Edible and Medicinal Plants of California: A Bioregional Exploration

Start: Oct 4 2013 19:00

Timezone: US/Alaska

Four Season Intensive Classroom & Field Study Program

Starts October 2013

235 hour, Foundational Course
Instructor: Tellur Fenner

Meet the instructor & learn more about the program:
Join us for a free introduction September 7, 10:30am-1pm

California is a land of extremes; with the highest peak in the continental U.S (Mt. Whitney 14,494’ in the Sierras) towering over the lowest point (at Badwater Basin -282’ in the Mohave Desert). And while the deserts of Southern California regularly top the chart as the hottest/driest place in the U.S (some areas receiving less than 3 inches of annual rainfall), the Northwest California temperate rainforests often receive an astounding 120 inches or more! Such climatic and topographical variation yields one of the most floristically diverse regions to be found in North America. In addition, due to its profuse endowment of natural resources, the territory now known as California also supported one of the most densely concentrated and culturally diverse indigenous populations in the Western U.S. For thousands of years these peoples relied primarily on the region’s plants for much of their food, medicine, and utilitarian needs. Fortunately some of this plant knowledge has been retained, and the combination of both plant and ethnic diversity sets California apart as a virtual treasure trove for any aspiring edible/medicinal plant enthusiast!

Join us on this yearlong journey of discovery as we follow the plants through the seasons while learning about their many historical and contemporary uses. Class will meet one weekend per month (Friday evening–Sunday) for a total of 12 months. The late-March, July, and August classes will be extended to 4-day sessions and will take place at various locations throughout the state (details listed below).

This interdisciplinary foundational course will engage the student on 4 levels:

1. Interactive Classroom Lecture
2. Hands-On Workshops
3. Field Study
4. Independent Research/Self Directed Study

In addition, the program will be structured around two main themes: Seasonal Plant Study & Bioregional Field Exploration. Meaning, we will focus our attention on the main floristic regions found throughout California while following the peak bloom season of each particular area. The goal of which is to give the student a solid background on the identification and use of the primary edible/medicinal plants found growing around the ENTIRE state. Because the bulk of the course will take place at the Regenerative Design Institute near Bolinas, CA (located on the central coast), this will be our main area of focus. Here we will share the valuable experience of being able to identify the plants throughout ALL seasons of the year, watching them sprout, flower, set seed, and then wither way. Our study will emphasize a dynamic sensory awareness of the plants via close observation, touching, tasting, and smelling. We will visit other regions of the state during one regular weekend and three 4-day camping trips.

Visit Tellur's Facebook page for photo journals of the bioregions covered in the course.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Field Trips

Sonoran Desert/Peninsular Ranges (Southern California)—March
Of the four U.S. deserts, the Sonoran is the hottest and most arid, but it is ALSO the most botanically diverse by far, and is home to a large number of medicinal, edible, and other such useful plants. The spring bloom period, before the searing heat of summer sets in, is the ideal time to explore this majestic landscape of valleys, riparian palm canyons, and desert mountains. Our exploration will take us from the summit of the moist, coastal Peninsular Ranges, down into the rain-shadow of the arid lands to the east where we will observe: Ocotillo, Creosote Bush, California Fan Palm, Mesquite, Jojoba, Prickly Pear Cactus, Desert Lavender, Palo Verde, Yerba Santa, White Sage, Holly Leaf Cherry, Chia, and many other unique edible/medicinal plants. Photo journal.

California Coast Ranges (North Coast)—May
With its seasonal waterfalls, high elevation peaks, and glorious spring wildflower displays, the North Coast Ranges are a premier natural destination. Because of the diversity of the varied environments, there is a corresponding cornucopia of beautiful and useful native plants found in several different plant communities. Highlights include oak woodlands, chaparral, grasslands, riparian corridors, and rock outcrops, with a wide array of unique wildflowers, shrubs, and trees (some endemic to the region) Photo journal.

Sierra Nevada Mountains/Mohave Desert/Great Basin Desert
(Eastern Sierra Region)—July
The convergence of high mountain peaks which abruptly descend down to the Great Basin and Mohave Deserts makes for one of the most visually stunning and botanically diverse landscapes to be found in the Western U.S. Sub-alpine meadows, riparian woodlands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, sagebrush scrub, and desert marshlands are a few of the habitats to expect on our outings as we search for Yerba Manza, American Licorice, Fireweed, Stream Orchid, Arnica, and many other notable medicinals. Photo journal.

Klamath-Siskiyou Region (Northwest California)— August
The Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion of Northwestern California is one of the most rugged, sparsely populated, and least visited areas in the state. This forested wilderness complex is largely montane, being composed of 7 different interwoven mountain ranges, and reaches its highest elevation at Mt. Eddy (9025’) in the Trinity Mountains. The region also marks a transition point between the Pacific Northwest Floristic Province to the north and the California Floristic Province to the south. The convergence of these two distinct provinces, along with botanical influence from nearby Sierran, Cascadian, and Great Basin bioregions, makes the area one of the most botanically diverse in the U.S. In fact, of the 7,500 vascular plants found in California, at least 3,500 species can be found within this small geographical area, 280 of which are endemic. Photo journal.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 Tiers of the program

The course is generalist by design, and holds as its central premise that a contextual approach to understanding both edible and medicinal plants will be the most useful for the student in the long run. The 4 tiers of the program will included the following class subjects and activities:

Interactive Classroom Lecture

• Beginning/intermediate botany concepts
• California plant family recognition strategies
• Basic plant chemistry fundamentals
• Materia medica (medicinal plant uses)
• Edible plant uses
• Sampling of a variety of edible/medicinal plant preparations
• Plant toxicology (poisonous plant study)
• Regional ethnobotany
• History of western herbalism
• Rare & endangered plants of California
• Edible/medicinal “weeds” of California
• Botanical safety issues/contraindications
• Basics of human physiology/pathology

Hands-On Workshops

• Beginning/intermediate herbal pharmacy
(teas/oils/salves/tinctures/percolations/fluid extracts)
• Microscope sessions (for up-close plant observation)
• Medicinal plant harvesting and processing methods
(along with legal/ethical guidelines)
• Seasonal edible plant harvest/preparation
(greens, roots, fruits, seeds/nuts, etc)

Field Study

• 4 camping trips described above
• 6 day-long herb walks through a variety of unique plant habitats found across the central coast region (these in addition to the many walks that will occur during our 4 camping trips)
• Day-long exploration of the Tilden Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley (a garden exclusively dedicated to California native plants)
• Field taxonomy/plant ID techniques
• Dichotomous key exercises (using the Jepson Manual and other floras)
• Utilitarian plant uses
• California plant communities
• Natural history of California

Independent Research/Self Directed Study

• Review of the most relevant historical and contemporary literature related to our course of study.
• Review of the most useful websites and databases related to
our course of study.
• Critical thinking strategies
• Research methods
• Ongoing research and final project (each student chooses a research topic/project at the beginning of the course which they will ultimately present on at the closure of the program)

Despite the dense nature and broad scope of the subject matter covered in the course, time will certainly be allotted for a variety of less mentally taxing activities as well. During our botanical field explorations we’ll also manage to work in plenty of hot spring soaks, river floats, alpine lake swims, mountain top meditations, cozy campfire conversations, in addition to a number of peaceful nights snoozing under a blanket of stars. This comprehensive, full immersion botanical intensive should prove to be insightful and rewarding for anyone interested in knowing more about the unique flora of our state.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Course Schedule

The class will meet one weekend per month for a total of 12 months.
Regular weekends (9 of 12 sessions) will meet Friday evening–Sunday.
The April, July, and August classes will be extended to 4-day sessions.

Regular Sessions
Friday: 7pm-10pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 10am-6pm

Extended Sessions
4 full days: 10am-6pm

Session Dates

Session 1: Oct 4-5-6
Session 2: Nov 1-2-3
Session 3: Dec 13-14-15
Session 4: Jan 3-4-5
Session 5: Jan 31, -Feb 1-2
Session 6: Feb 28, Mar 1-2
Session 7: Mar 20-21-22-23, Sonoran Desert/Peninsular Ranges
Session 8: May 2-3-4
Session 9: May 30-31, Jun 1, California Coast Ranges
Session 10: Jul 3-4-5-6, Sierra Nevada Mountains/Mohave Desert/Great Basin Desert
Session 11: Jul 31, Aug 1-2, Klamath-Siskiyou Region
Session 12: Aug 22-23-24, Graduation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2013-14 Course Fees

$2600 Tuition for the 12-month program

Early Payment Discounts
The following discounts are available when registration and payment
are received before August 23, 2013.

$2350 Early Bird discount

Course fees include camping & basic course materials.
Meals are not included.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Course Materials
Not included in tuition fee

Required Texts

- Harrington, H.D., How to Identify Plants
- Elpel, T.J., Botany in a Day*
- Howell, J.T., Marin Flora, Revised Edition (2007)
- Moore, M., Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West
- Thayer, S., Nature’s Garden: Edible Wild Plants*
- Turner, N., The North American Guide to Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms,
Revised Edition (2009)
- Schoenherr, A., A Natural History of California

* Note: We will purchase Nature's Garden and Botany in a Day as a class at a bulk discount)

Total Book Cost Estimate: $100-150

Required materials

-Hand-lens (for plant ID), cost $10-35

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Registration

Click here to register for the 12-month course.

Pre-registration is necessary to hold your space. We recommend that you register as early as possible, as many classes fill up in advance. Registration will close two weeks before the beginning of the course.

All fees must be paid in full prior to the start of class.

Refund Policy

Cancellations up to 2 weeks before the course begins will be refunded, excluding a $250 processing fee. No refunds are given after that date.

For questions or additional information, contact:
415·868 9681 voicemail or email us

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Commonweal Garden - What to Know

Please review the What to Know section on our website to be optimally prepared for your time at Commonweal Garden – it includes information regarding transportation options, site accommodations, and general information about Commonweal Garden and the surrounding area.

Meals
Participants are responsible for their food needs during the weekend sessions. Please provide for your breakfast, lunch & snacks on both Saturday & Sunday, and bring a potluck dish to share for dinner on Saturday night.

Already prepared dishes are recommended. The greenhouse kitchen will be available for simple preparations of food. There are propane burners for heating food, but no oven.

Camping
You are welcome to camp on-site on Friday & Saturday nights.