I did tell you in the January newsletter that these are popular. Now the folks on the waiting list for the February event are signing up for March. That's all I'm gonna say right here so look for the article about that one further on and join the fun. 

Santa Barbara News-Press features acorns (and me)

Staff writer Josh Grega and photographer Rafael Maldonado visited me in Ojai in December for an article about acorn processing entitled "He's nuts about acorns." The paper hasn't posted it yet so you can see it here.  

I'll be breaking out my acorn pancake recipe for the Stone Soup Picnic on Monday, February 17.

Presidents' Day Herb Walk and "Stone Soup" Picnic on February 17

Join me on Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 17, for an Herb Walk and “Stone Soup” Picnic at Euterpe Farms in Ojai. We’ll walk the borders of the farm adjacent to the Ventura River Preserve identifying edible and medicinal plants such as sagebrush, purple sage, white sage, and elderberry. Then we’ll gather around an oak wood fire for wild food processing demos and a “stone soup” picnic based on the folk tale of the same name. The soup will be built around a California bay leaf (in place of the stone) and dried creek nettles.

A foraged side salad topped with local wild black walnuts might include seasonal greens such as miner’s lettuce, chickweed, thistle, sweet fennel, and mustard. We’ll also process wild-harvested oak acorns and prepare savory acorn pancakes.

Read more and register at this link.

ForestWatch Volunteers Remove 60 Pounds of Lead From Sespe Tributary

On Sunday, January 26, a group of Los Padres Forest Watch (LPFW) volunteers ventured out into the upper Sespe Creek watershed to clean up an illegal target shooting site. 

Altogether, the group removed over 180 pounds of trash, including 60 pounds of lead ammunition in and around the creek.

To read more and learn about volunteering with LPFW, please visit this link.

Supermoon Sunset Herb Walk and After-Party on Sunday, March 8

On Sunday evening, March 8, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., I’ll lead a Supermoon Sunset Herb Walk to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the simultaneous sunset and moonrise. Following the walk is an optional “after-party” at Azu Restaurant and Ojai Valley Brewery for delicious food and local, native herb-infused beers and non-alcoholic beverages.

Restaurant manager Elizabeth Haffner, brewmaster Jeremy Haffner, and the chef have planned a special prix fixe Beer Paired Tasting Menu featuring a flight of 4 beers paired with a seasonal tasting menu.

Those who complete payment for the walk will receive instructions for reserving the custom dinner. If they choose not to reserve, they can still order beverages, appetizers or entrees à la carte from the regular menu.

Read all the juicy details and register at this link.