School of Self-Reliance

WILD FOOD FORAGING WALK -- with salad
2025-05-15 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Thursday, May 15, noon

WILD FOOD FORAGING: LUNCH TIME PLANT WALK
Join us to learn some of the basics of wild plant identification, and how to use certain wild plants for food. We’ll discuss some of the common “safe” botanical families, and how to determine if you have the right plant. Learn how to prepare some simple dishes.

Join us for a walkabout in a wild area in the city! We’ll also explore native and introduced plants that grow here. You will be able to take cuttings to grow at home.
We will see introduced tree, native trees, native plants, many introduced European plants. Minimal walking.

Bring water, and a bowl (we might make a salad). A few of the plants found here we rarely see anywhere else.

$45 ($30 seniors/students).
5835 Burwood Ave., Highland Park, CA 90042

IN DEPTH MEDICINAL AND EDIBLE PLANT walk -- with focus on chaparral and native plants
2025-05-24 10:00 - 13:30 UTC
Saturday, May 24, 10 a.m. MEDICINAL AND EDIBLE PLANT walk
CALIFORNIA FORAGING ….. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FORAGING

In this walk, we’ll be looking at some of the common plants — wild — native and non-native, with a focus on the chaparral environment. A true California foraging class! You will see and learn about the edible, and medicinal, uses of these wild plants of the chaparral.
As Hippocrates said, our food should be our medicine. As we explore, we will identify many of the wild plants found along the trail. Most will be common plants that could be found in your backyard and local neighborhood which can be used for food and medicine in these times.
It’s often surprising to learn that some of the best medicine-foods are not grown on farms at all. Learn the two foods that author Michael Pollan suggests you eat.
Join us for this class and we’ll try some wild teas, soup, and probably more.
Bring water and bring your bowl.
Location sent upon registration.

URBAN SURVIVAL SERIES -- FOOD and WATER STORAGE -- IN THE CITY
2025-05-29 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
FOOD IN THE CITY. FOOD AND WATER STORAGE
Thursday, May 29, Noon

We will start with basic home food storage. What should YOU store? How long do these foods last? Can you dry some of your own foods?

We will also talk about the abundant food in the cities, if you know where to look: We will explore the trees on city streets, weeds, neighborhood gardens, and trading.

What grows good in your yard? Are there food items from your trees and bushes? Do you have edible weeds? Do you grow prickly pear cactus?
Learn how to eat the older nopales

We will cover the basics of securing a water supply, including local streams, and even rain and solar stills, as above. We will address various methods of water purification, such as SODIS. And we will share the many ways you can store water in your own home.
Traditional food storage involves drying, canning, picking, and freeze-dried. We’ll discuss each of these. In an emergency, you’ll want food not dependent on electricity for storage.

Learn some of the basics of food storage, and how to create your own food storage system. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

$45 ($30 student/senior).
