Volcan Mountain Foundation

Saturday, September 21: Join VMF's Outdoor Naturalist Janice Smith in this fun, hands-on workshop where you will learn about the wide variety of fall berries that grow in abundance on Volcan Mountain. Then we will roll up our sleeves to make elderberry blackberry turnovers! 

Volcan Mountain has a diverse abundance of blackberries, elderberries, wood strawberries, chokecherries, coffee berries, toyon berries, manzanita berries, Sierra gooseberries, all of which are important food sources for local wildlife. We will take a short walk to identify the various types of berries growing in the area and discuss which are edible, their harvesting seasons, and different ways to use them.

Elderberries and blackberries are delicious and high in antioxidants and immune building properties. We will enjoy the turnovers with ice-cream!

Note: Due to its popularity, this workshop repeats Sunday, September 22.

Date: Saturday, September 21

Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Due to the gated entry for VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center, please plan to arrive between 9:45 am - 9:55 am.

Cost: $25 per person. Space is limited to 12 participants. 

Location: VMF's Volcan Mountain Nature Center in Julian.(22850 Volcan Road/4002 Farmer Road, Julian, CA 92036). 

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. 

You may contact the VMF office with questions or for more information at 760-765-2300 or contact Janice at [email protected]. 

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. For more information, please watch VMF's 10 Best Practices for Foraging Wild, Edible Plants.

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