|
|
|
May 2026 HerbWalks
& OjaiHerbal Newsletter |
|
|---|
|
Advance Registration Price
good until May 23 for the
Ojai Herbal Retreat on
Saturday, May 30! |
|
|---|
|
Advance price tickets are on sale now through May 23! Tickets include the option to select a vegetarian lunch delivered to Krotona so that you can stay in retreat outdoors all day. Of course, you can bring your own lunch, too (veggie only per Krotona policy). We also offer student discounts and volunteer opportunities. Please read the articles below for all the info or click here or on the image above to visit the event listing and registration form. |
|
|
|
|
Attendees at the Ojai Herbal Retreat will spend the day outdoors on the beautiful Krotona campus rotating through 3 hands-on workshops and a plant walk. After an opening blessing and land acknowledgment by Chumash elder Patrick Tumamait, our presenters include Emily Watson, Clinical Herbalist and Founder/Director of Artemisia Academy of Herbal Arts & Healing; Jiling Lin, Acupuncturist, Herbalist and Artist; Carol Wade, Registered Herbalist (AHG), Founder/Director, Ojai School of Herbal Studies, and Founder, Earth Island Medicinal Herb Garden; and Lanny Kaufer, Retreat Director, Author of
Medicinal Herbs of California, and Founder of Herb Walks (1976). |
|
|
|
|
Nature Preserve Walk at Taft Gardens
Saturday, May 16
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. |
|
|---|
|
Please join me for one of my occasional Nature Preserve Walks at Taft Gardens. We will explore trails through the wild parts of the property, identify and discuss native plants, and observe birds and animal tracks in the context of local ecology.
This event is a perfect fit with my personal mission to open a space for people to connect with the natural world, starting with the plant kingdom. The diversity of plant communities and native species make Taft Nature Preserve the ideal place. Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve was featured in an L. A. Times article on “The 16 Most Beautiful and Inviting Public Gardens in Southern California” and included in the RedBook Magazine list of “The 12 Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens in the United States.”
The $35 cost includes a $10 donation to benefit the CEF, the non-profit steward of Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve.
I will have my mobile bookshop onsite after the walk, including my book,
Medicinal Herbs of California, and Milt McAuley’s classic
Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains which features every native plant we will see.
Please plan on leaving dogs and cigarettes at home. Thanks.
Click on this link to learn more and sign up,
|
|
|---|
|
Medicinal Herbs of California:
A Field Guide to Common Healing Plants |
|
|---|
|
You can order my book by visiting the Herb Walks bookshop or by clicking on the book cover image above.
To request a simple autograph or have the book signed to your name, when you reach "checkout" use the “Order notes (optional)” field. This personal touch is something not available when purchasing on Amazon or other vendors.
If you already own my book or you're considering buying it, be sure to click on the following link to check out the free hyperlinked bibliography I created to save you the hassle of copying long URLs from the printed page to your browser, enabling you to easily visit any of the web sources linked to the 350 citations in the book. |
|
|---|
|
|
Upcoming
Herb Walks Events |
|
|---|
|
|
SPECIAL EVENT:
SAVE THE DATE:
Herb Walks 50-Year Anniversary Party in the Chumash Garden at Ojai Valley Museum: Saturday, June 27
|
|
|---|
|
Clicking on the USFS logo above will take you to the home page for the Los Padres National Forest.
The following link goes directly to the Ojai Ranger District webpage where you will find info on recreational opportunities, links to info on permits, trail access, road conditions, closure orders, etc. The Matilija Wilderness is now open and Matilija Cyn Rd is expected to open soon!
New directive on plant collecting: If you plan to gather plant material in the Los Padres National Forest, here is their most recent statement on collecting permits as of 2/26/26: “We don't issue those types of permits on the Los Padres currently. You can collect plant material for personal use as long as it is incidental and can be carried in your arms. If you would like to collect more than an incidental amount, you can contact our Southern California zone ecologist, Nicole Molinari at nicole.molinari@usda.gov.” |
|
|---|
|
|
|
An inspiring day of learning, connection, and seasonal restoration. |
|
|
|
|
Reconnect with Nature: The 2026 Ojai Herbal Retreat |
|
|---|
|
Looking for a moment of peace and a chance to deepen your connection to the earth? Join us on Saturday, May 30, for the Ojai Herbal Retreat, hosted amidst the serene and sacred atmosphere of the Krotona Institute.
This is more than just an event; it’s a full-day immersion into the heart of plant medicine and community. We’ve curated a space where you can step away from the noise and gather practical, hands-on wisdom from some of the region’s most respected herbalists.
What to Expect
The day begins with a grounding opening blessing from Chumash elder Patrick Tumamait. From there, you’ll rotate through three interactive workshops and an educational plant walk led by our expert team: herbalists Jiling Lin, Carol Wade, Emily Watson, and Lanny Kaufer.
Secure Your Spot
Take advantage of our advance price discount by registering before the May 23 deadline. You can also simplify your day by pre-ordering a delicious vegetarian lunch, sourced from one of Ojai’s beloved local eateries, delivered right to the grounds.
Student Opportunity:
We are committed to making herbal education accessible. If you are a current full-time student in-person or online, please email info@ojaiherbal.org with proof of enrollment to request a deeply discounted ticket.
Ready to join us? Click the logo above or this link to claim your spot in the garden. For any questions regarding registration or eligibility, feel free to reach out to us at the email address provided above.
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
Krotona Institute in Ojai was founded over 100 years ago. It's the site we chose for the Ojai Herbal Retreat on Saturday, May 30. Surrounding the Mayan Revival-style buildings designed by architect Robert Stacy-Judd, Krotona has planted a forest of beautiful edible and medicinal trees and plants from around the world. Several native plant gardens have been added in recent years.
In keeping with the peaceful, meditative atmosphere, Krotona has installed many benches to allow visitors a place to take in and embody the serenity. For those of our Retreat guests who prefer a bench for 1-3 people instead of a group area, these benches will provide a restorative lunch break.
To see a photo album of 21 of those benches and their surroundings, click here.
|
|
|---|
|
Click to open the local Sierra Club's
Condor Call |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
A Shout-Out to Our 2026 Sponsors of
the Ojai Herbal Retreat! |
|
|---|
|
|
|
 |
|  |
|
|
|
|
