Wild Food & Medicinal Herb CSA
Starts this Spring, April 2nd! More details here.
Wild Food Walk
Date: April 20, 2013, 10-3pm
Location: Sierra College, Grass Valley Campus
Do you know how many wild edibles are living in your neighborhood? We will cover how to identify some key edible plants and their nutritional values, learn what plants not to eat and learn strategies for enhancing wild food production and sustainable harvesting methods. You’ll also learn how to make Matt’s wild weed raw energy bars. Register at Sierra College.
Previous Classes
Everything Acorn
Learn how to process acorns both the old way and with modern tools, into delicious foods. We will talk about the ecology of oaks and which acorns are best to gather. Bring acorns in to be identified and processed. There will be a demo on making oil from acorns, and trying some acorn beverages! After 4 pm there will be other wild food samples and recipes to be shared–feel free to bring your own creation. We will discuss the possibility of a community press/mill for acorn oil and meal and the idea of a local native food network.
Cost: Suggested donation $10 – $20 per person (children coming with adult are free) Half of the proceeds go to the tribe
Wildcrafting with Acorn and Bay Nuts
Come learn the ancient practice of harvesting and processing acorns and bay nuts–staple foods of the native peoples of California. Learn which oaks are best to gather acorns from, when to gather, and how to process acorns and bay nuts into food. We will be making acorn mush and you will also learn how to make roasted bay nuts into tempting chocolate-like candy! There will also be a demo on how to make acorn oil! Go to Sierra Community College Education for more info and to register Tuition: $62
Wild Food Walk at Ananda Village
Come out to explore the mixed conifer oak forests, riparian zones and gardens with new eyes to discover the abundance, usefulness and beauty of wild plants. We will cover how to identify some key edible plants, discuss the superior nutritional values typically found in wild food, learn what plants to avoid and learn strategies for enhancing wild food production and sustainable harvesting methods.
Backyard Mushroom Cultivation for Food & Soil Fertility
Learn how to grow mushrooms in your backyard for food, soil fertility and more. We’ll start with amazing fungi facts from local mushroom expert Daniel Nicholson, who will share a presentation on how to use Fungus on the Farm. The rest of the day will be focused on hands-on learning with various techniques of mushroom cultivation. Topics will include:
• how to improve soil fertility with mycelium
• how to reduce your soil inputs and improve soil water storage by cultivating mycelium in your garden beds
• how to grow edible mushrooms like oyster and shiitake at home
• how to inoculate logs, bunker bags, and garden beds
• some medicinal properties of mushrooms, and a sample of a medicinal mushroom tea
Read more here.
Cost: $55-$65
Foraging Skills Workshop for Edible and Medicinal Plants
Come discover the season’s richness that our Sierra Foothills native and wild flora can provide. Join Daniel, Matt, and Rachel as we visit many of the native bulbs, herbs, and spring greens that will be growing well now. Discussions will include: making cordage, edible greens and bulb identification, strategies for improving wild food production, sustainable harvest techniques, and a medicine making demonstration. Our goal is to send people home with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the nutrition, availability, usefulness, and sense of stewardship of our local plants.
Cost: $25 – $30
Register: At The Yuba Watershed Institute
Creating a Native & Perennial Food Forest
Think beyond your annual backyard favorites like tomato, squash, and lettuce greens, and consider incorporating perennial foods that will continue to yield crops year after year. Over the long run, well-established perennial plants will offer you more food with less time and resources, and can often offer more in terms of beautifying your landscape. Read more here. Cost: $55-$65
Register: At Living Lands Agrarian Network
Spring Wild Food Walk
Meet at the APPLE Center in Nevada City (412 Commercial Street) to explore around town and on a nearby trail to see what wild edibles can be found. We will also discuss rules of wildcrafting and identification of plants.
Other Classes
The following is a list of available classes. Private classes for adults, home-schoolers, and other groups are available. Contact Matt at 530-273-3083 for more information.
Wildcrafting with Acorns: Acorns and bay nuts were a staple food for the ancients of this area. Learn the ancient practice of harvesting and processing these incredibly nutritious and delicious nuts.
Wildfood Walks: Learn about the nutritious world of wild edibles and learn simple recipes to prepare them at home.
Hoop Drum: Learn how to make your own hoop drum, from harvesting the right kind of wood to choosing what form of animal skin to use. This is a two-day workshop, and participants leave with their own beautifully hand-made drum.
Basketry: Using hand-gathered willow, dogwood, and other traditional weaving materials, learn the basics of basket making and start weave your own creation in class.
Primitive pottery: In this special course you will explore the ancient art of pottery. Learn where clay can be found, and how to make a coil pot, and how to fire it. Learn techniques for smoke clouts, burnishing, and natural paints.
Bark Buckets: Learn how to make beautiful containers out of hand-gathered tree bark. These containers are very practical and can be used to make primitive backpacks, fire-kit containers, or beautiful pieces of art.
Fire making: Learn how to make fire by friction with local materials. You’ll also learn about tinder, coal extenders, igniters and tipi fire construction.
Cattail Adventure: Cattails were a staple of life for the indigenous peoples in the Bay Area – providing shelter, food, fire, cordage, baskets, dolls, decoys, visors, mats and many other items. Learn how to gather cattails with primitive tools, when to gather, and how to make them into practical tools for the outdoors.
Mushroom walk: Take a walk in the wild, and learn to identify edible mushrooms that can be gathered in the foothill or bay area region.
Home-Scale Grey Water Installation: learn how to set up a low-cost “laundry to landscape” system at home, using waste water from the washing machine to safely water fruit trees or other outdoor landscape.
Meet up at 1pm at the Permaculture demo garden near the entrance to Ananda (at the 1st intersection go left a little and you are there)