Volcan Mountain Foundation

Registrations for Wildcrafting: Wild Winter Conifer Tea Party are now full. A wait list has been started. CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAIT LIST

Sunday, January 26 come learn the art of wildcrafting with conifers at the Volcan Mountain Foundation's Volcan Mountain Nature Center at the headwaters of Santa Ysabel Creek in Julian. You will learn to make cranberry conifer scones and wild conifer tea blends during a Wild Winter Conifer Tea Party!  

Foraging in the winter months can be challenging, especially if you live in a cold area where the temperature drops below freezing.  But no matter how cold it gets on Volcan Mountain, the one thing that is always available and abundant are conifers!

Conifers are evergreen trees with needles that produce a cone to spread their seeds. Not only are they beautiful, but their needles are tasty too!  With the exception of a few species, many conifer needles and nuts are edible and can be added to baked goods for flavor or infused to make oils, tinctures, salves, and wild teas. We are lucky to have many different species of conifers that live right at our nature center, including Big Cone Douglas Fir, Coulter Pine, White Fir, Arizona Cypress, and Incense Cedar. 

For this workshop, we will take a walk to our Conifer Grove and learn how to identify several different species of conifers using observation and our senses. Next, we will forage some tasty needles and head back to the Webb Education center to celebrate the winter season with a Wild Winter Conifer Tea Party!  We will break into teams to prepare Cranberry Conifer Scones and wild teas.  

Wildcrafting is the age-old practice of collecting or harvesting plants from their natural habitat, or “wild” habitat, for food, medicine or craft.  It applies to uncultivated plants wherever they might be found and is not necessarily limited to wilderness areas.  Ethical considerations and sustainable behaviors are practiced, such as protecting endangered species and avoiding potential depletion of commonly held resources. The practice of sustainable wildcrafting requires making a commitment to develop your knowledge and connection to the natural landscape, deepen your local sense of place, and take responsibility for its regeneration for future generations.

CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAIT LIST

Date: Sunday, January 26

Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Cost: Activity Fee is $25 per person. Click Here to Register and Pay no later than Saturday, January 25. (Registration closes at 5:00 pm); Space is limited to 12 participants. CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAIT LIST

Due to the gated entry for VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center (22850 Volcan Road/4002 Farmer Road, Julian, CA 92036), please plan to arrive between 9:45 am - 9:55 am.

Wildcrafting workshops are generally held every other month on the 4th Sunday of the month from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  Holidays might change the date of the workshops, so check for updates.  Class size is generally limited to 12 participants, but can change.

You may contact the VMF office with questions or for more information at 760-765-2300 or info@volcanmt.org. (VMF office is open Monday-Friday)

Visit the Volcan Mountain Foundation's website at www.VolcanMt.org for ongoing updates of events and activities on and around the Volcan Mountain Range.