upon registration.

Class fee:$65.  (student/senior $45)

www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com

NOTE:  We offer a program where you can work at our non-profit in Highland Park doing various tasks, and earn your way to classes. Contact us at christopher_nyerges@yahoo.com