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March Newsletter

Trail to Wills Canyon

 
March, 2012
Rondia on the VRP (March, 2006)
Rondia on the VRP (March, 2006)

An Herb Hike and an Herb Walk on the OVLC's Ventura River Preserve

Experience this natural treasure at a pace that's right for you

Walking or hiking, either way we have something going on in March on the Ventura River Preserve. This splendid area is ours to roam, thanks to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy.

On Sunday, March 11, we will visit Wills Canyon on the west side of the Ventura River.
 This Herb Hike will take us through the river bottom and across the river to the shaded environment of the oak forest. Along the way we’ll visit riparian and chaparral habitats, learn how to make a positive plant ID, and discuss some of the modern and traditional uses for wild plants we find. Expect a mostly level hike of about 2 miles each way.

Then, on Saturday, March 17, we will return to the Riverview Trailhead on the VRP and take a more leisurely Herb Walk around the river bottom, home to a wide variety of native plants including Elderberry, Islay Cherry, Mountain Lilac and the mysterious Datura.

Both events begin at 9:30 and end at 12 noon. You can Register for either the Herb Walk or the Herb Hike here. There is no prepayment required, just your promise to notify us ASAP if your plans change. You will receive a confirmation email several days before with all necessary info.


Wildlife Tracking on the VRP

Can you guess what animal heralds the arrival of Spring?

The same weekend as our recent Herb Walk 'n' Roll there, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy's Ventura River Preserve was the site of a  class conducted by the Western Tracking Institute who are creating a local tracking team to help study wildlife movements in Ventura County.

Among the tracks they found were coyote, fox, bobcat, raccoon, dusky-footed woodrat, desert woodrat, meadow vole and kangaroo rat. These were all within a short distance of the ADA-Accessible Old Baldwin Road Trailhead where we were on Sunday.

Here is a link to a Facebook photo album of the class.

Based on our own wildlife experience, the first sign of the arrival of Spring on the VRP is the appearance on the trails of the "stink bug," more correctly known as the Darkling Beetle (Coelocnemis californicus).

Darkling Beetle
Seen one lately?

They consume dead and decaying organic material and play an important role in the decomposition process. In addition, there are many natural predators to their larvae, including rodents, lizards, predatory beetles, spiders, and birds.

When threatened, the stink bug assumes a defensive posture by standing on its head and emitting a foul-smelling liquid composed of compounds called quinones, hence the nickname.

At the time of this writing, they have not yet appeared.
Swallowtail
Swallowtail on Yerba Santa,
Matilija Canyon

Matilija Canyon Herb Walk, Sunday, April 1

Beautiful wilderness just 25 minutes from downtown Ojai

Matilija Canyon! Just about everyone’s favorite place to get away from it all without driving to the Sierras. Sweeping vistas. Riparian and chaparral habitats lush with native plant life, birds and wildlife. And a river runs through it. We’ll see Matilija Creek but we won’t cross it on this outing. Just a leisurely walk on a level dirt road surrounded by the sights and smells of the wild plants and herbs.

We’ll carpool at 9 am from the Maricopa Plaza at the Y to the trailhead where there is limited parking. The plan is to reach the trailhead at 9:30 and return to the Y by 12 noon. This is always a popular walk so don’t wait until the last minute.

You can Register here. There is no prepayment required, just your promise to notify us ASAP if your plans change. You will receive a confirmation email several days before with all necessary info.

The cost is $25 for adults, $15 for seniors 62 and older, and $15 for high school students and full-time college students. Kids 5-12 can go free with an adult by prior arrangement. Toddlers must be in a carrier. No dogs, please.

Event may cancel due to rain. If you have questions, feel free to contact Lanny by replying to this email.

Lanny gets into something on the trail
March Schedule of Events

Spring is a great time of year for an Herb Walk or Herb Hike

Sunday, March 11: Wills Canyon
Herb Hike


Saturday, March 17: Ventura River Preserve Herb Walk

Sunday, April 1: Matilija Canyon
Herb Walk

"Herb Walks" are generally easy, slow-moving, on mostly level ground, and do not require crossing streams. They are usually not more than 1.5 to 2 miles round trip.

"Herb Hikes" are more strenuous, cover longer distances, usually about 4-5 miles, and may require climbing steep grades or crossing streams.

The cost is $25 for adults, $15 for seniors 62 and older, and $15 for high school and full-time college students. Kids 5-12 can go free with an adult by prior arrangement. Trades are possible. Toddlers must be in a carrier. No dogs, please.
 
Have you visited our website at HerbWalks.com?

Please check it out, browse the links, watch a video, and let us know what else you would like to see there. 

If you would like to go there right now, try this link.
Dr. Fred supervising Herbal Broth preparation
Dr. Fred supervising Herbal Broth preparation at February's workshop

More workshops with Dr. Fred in the works

February workshop explores warming herbs for the winter

Nine budding "kitchen herbalists" gathered in the dining room of the Ojai Valley Wesleyan Church on Sunday, February 19, for a hands-on class with Herb Walks' own Lanny Kaufer and special guest Fred Siciliano, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, and Master Herbalist. 

Lanny brought fresh-picked samples of Mugwort, Elderberry and Horehound and talked about their families, properties, and habitats. Then Dr. Fred introduced the other herbs, vegetables and spices, discussed their medicinal properties, and supervised as the participants made a warming, medicinal Herbal Broth and two Herbal Teas.

The feedback has been been overwhelmingly positive so more seasonal workshops are being planned. In the meantime, learn more about Dr. Fred at Dr. Fred's Office.
View of Nordhoff Ridge from Howard Creek Trail, Rose Valley Recreation Area
View of Nordhoff Ridge from Howard Creek Trail, Rose Valley Recreation Area
Appeals Court Strikes Down Adventure Pass Fees to Take a Hike

Here's an excerpt from the press release by Alasdair Coyne of Keep the Sespe Wild:

In a ruling that is binding in all western states, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found unanimously last week that the U.S. Forest Service's recreation fee programs must allow citizens to park at trailheads and go for a hike without paying a fee.
   
The San Francisco 
Appeals Court found the U.S. Forest Service at fault for charging parking fees to people who go for a hike without using amenities such as picnic tables, trashcans and bathrooms  located nearby.

Judge Robert Gettleman stated in the ruling that "Everyone is entitled to enter national forests without paying a cent."

The Forest Service is studying the ruling, and has 60 days to request

a rehearing.
   
Locally, fees levied for parking in the Rose Valley Recreation

Area, and along Paradise Road off the Cachuma Pass, are expected to be terminated, except for visitors using  developed car campgrounds.

States Alasdair Coyne, Conservation Director of Keep the Sespe Wild, who has led the local opposition to forest access fees since 1996, "Millions of Americans will once again be free to go for a walk in their national forests, which they jointly own and which have been maintained by  their tax dollars for over a century, without risking being ticketed."

You can read more about it in this recent article from the Santa Barbara Independent: Link here.
www.HerbWalks.com

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