December 2014 Newsletter
Ron Singer, Nursery Manager, demonstrates planting techniques on a previous visit
to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy's Ojai Meadows Nursery. (Photo: Lauren Ward)
December 2014
Herb Walk on Ojai Meadows Preserve
Julie leads the Herb Walk on OVLC's Ojai Meadows Preserve    (All photos: Lorenz K. Schaller)

Thank you to Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, our November guest 

And thanks to all of you who participated

Thirty people joined me and Julie Tumamait-Stenslie for the Herb Walk and Acorn Workshop on November 9. After her welcome song and Four Directions Blessing with indigenous White Sage, we explored the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy's Ojai Meadows Preserve. We identified and discussed 25 native trees and plants including Black Walnut, Cattail, Tule, Hollyleaf Cherry, Wild Rose and Valley Oak ( Quercus lobata), pictured below, the source of the acorns we would be processing in the afternoon.













After lunch we reconvened at Euterpe Farms where Julie led us through the steps of processing acorns to a flour-like meal and then cooking it.

Lisa Grangereau with winnowed acorn meal

She also treated us to homemade acorn cookies that were absolutely delicious. Thank you, Julie!



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Happy Thanksgiving!

Jessica Thompson
Jessica Thompson of Green Goddess Gardens, one of three special guests on December 6

Upcoming Events

    "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow" 

Herb Walk and Native Landscaping Workshop: Saturday, December 6

Kit Stolz's cover story

El Niño or no El Niño?

  That is the question for writer Kit Stolz

For an in-depth look at the science behind this year's forecast for a good (if not great) rainy season this winter, take a look at Ojai journailst Kit Stolz's cover story from the Ventura County Reporter earlier this month.

Bonus feature: the specifics of how climate change may be pushing us towards more drought long-term, a phenomenon known as the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge.

Holiday gifts for the herbally inclined

With the holiday gift season now upon us, the Herb Walks Store at Herb Walks.com is the place to find that special reference book or field guide for the person in your life who shares your interest in native plants, herbal knowledge and related topics.

If that special person is really you, you might consider telling any of your loved ones who ask for suggestions that they can shop for you there.


We have Siskiyou Cedar incense from Juniper Ridge and Herb Walks Gift Certificates, too, so please take a minute to check it out. Your purchases help to defray our expenses and are much appreciated.

Thomas Bostrom

Native Landscaping Workshop

Not one, not two, but three special guest presenters will join us for this event


Now is the time to upgrade your landscape with drought-tolerant native plants. It’s the right thing to do and December is the right time of year to do it.

Join me and three guest experts for an Herb Walk and Native Landscaping Workshop on Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The day will begin with an Herb Walk at Cluff Vista Park in downtown Ojai with special guests, landscape contractor Jessica Thompson of Green Goddess Gardens, and Thomas Bostrom, the landscape architect who designed the park as well as several other iconic Ojai installations. (www.bostrominc.com).

The afternoon workshop will take place at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Ojai Meadows Nursery under the guidance of Nursery Manager Ron Singer.
Ron Singer

In the course of the day, participants will identify and discuss native plants in the context of a professionally designed landscape and gain hands-on experience planting and transplanting natives.

The cost is $30 per person by reservation. Learn more about the presenters and register here.

Discount Code!!!

As our thank-you to you for opening and reading this newsletter, here is a discount code worth 10% off all items (except Gift Certificates and event admission charges) for the month of December at the Herb Walks Store.

Just click on the Herb Walks logo below to get the code, then copy and paste it when requested at checkout.
Discount code!

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah!
www.HerbWalks.com