Past Events
Fall 2009
Living Wild and Local- An Evening of Native Food and Art from the Plants of This Place
Saturday, October 24, 2009 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Hosted By The Living Wild Project at the Lodge at Camp Augusta
The native plants growing around us are a truly local and sustainable resource since they only use the rain for water needs, provide habitat corridors for wildlife, and offer food specific to the wild and human animals living in this place.
Join the Yuba Watershed Institute for an evening of food and art recognizing the environment around us. Watch wild-crafting demonstrations. Taste appetizers and desserts developed with native plants by the finest chefs in Nevada County and nominate your favorite recipe for the “Wild Chef Award.” Sip healthy homebrewed beer and wine made from wild plants. Experience the beauty of functional wild art through demonstrations, exhibits and sales by local artisans including: hand-crafted chairs, pottery made from native clays, jewelry from plants, baskets woven from Ceanothus, Cattail, and Pine Needle and traditional Maidu Indian crafts..
Proceeds go to support the educational activities of the Yuba Watershed Institute and the Tsi-Akim Maidu Tribe.
Tickets must be purchased in advance of the event! Space is limited, so reserve early.
YWI and Tsi-Akim Tribal Members $35
General Admission $40
Download Living Wild and Local Printable Flyer
Save the Big Trees of the 'Inimim Forest Volunteer Workday
Saturday, November 14, 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Meet at the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
Join the Yuba Watershed Institute and the Bureau of Land Management for the people-powered removal of highly flammable ladder fuels from large diameter trees in Long Ravine in the ‘Inimim Forest. Come experience draft horse logging techniques, demonstrated by Helen and Brent McDermott and their horse Mac, which could be applied on your own forested property to minimize ground disturbance and damage to residual trees. Please bring your own lunch, water, work gloves and hand tools (hand saws, loppers, etc.). While this is a free event, we strongly encourage volunteer pre-registration.
Foraging Skills Workshop for Edible and Medicinal Plants
Saturday, November 21, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Meet at the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
Do you know how many wild and feral edibles are in your foodshed? Want to be more self-sufficient and connected with nature by wild-crafting with plants for all your needs? We will spend the day uncovering the abundance of useful plants that surround us all. We will cover how to identify plants, their nutritional and medicinal values, strategies for enhancing wild food production and sustainable harvesting methods. We will have fun making wild weed energy bars, manzanita cider and a medicinal preparation. Potluck local/wild lunch to share at midday. We will be in the field all day.
Instructors: Rachel and Matt Berry
YWI Members $15.00
General Admission $18.00
Pre-registration Recommended.
Download Course
Registration
The 12th Annual Fungus Foray
Friday and Saturday, December 11&12
Sacred Mushrooms: Paths in History and In Myth with Dale Pendell
Pre-event introductory slideshow and presentation
Friday, December 11, 7:30PM
The North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
Presenter: Daniel Nicholson and Friends
$7.00 Suggested Donation
The Fungus Foray
Saturday, December 12, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
Field collection Saturday morning will wrap up with an afternoon display table assembly, wild mushroom tasting, discussions and identification workshops and an array of fungus-inspired activities for the whole family. Concessions and mushroom merchandise available for sale. Bring a lunch and be prepared to walk in the woods. Also useful: collection basket, waxed paper bags, knife, hand lens. Rain or shine event.
Instructor: Daniel Nicholson and Friends
$18.00 YWI Members
$22.00 General Admission
Under 18 Free
It is not necessary to register for this event.
For more information, contact Daniel Nicholson 530/292.3589 or danmadrone@yahoo.co
Spring 2009
Homestead Forestry Weekend Intensive
Friday and Saturday, March 27 & March 28
Small Parcel Forest Management: A Slideshow Overview of Basic Techniques in Rural Homestead Forestry
Friday, March 27, 7:00 PM
The North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
Come learn how to enjoy and preserve the forest land around your rural homestead. The evening is designed for rural/forest parcel owners concerned with the myriad issues of private land use. A wide variety of topics will be addressed, including: firewood, burn pile strategies, leaf composting, plant species diversity, hydrology and understanding your understory: fire hazard or great wildlife habitat?
$5.00-$10.00 Suggested Donation
Forest Skills Workshop
Saturday
, March 28, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
Learn the specific tools to put to use on your own land. This demonstration-based workshop will present homestead scale examples of how to handle leaf litter, small brush, firewood and usable timber. Presentations will include: personal safety; hand tool, chain saw, chipper, wood splitter basics; how to put a new handle on an ax or maul; the use of splitting wedges; how to split a cedar fence rail; and milling of logs (Theo Killigrew). Pre-made sandwiches and lunch items will be available for purchase.
Instructor: Gary Parsons, Bob Erickson, Leslie Guinan, Theo and Michael Killigrew
$12.00 YWI Members
$15.00 General Admission
Pre-registration Recommended.
Animal Tracking and Nature Awareness: A Lecture and Tracking Field Seminar
Saturday, April 18, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
Learn where to find animals and how to identify their tracks. Understanding the language and behavior of birds is central to the process. Asking questions from a curious and knowing place will be a powerful to to unlocking the world outside your door. After a lecture on the basics of tracking, there will be a walk in the field to explore some tracking hot spots. Bring a lunch and good walking shoes.
Instructor: Scot Woodland
$10 YWI Members
$12 General Admission
Pre-registration Recommended.
Flowers, Berries, Bark, and Leaves—A Natural Treasure Hunt for
Kids
Saturday, April 25, 10:00 AM to Noon with a picnic lunch following
the workshop
Using a treasure map, we will discover the beauty and
uses of seasonal plants. The walk will conclude with plant stories, crafts,
and a take-home garden. Bring a picnic lunch. Meet at Mother Trucker’s
at 9:45 AM for carpooling and caravanning to Murphy Ranch.
Instructors: Alicia Funk and Julie Carville
Children of all ages free with registered adult. General: $20,
YWI and CNPS Members: $15
Pre-registration Required.
Download Course
Registration
Birds of the Yuba Watershed Weekend Intensive
May 1 & May 3
Birds of the Yuba Watershed Slideshow
Friday, May 1, 7:00 PM
Madelyn Helling Library Community Room
A slideshow introduction to the birds of this area
by David Lukas, the author of the revised Sierra Nevada Natural History,
Wild Birds of California, Watchable Birds of the Great Basin and Birds
of the San Juan Ridge. David
Lukas’ current book project, Field guide to the Birds of the Sierra
Nevada, is a joint project with Ted Beedy.
Presenter: David Lukas
$5.00 Suggested Donation
Revealing the Magic of Birds
Sunday, May 3, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
Join us for this rare opportunity to learn about bird flight and anatomy. In
this in-depth workshop we will first explore the ways that feathers, bones,
muscles, and digestion help a bird fly. Then we will dissect a pigeon to see
how all the parts fit together. At the end of the workshop you will never see
birds in the same way again! Bring a lunch and your curiosity.
Instructor: David Lukas
$35.00 YWI Members
$45.00 General Admission
Pre-registration Required.
Download Course Registration
The Coast Horned Lizard—A presentation and
field seminar with Jackson Shedd
Saturday, May 9, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
An introduction to this rare animal’s natural
history, where it is found in California and its apparent disappearance.
We will visit Bald Mountain in search of them in their natural environment.
Bring a lunch and be prepared for hiking.
Instructor: Jackson Shedd
$10 YWI Members
$12 General Admission
Pre-registration Recommended.
Download Coast Horned
Lizard Flyer
Download Course
Registration
Serpentine Soils and Vegetation—A
field seminar with Hugh Safford
Saturday, May 16, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Meet at North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
This hands-on, informal field seminar will cover the general ecology and geologic features of serpentine soils and their accompanying vegetation in the Sierra Nevada.
Instructor: Hugh Safford
$10 YWI Members
$12 General Admission
Pre-registration Recommended.
Download Course
Registration
For more information about YWI’s events and programs, contact Tania Carlone at 530-265-4459 or tania@yubawatershedinstitute.org