Foraging in the Sonoran Desert - Late Summer
All About Prickly Pear
with bioregional herbalist & forager, John Slattery
near Tucson, AZ
August 26-27, 2023
Workshop fee - $400
Early Bird - $325
*Limited Space Available
Prickly Pear with ripe fruit
The Sonoran desert abounds with wild plant food!
Learn the seasons, learn the plants. This is the path of the forager. Spending time in nature is our best way to learn. Under the guidance of an experienced forager, one can dramatically increase their learning curve.
Deep in the damp heat of summer in the Sonoran desert, the prickly pear cactus fruit ripens to maturity. The perfect cross between food and medicine, prickly pear can be integrated by all into their diet in one way or another.
We’ll visit wild stands of prickly pear with ripe fruit, gather some, and process the prickly pear with my simple method, safe and enjoyable for all.
We’ll also take a look at a variety of wild foods occuring in the vicinity of the prickly pear stands and sample a variety of treats made with prickly pear cactus.
Join us for this exploration of the powerfully nutritious wild foods within the educational and healing environment of Mother Nature.
John Slattery
I arrived in the Sonoran Desert over 20 years ago at a time when very few were thinking of how to live off the desert in a harmonious way. I was called to walk the plant path and was solely married to this way of life for many years. I have since raised my daughter on wild plant foods and have shared this knowledge with 100s, if not 1,000s of people through my classes, apprenticeships, and books.
The act of foraging is easy. It’s the work that leads up to it, the discipline and restraint initially involved, that gives the forager the gift of insight and the confidence to do so gracefully, productively, and honorably.
Learn in great detail about the prickly pear of the Sonoran desert in this late summer class. Turn these 2 full days of hands-on learning into a lifetime investment for future knowledge gathering and wild food foraging!
Heading into our later foraging season in the Sonoran desert, we’ll focus on the prickly pear cactus and all it provides - especially its abundant and delicious fruit.
Here in the lower desert, the prickly pear thrives in old grazing lands that have helped it to flourish. We’ll learn all the tips and tricks to efficiently and effectively gather and process prickly pear fruit, sample treats, and learn all about its medicinal virtues as well.
Further explorations through the desert will likely uncover additional fruits, unusual vegetables or greens, seeds, and other treasures awaiting us.
This weekend will prove to be information packed as we explore the mid-elevation habitats of the Sonoran desert northeast of Tucson at an elevation around 2500-3000’.
We will start each day early to get out when it’s cool, wrapping up by mid-afternoon.
Registration for 2 days for 1 participant
Held near Tucson, AZ
Aug 26-27, 2023
Workshop Fee - $400
Early Bird - $325 *Early Bird ends July 15
Camping options are available nearby for those interested in camping. Additional information will be provided upon registration.
John J Slattery LLC
Bioregional Herbalist
Tucson, AZ
© 2016-2023
www.johnjslattery.com