A guide to over 300 species of plants geographically ranging from Baja California to Alaska.

"This book is an excellent deep dive into California's wild edibles, revealing a real affection for and intimate familiarity with our state's flora." --Iso Rabins, founder of ForageSF California offers a veritable feast for foragers, and with Judith Larner Lowry as your trusted guide you will learn how to safely find and identify an abundance of delicious wild plants. The plant profiles in California Foraging include clear, color photographs, identification tips, guidance on how to ethically harvest, and suggestions for eating and preserving. A handy seasonal planner details which plants are available during every season. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers in the Golden State.

The Ethnobotany of the California Indians, revised, updated, expanded, from the First Edition (2003), is a compilation of 1,343 plants listed in alphabetic order by their scientific names. For each of the listings, depending upon the available literature, there are sub-headings that note by the tribe how the plant was utilized: Food; Material; Medicine; Miscellaneous. In addition, there are sections that provide the native terminology if available, Citations, as well as a Notes section presenting information on such things as food value, hazardous properties, etc. There is a full Reference Section and four Appendices: Tribal Listing by Plant Entry Number; Native Orthography; Plants Synonyms; and a Glossary.

Presents the history, culture, daily life and religion of Central California's Ohlone people.

The Ohlone occupied a large region of California, spanning from what is now San Francisco along the coast and into the center of the state. This group of people was characterized by the well-organized villages in which they lived, the customs they practiced, and the language they spoke. However, much of this changed when the Europeans invaded Ohlone country in 1769. They faced disease, discrimination, and a loss of their original lifestyle. Today, the Ohlone still fight for the preservation of their culture and traditions. This book sheds light on the Ohlone way of life prior to the European arrival and the importance of respecting American Indians' rights.

For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay people of northern Baja California and southern California made their homes in the diverse landscapes of the region, interacting with native plants and continuously refining their botanical knowledge. Today, many Kumeyaay Indians in the far-flung ranches of Baja California carry on the traditional knowledge and skills for transforming native plants into food, medicine, arts, tools, regalia, construction materials, and ceremonial items. Kumeyaay Ethnobotany explores the remarkable interdependence between native peoples and native plants of the Californias through in-depth descriptions of 47 native plants and their uses, lively narratives, and hundreds of vivid photographs. It connects the archaeological and historical record with living cultures and native plant specialists who share their ever-relevant wisdom for future generations. Book jacket.

In the mid-nineteenth century the indigenous Potter Valley Pomo resided in large sedentary villages in Potter Valley, California, and travelled seasonally throughout an extensive territory in what are now Mendocino and Lake Counties. Beginning in 1890 what would become nearly a half century of ethnographic research among members of this community, homeopathic doctor and amateur anthropologist John W. Hudson witnessed the aftermath of their dislocation and dispersal from the valley following the arrival of non-indigenous settlers. Although never published, his fieldnotes contained an unparalleled dataset on plant use by a single local indigenous community in California. In this richly illustrated monograph the author presents and interprets this historical ethnobotanical information in order to provide new insights into Potter Valley Pomo society and its relationship to the Northern California landscape.

In Native American Medicinal Plants, anthropologist Daniel E. Moerman describes the medicinal use of more than 2700 plants by 218 Native American tribes. Information--adapted from the same research used to create the monumental Native American Ethnobotany--includes 82 categories of medicinal uses, ranging from analgesics, contraceptives, gastrointestinal aids, hypotensive medicines, sedatives, and toothache remedies. Native American Medicinal Plants includes extensive indexes arranged by tribe, usage, and common name, making it easy to access the wealth of information in the detailed catalog of plants. It is an essential reference for students and professionals in the fields of anthropology, botany, and naturopathy and an engaging read for anyone interested in ethnobotany and natural healing.

These captivating and original stories use spiritual allegories to teach us to be caretakers of Mother Earth and invoke appreciation for the sacredness of all life.

We hear buzzwords like “sustainable” or “permaculture” and “organic” today. But these techniques were here long before we started talking about “going green.” Perhaps your grandparents also knew some of the older, gentler ways. Many are simply intuitive and based on fostering a closer relationship with nature and the land. If you don’t already, you might want to think about integrating some of these techniques into your own landscape. Many of the following practices are often viewed as “new” to the gardening world, but they’ve been around for a long, long time. They have all been traditionally used by Native American peoples, but that is not to say that all of these techniques were used by all Native American cultures. Just like separate countries, indigenous cultures vary widely in their gardening philosophies and techniques.

Explore Native American narratives--for kids ages 6 to 9 Native Americans have a long tradition of storytelling. Now, you can easily introduce your children to these rich cultures with a compilation of powerful tales from multiple tribes like the Cheyenne and the Lenape. What sets this book apart from other Native American books for kids: Tales from 12 tribes--Kids will embark on a literary adventure with 12 stories from tribes around America, exploring lore about how the mountain Denali formed, why the North Star stays still, and more. Tribal history--Every story ends with a brief historical sketch of the tribe, providing context and offering a glimpse into their way of life and their traditions. Fun facts--The learning doesn't stop with the stories; a collection of fascinating facts, suggestions for additional reading, and a glossary of important words give kids a deeper understanding and appreciation. Spark excitement in Native American history and culture with enchanting stories from tribes across the continent.

For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay people of northern Baja California and southern California made their homes in the diverse landscapes of the region, interacting with native plants and continuously refining their botanical knowledge. Today, many Kumeyaay Indians in the far-flung ranches of Baja California carry on the traditional knowledge and skills for transforming native plants into food, medicine, arts, tools, regalia, construction materials, and ceremonial items. Kumeyaay Ethnobotany explores the remarkable interdependence between native peoples and native plants of the Californias through in-depth descriptions of 47 native plants and their uses, lively narratives, and hundreds of vivid photographs. It connects the archaeological and historical record with living cultures and native plant specialists who share their ever-relevant wisdom for future generations. Book jacket.

In the mid-nineteenth century the indigenous Potter Valley Pomo resided in large sedentary villages in Potter Valley, California, and travelled seasonally throughout an extensive territory in what are now Mendocino and Lake Counties. Beginning in 1890 what would become nearly a half century of ethnographic research among members of this community, homeopathic doctor and amateur anthropologist John W. Hudson witnessed the aftermath of their dislocation and dispersal from the valley following the arrival of non-indigenous settlers. Although never published, his fieldnotes contained an unparalleled dataset on plant use by a single local indigenous community in California. In this richly illustrated monograph the author presents and interprets this historical ethnobotanical information in order to provide new insights into Potter Valley Pomo society and its relationship to the Northern California landscape.

The Ethnobotany Project documents the contemporary uses of native plants of profound importance to the intellectual, spiritual and cultural vitality of California Indian people, from the Chumash territories to the Paipai and Kiliwa territories in Baja California. Many of our collaborators are repositories of cultural knowledge, eloquent defenders of the land, its sacredness for Native people, and its importance for all species that inhabit the land.