School of Self-Reliance

WILD FOOD COOKING -- edible wild plants of Southern California
2025-07-26 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
WILD FOOD COOKING WORKSHOP
Learn Edible Wild Plants of Southern California
Saturday, July 26, 10 a.m.
$65 ($45 for students and seniors)
We’re going to explore a local area, and do our best to create a local meal provided by nature.

We’ll create a meal with a salad, soup, vegetable dish, egg dish, pancakes, and a drink, from plants that we collect today and from plants that were previously collected. Our walk will not be long — it will be somewhat leisurely. We will collect along the way, learning how to identify food plants, as well as other non-food plants that we encounter.
Foraging has gotten popular — learn how to ethically forage, and how to properly identify wild plants. A great survival skill!

We never know exactly what we’ll find, but we are likely to have wild greens for salad and soup, buckwheat for pancakes, herbs for tea, cactus for an omelette, and possibly some wild fruits for a dessert item. But we don’t really know until after we do our walk about.
THIS COUNTS TOWARDS THE ETHNO-BOTANY CERTIFICATE.

Location sent out when you register.
$65 (senior/student $45)

THE ART OF MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS -- a series
2025-09-27 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
THE ART OF MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS
This “class” is primarily focused on waking participants to the purpose for and means to see “relationships” in their higher perspective of the overall Purpose for embodiment in a human body. “Class” is in quotes because the term “class” is used as a communication convenience. That is because this “class” will serve as a Guidant on the path of Seeking why and how to have and manage relationships. This “class” will require at least 3 committed class members to attend at the frequency or one “class: per month attendance.
Central to our focus in this “class” is gender and all its ramifications. This “class” will focus on human relationships and will include significant others, marriage partners, progeny, siblings, relatives, acquaintances, co-workers, et al. The goal is to find the universal Principles in all relationships, and to discover their overall Purpose, as well scientific ways to manage those relationships.
The class coordinator, Prudence Boczarski-Chukwudi, is uniquely qualified to lead the participants to their collective AHAs! because of her over 40 years of study in all aspects of the topic. Prudence, in addition, was close assistant to the original author of this class, Richard E. White (aka, REVVE or Key Q. Ell), and was mentored to explore and live the Principles taught in the class. Prudence’s experimentation has led to her own insights regarding relationships that will be helpful to those in need of some guidance in this, sometimes treacherous, endeavor called “forming and keeping relationships.”
A Zoom link is available to those who wish to join electronically. After paying the class fee of $51 per class and $500 for the 10-class series, by sending your check or cash to WTI at 5835 Burwood Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90042, send your email address for a link to the Zoom class.
Regular fee is $51/class. $68./couple; $34./ students & elderly
Please join us in taking a deep look into relationships and what makes them work.

FREE SURVIVAL SKILLS LECTURE - BURBANK CENTRAL LIBRARY
2025-10-03 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Christopher Nyerges will speak about outdoor survival skills at the Burbank Central Library, Friday, October 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Library is located at 110 N. Glenoaks in Burbank.
You will learn about plants, water, fire, tools, all with an application to urban survival scenario and the need to possibly evacuate.
A short video will be shared.
Books by Nyerges will be available for purchase.
Survival School! – Burbank Public Library

FALL GARDENING WORKSHOP. CANCELLED Led by Urban Gardener Julie Balaa!
2025-10-18 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
CLASS CANCELLED. WATCH THE SCHEDULE FOR THE NEW DATE….

— Saturday, October 18, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., $34.
Julie discussing and selling nopales at the farmers market
Cactus pad and sprawling purslane

Getting Started with Fall Gardening
Saturday, October 18, 3 p.m.
Our focus today is how to get started on Fall Gardening.
You will learn about seed selection, timing of plantings, how to actually go about the plantings, mulching, tree planting and more.
This is both lecture and hands-on, and you’ll get to ask all the questions you may have.
Note: This is part of a series of 3 classes on Fall Gardening. September 20, October 18, and November 15. You can attend one or all.
Location: 5835 Burwood Ave., Highland Park, CA., 90042. Julie’s greenhouse is at this location as well, and plants are available for purchase.
$34./person. Prepay with Zelle using Julie’s phone number. For information call/email Julie at: 323-255-4028 or email at juliebalaa@gmail.com

Note: Julie’s new book, “Low Cost Emergency Preparedness: A DIY Guide to Family Disaster Preparedness,” will also be available for sale, for $17.

MID-DAY NATURAL NAVIGATION CLASS
2025-10-23 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
October 23, noon
Getting around accurately is a valuable survival skill! Sometimes you have a compass and map, and sometimes you don’t.
In this two-hour class, you’ll learn how to construct a sun compass, and how you can use that to tell direction and time. This sun compass is nearly as accurate as your magnetized compass, and the “clock” is more accurately telling you local solar time — good enough for general purposes.

You’ll also learn some natural methods of telling direction, which are ages-old observations. You’ll learn which are worth remembering, and which are “old husband’s tales.”

We’ll also address how to identify constellations for telling directions, and how to navigate with only a compass. So bring your compass.

What we cover in our short time will depend upon how much time everyone needs to grasp the concepts. Location 2, Hahamongna Watershed Park.

BASIC NATURAL NAVIGATION, AND ORIENTATION
2025-11-29 10:00 - 13:30 UTC
NATURAL NAVIGATION AND ORIENTATION
Saturday, November 29, 10 a.m.

What are some of the tried-and-proven methods for navigation that people have used for centuries?
We’ll begin with observations of the terrain — shadows, looking at trees, moisture, feeling rocks, insect signs, etc.
We’ll learn how to use the stars, the sun, the moon, for navigation, including how to read the natural terrain. These are skills that our grandparents took for granted, but as we rely more and more on technologies, we have forgotten these very basic skills.
Yes, you’ll also learn the basics of how to read a map, how to use a compass, how to align the map with a compass, and ways to navigate the terrain with these tools.
Since this is a two-hour lunchtime class, we will cover the most basic skills.
We’ll do exercises to test your new skills. Bring a notebook.

Location sent with registration
$65 (Students and seniors, $45)
This class can be applied towards Bushcraft Certificate

WINTER GET-TOGETHER, 10 a.m. FREE
2025-12-13 10:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
DECEMBER 13, 10 A.M.
WINTER GET-TOGETHER/ TRADE-BLANKET, FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF SCHOOL OF SELF-RELIANCE.
NO FEE, NO NEED FOR A “TICKET” — JUST SHOW UP! (DIRECTIONS below)
Our annual gathering for Friends and Family of the School of Self-Reliance.

We will have a “trade blanket” where several people will be having books, gear, knives, etc. for trade or sale.
We will also discuss what makes a good “survival kit” — so bring your kit if you want it “analyzed.”

We will also have most of Christopher’s books available, as well as GIFT CERTIFICATES.
BRING A FOLDING CHAIR!

We’ll meet and share some survival stories, including what should always be in your “survival pack” in order to be prepared for the unexpected.

Do you want to bring products for sale or trade? Please let Christopher know.

It’s a good time to get to know each other better, and learn more skills in a relaxed setting. Location 2, Hahamongna Watershed Park. DIRECTIONS: The park is located on Pasadena’s west side, bordering La Canada. Check your Google Maps to find it, and you’ll likely be exiting the 210 freeway. The park entrance is Foothill and Oak Grove Drive. Enter the park, drive in, stay on the upper road until you see the outdoor bathroom, and park. We’ll be by the tables there.
There is no fee, but let us know you’re coming!

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL FOUNDATION COURSE
2026-02-21 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Saturday, February 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wilderness survival: “Foundation Course” — Led by Keith Farrar, James Ruther, and assorted ad hoc, adjunct assistants.

Wilderness Survival Foundation Course:

Not all who wander are lost, however, some are, which is why learning Wilderness Survival is critical.

In this Wilderness Survival Foundation Course, we address the priorities in a wilderness survival situation.
Learning what priority to address first and how to address each priority is the best way to understand what to do if you have to spend an unplanned night or two in the wilderness.

Each topic is addressed in such a way that you will have a thorough understanding along with hands-on experience with that skill. While each topic, on its own, can be a full multi-day class, you will be comfortable enough with what you learn at this foundation class –or curious enough — to go further in your learning experience.

James Ruther demonstrating how to make a survival net

Due to personalized instruction, class size is limited.

What to bring:
Please bring a camp chair, lunch (there is no time to leave for lunch), water, appropriate clothing for the weather a compass (if you have one) and any personal wilderness survival items you might like to discuss.

We start the class at 10:00 (please arrive a bit early) and we finish around 3:00. There will be a very short lunch break somewhere along the program.

There are several hands-on portions, including but not limited to:

Emergency Shelter Set-Up’s
Critical outdoor knots to facilitate emergency shelters
Fire making (modern & primitive)
Basic Compass use
Emergency Navigation
Signaling for rescue
Water Purification
Deadfall Traps

What is different about this class? So may survival instructors give a list of gear to carry….we teach what needs to be done, and from that information, you decide what gear to carry based on what you are comfortable using to facilitate each priority in a survival situation.

Keith has taught this program for over 15 years and feels your confidence in what to do in a wilderness survival situation will significantly increase with the knowledge gained in this class.

Learning about emergency shelters
$75. [$55 for seniors/ students]
Location sent out upon registration.
Keith Farrar demonstrates how to turn a tarp into an emergency shelter

URBAN PREPAREDNESS -- in view of the many recent Disasters
2026-05-02 10:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Urban Survival Guide, by Nyerges
Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.
Urban Preparedness can mean a life of self-reliance! But it also means you’re a bit more prepared for disasters such as an earthquake, or a flood, or a fire.
We will cover some of the basic elements that you should know in order to take care of yourself at home. This class is all about urban preparedness.
We’ll cover issues about WATER and how to store water in Los Angeles County. What FOODS should you store, and grow. We will also show (and cook) some wild foods. We will share how to COOK in your backyard if you can’t use your indoor stove. We will address first aid only minimally — we suggest you take a Red Cross course. We will share TOILET alternative that is relatively easy. We will also show some of the alternate devices to ELECTRICAL devices. And we’ll talk about the notion of a “bug out bag,” and some common sense, such as the benefits of joining Neighborhood Watch, or starting one, if one is not active in your neighborhood.
This class will include a short PLANT WALK to learn about edible and medicinal wild plants.
Location sent with registration
Books and products will be available for sale
