This Saturday, May 6, we'll go deep into the Sespe Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest on Potrero John Creek, 20 miles north of Ojai. We'll cover 1.7 miles each way on a mostly level trail with very gradual elevation gain through chaparral and riparian settings, beginning at 3700 feet.

This hike is presented under a Special Use Permit from the Ojai Ranger District Office of the U.S. Forest Service designed for guides who provide recreational and interpretive services to the public.

To learn more and sign up, click here.

I have been honored with an invitation to present at the esteemed 25th Annual Health Classic held from June 1-4 at the beautiful La Casa De Maria Retreat Center in the Montecito area of Santa Barbara.

My class will take place on Saturday, June 3, from 11:30 a.m.to 1:30 p.m. and will consist of an Herb Walk on the neighboring San Ysidro Trail followed by a slideshow talk about the edible and medicinal plants to be found in the Santa Barbara foothills and mountains.

A gourmet vegetarian lunch is available for an addtional $12. SPECIAL OFFER: Lunch will be included free of charge for the first 5 people to register for my class.

Read more and sign up here.

Santa Paula Canyon in the Los Padres National Forest is home to the Punchbowl, one of the finest swimming holes in Southern California and a local scenic wonder. The canyon is home to a large community of riparian and chaparral plants and wildlife native to this region. And it’s also home to an oil drilling operation.

For many years, the County of Ventura and the U.S. Forest Service have tried to find a balance between the rights of the drilling company and the needs of citizens who wish to enjoy the canyon and its waters.

Enter CFROG, Citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas, whose mission, as their name implies, is to make sure that oil and gas activities in Ventura County are only allowed when the environment and public health are protected.

Read more here about how you can enjoy this rewarding hike and contribute to CFROG's work at the same time. 50% of the proceeds will benefit CFROG.

The Santa Monica Mountains are a great wildflower garden for Southern California. Join me for a slideshow and short hike at King Gillette Ranch to learn about some of the most important and useful flowering plants as described in Milt McAuley’s Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains.


The book will be available to purchase in the Visitor Center bookstore. Free program, free parking. Limited participation so reservations are required. Email samo@wnpa.org or call 805-370-2302.

Dr. James Adams, USC pharmacology professor and healer for the San Fernando Valley Chumash, returns on Saturday, June 17, for another seasonal workshop. These regularly sell out so make your reservation now at this link.

I’m excited to be presenting on the local edible and medicinal plants found on the trails around Santa Barbara. It’s free and open to the public. So come on down! More info here.

Join me for this 5-mile Nature Hike to the El Nido Meadow where we will visit several different plant habitats including riparian, chaparral and oak woodland.

After rock-hopping across the Ventura River, we’ll take the gradually elevating Rice Canyon Trail up to the Meadow where we’ll break for lunch and take a moment to honor the meaning of the holiday. We’ll return by way of the Wills Canyon Trail, making a loop.

Along the way we’ll discuss and demonstrate sustainable foraging and identify edible, medicinal, and otherwise useful plants.

Read more and register here.

Are you looking for a unique birthday, Mother's Day, graduation or Father's Day gift for that nature-loving person in your life?

Learn more here and order one today. And please check out my unique bookstore, too.

Peter Green got some great shots of the April 30 Herb Walk and was kind enough to post them here for all to see.