Wild Food and Self-Reliance Discovery

To register and for exact location, click HERE

BOW-MAKING WORKSHOP
A time to meet like-minded folks, and to discuss the important issues……..
September 5, 10 a.m.

In our class time, we will cover all the basics of making your own archery bow. You’ll learn how to select a piece of wood for making a bow.
You’ll learn the basics of creating a long bow (aka self bow). You will learn how to determine the belly from the back, how to slowly reduce, how to tiller, make nocks, etc.

Your goal will be to learn all the steps involved in making a functional bow. If you rush because you simply want to take a bow home, you might be disappointed. We will supply the staves for you to use, and we have extra tools.

If you have tools, such as sharp axe, draw knife, files, rasps, etc., bring them. We do bring tools if you don’t have any.

Location given upon registration. This class requires a bit more prep, and so please RSVP. Limited to 14 participants.
$75. ($55 for seniors/ students).

To attend and for exact location, Register HERE
PROCESSING WILD ACORNS — FROM RAW ACORN TO DELICIOUS PANCAKES! SEPTEMBER 12, 10 a.m.

TRADITIONAL ACORN PROCESSING

This Session is a complete lesson on the historical value of the ACORN in west coast native societies, along with some nutritional information. You will then go through the entire process of turning the raw acorn into a delicious food. You’ll shell, grind, leach, test, leach some more, and blend with a few other ingredients to make acorn food products.
If you didn’t already know this, ACORNS are a Super-Food, not simply squirrel food. They contain all the amino acids! Native Americans of the Americas understood this and regularly processed and consumed acorn products. In fact, acorns have been used for food by many cultures the world over. They are still commonly used in Korean dishes. In the U.S., the use of the acorn is experiencing a revival.
We will also prepare a few other wild food dishes, depending on what is in season.
There will be minimal walking today, but still bring your field notebook.
This can apply to an Ethno-botany certificate.
Location sent upon registration.

To attend and for exact location, register HERE

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

To attend and for exact location, register HERE

Saturday, September 26, 10 a.m. FIBRE-CRAFT 101:
The Art of Turning Plant Fibres into Bags, Baskets, Nets, String, Sandals.
We’ve had some requests for a BASKETRY Workshop. This class will include Basketry basics, though this class will not be only basketry.
The art of working fibre is nearly a lost art. You’ll learn to recognize some of the common plants which yield a useful fibre, and learn how to work them into strings, and baskets, and nets, and sandals, and more. In the old days of the Southwest, the lives of the people were literally tied together with fibre: for shelter, for clothing (hats, belts, shoes), fishing nets, bags, weaponry, fire-making, brushes, looms for fabric.
In the past, most people had a more intimate connection to plant fibres. There are so many practical applications, though today someone makes everything we use. So it’s become a lost art.
You will learn how to process a few plant fibres and how to make them into a usable product!

We will do a short walk (if time) and learn about some of the plants that are useful for weaving, and making cordage.
You will then learn by making some of the useful products.
Along the way, you’ll also see many of the other useful and edible plants of the area.
NOTE: PLEASE RSVP SINCE WE NEED TO PLAN TO BRING SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES!
$65 (Seniors and students $45)