Edible & Medicinal Plants Of The Northwest California Klamath Ranges: A Summertime Field Exploration

EDIBLE & MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA KLAMATH RANGES: 
A Summertime Field Exploration

The Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion of Northwestern California is one of the most rugged, sparsely populated, and least visited areas in the state. This forested wildernesscomplex is largely montane, being composed of 7 different interwoven mountain ranges, and reaches its highest elevation at Mt. Eddy (9025’) in the Trinity Mountains. The region also marks a transition point between the Pacific Northwest Floristic Province to the north and the California Floristic Province to the south. The convergence of these two distinct provinces, along with botanical influence from nearby Sierran, Cascadian, and Great Basin bioregions, makes the area one of the most botanically diverse in the U.S. In fact, of the 7,500 vascular plants found in California, at least 3,500 species can be found within this small geographical area, 280 of which are endemic. Come join us as we explore (and enjoy) this extremely rich botanical landscape while learning about the many useful plants found growing there, including: Arnica, Western Pasque Flower, Aconite, Western Greenbrier, Skullcap, Oshala, Gentian, Huckleberry, Milkweed, Pedicularis, and many others! We’ll spend our days hiking and botanizing while reserving evenings for interactive hands-on workshops and relaxing fireside conversation. Keep in mind that cool & refreshing river floats will be worked into the curriculum as well! This full immersion field outing should prove to be insightful and rewarding for anyone interested in knowing more about the unique flora of the region.

Topics to be covered/ hands-on activities include: 

• field botany/plant ID instruction
• study of plant family characteristics 
(appearance and basic chemical traits)
• coverage of edible, medicinal, and utilitarian plant uses
• herbal medicine making activities 
(beginning & advanced)
• wild edible plant processing/preparation methods
• clinical herbal indications plus dosage & 
delivery methods
• regional ethnobotany
• ethical harvesting guidelines and information about 
at-risk medicinal plants
• tips on how to identify and avoid poisonous plants
• botanical safety issues/contraindications
• natural history of the Klamath-Siskiyou region
• microscope sessions (for up-close plant observation)
• sampling of a large variety of edible/medicinal plants
• herbal fermentation techniques


Dates: August 9 – August 13. Partial attendance possible

Meet-up/Departure Time: 

We will meet at a designated camping area between 5pm-8pm on Thur. August 9th. Class ends at 5pm on Mon. August 13th. 

Location: Near Mt. Shasta, CA

Instructors: 

Tellur Fenner (Oakland, CA), Eric Yarnell ND (Seattle, WA), 
Jennifer McCoy (Ashland, OR). 

Class will be taught by not one but THREE experienced herbal clinicians who specialize in the identification, preparation, and use of edible & medicinal plants found growing in the Pacific Northwest. 

Class Fee: Pre-registration discount- $240/ entire session. $180/ 3 days. $120/ 2 days (expires July 23rd). After July 23rd: $280/ entire session. $210/ 3 days. $140/ 2 days

Registration: Email (preferred): bluewindbmc@gmail.com 
Phone: 510-428-1810 

Interested, but don’t have a car? Inquire about carpooling options. 

To Bring: 

Since this is a car-camping trip, no serious backpacking gear is necessary. Things that are necessary are: Tent, Sleeping Bag, Rain Gear, Clothes (for hot/cold weather), Hiking Boots, Hat/Sunscreen, Daypack, Food/Snacks (class fee does not include meals), Camp Stove, Camping Chair, Camping Pad, Swimming Suit, Flashlight/Batteries, Water Bottles, Firewood, and most importantly...a sense of adventure!

Optional (yet recommended): 

Notebook, Camera, Hand lens, Truck Tube (for river floating!). Although a number of educational handouts will be provided, note taking and photo documentation are recommended in order to enhance your learning experience.

Recommended (but not required) Texts: 

Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West by Michael Moore
Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West by Michael Moore
Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West by Michael Moore
Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples by Nancy Turner
A Flora of the Trinity Alps by William Ferlatte
The Jepson Manual 2nd Edition by Baldwin
Botany in a Day by Thomas Elpel
California Plant Families by Glenn Keator
Poisonous Plants of California by Fuller and McClintock
Northwest California: A Natural History by John Sawyer

Instructor Bios:

Tellur Fenner is a clinical herbalist/educator and has traveled extensively throughout the U.S while studying, collecting, and using plant medicines from all the major bioregions. Tellur attended the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, the California School of Herbal Studies, and received his Bachelor's Degree from Prescott College where he majored in Western Herbalism. As an herbalist of the “generalist” persuasion, he believes in the importance of an interdisciplinary practice which integrates the study of botany, ethnobotany, botanical pharmacy, human physiology, phytochemistry, and other biological sciences. He has taught classes and led trips for the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley, CA, San Francisco Botanical Garden, Hayes Valley Farm, Merritt College, Regenerative Design Institute, Point Reyes National Seashore Association, San Francisco Green Festival, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Desert Survivors, California School of Herbal Studies, as well as a number of other organizations. Tellur is an avid camper/hiker, a skilled and experienced outdoor trip leader, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. He is the owner/director of the Blue Wind Botanical Medicine Clinic and Education Center located in Oakland, CA.


Eric Yarnell, ND, RH(AHG) graduated from Bastyr University (Seattle, WA) in 1996, after which he completed a two-year residency with master herbalist and physician Silena Heron, ND in Sedona, AZ. Dr. Yarnell then served as chair of the department of botanical medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM, Tempe, AZ). He is associate professor in the department of botanical medical at Bastyr University where he has taught for 10 year. He continues to teach widely including at SCNM, Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (Vancouver, BC, which he helped found), and at seminars all over the world. He has been in private practice or supervising students since 1997. He is currently chief medical officer at Northwest Naturopathic Urology as well as staff physician at the Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center and supervising physician at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, all in Seattle. His practice focused on the use of herbal medicines for men's health, urology, nephrology, and gastroenterology. Dr. Yarnell is co-founder and chief financial/operations office of Healing Mountain Publishing, Inc., a publisher of natural medicine textbooks for students and practitioners. He is also president of Heron Botanicals, Inc. which provides hand-crafted, whole, fresh plant extracts exclusively to health care providers. Dr. Yarnell is author of numerous texts and articles including Natural Approach to Gastroenterology 2nd ed, Naturopathic Urology and Men's Health, and the forthcoming Natural Approach to Nephrology (all by Healing Mountain Publishing). He is co-author of Clinical Botanical Medicine 2nd ed (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.) and the A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Prima Publishing).


Jennifer McCoy is a Clinical Herbalist who has been enthusiastically studying herbal medicine and healthcare for 10 years and has been in clinical practice for 4 years. She is currently engaged in a mentorship program with Jonathan Treasure, RH (AHG) and Jason Miller, L.A.c, CH, while also managing their dispensary at Jade Mountain Medicine. At Morningstar Healing Arts, she sees clients as a Clinical Herbalist in collaboration with Dr. Howard Morningstar, M.D. and is also part of the Medical Assistant team. She is a graduate of the Vitalist School of Herbology, former apprentice and teacher in Jon Carlson's program. She does further mentorship with Howie Brounstein & 7Song, in working towards professional membership in the American Herbalist Guild. Jennifer has studied with a variety of herbalists including Rosemary Gladstar, Adam Seller and Sharol Tilgner. She attended the Herb Pharm education program and subsequently taught classes on the Benefits of Fermented Foods, Herbal Fermentation, Medicine Making, Wildcrafting Ethics, and Desert Plants. Jennifer graduated from Plymouth State University in NH with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology/Sociology. Through her business, Aralia Alchemy, she maintains an apothecary of organic and ethically wildcrafted dried herbs and professionally made herbal extracts. She enjoys cultivating, wildcrafting, and sourcing premium quality herbs that are used in making custom tea blends and tinctures for clients. Her dedication to herbal medicine continues to provide numerous opportunities to expand her knowledge and experience, while remaining motivated in grassroots health care issues and activism. She loves living in Ashland, Oregon amongst a community rich in holistic healthcare, where the amazing botanical diversity feeds her passion, a gracious climate fills her garden, and homemade ferments and medicinal meads keep her bubbly.