Ethnobotanical Garden Plant Assignment

Hey Everyone,

I have uploaded the Ethnobotanical Garden plant description assignment to ELC, as well as the listing of plants in the Garden. Please comment on this post with the plant you would like to write about and make something with. Do not choose a plant that someone else has already chosen.

And don't forget, there is a blog assignment for this week below this post.

-Sam

Week 10: Psychoactive Plants

Hey Guys,

We have been talking about psychoactive/entheogen plants this week. I would like for you to choose a psychoactive plant and talk about it on the blog. I would like for you to include the following information: botanical description, region of origin, cultural usage, and a picture of the plant or its use. Please do not describe the same plant as someone else, so check to see what others have posted about. To help, I suggest the website www.erowid.org . You may use other sources, but this a good starting point.

Week 9: Spring Sit Spots

Hey Guys,

Even though it is a bit cooler today, Spring is on its way. All kinds of changes occur with the coming of spring. Changes in vegetation, and insects and birds (as well as weather). So, please return to your sit spots and write about some changes that you notice. Spring changes can be large or small, so keep your eyes open, listen for different animal life and sniff out new spring smells.

Class Seedlings

Week 8: Medicinal Concoctions

Hello Class!

We have spent all week talking about medicinal plants, and on Thursday we got to make medicinal salves and creams. For this week, I would like for you to research a plant based medicinal concoction that you would like to make in the future. This can be a different type of salve, or a tea, tincture, poultice, or cream that acts as a remedy/treatment. Please research one that you haven't made before, but would like to make in the future. Tell us about it - what it is made from, and what it remedies. Please post a recipe of how to make your plant based medicine.

-Sam

Week 7: Food Plants

Dr. Velásquez Runk mentioned that we wouldn't be talking about food much - but it is hard to resist after seeing all the appetizing foods made from plants at the Dekalb Farmers Market. So, for this week I would like for you to tell me about some delicious food made from a plant that you found at the Farmers market. In addition, I would like some information on the culinary traditions/history of your plant in different cuisines. I will start with something I purchased - Brussels Sprouts.

Brussels sprouts are one cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea. Other cultivars of this species are cabbage, broccoli, kale and collard greens. Brussles sprouts were first grown in Northern Europe in the 17th century. It is commonly believed that Brussels sprouts originated from cabbages. Brussels sprouts became widely popular in Northern Europe - places like The Netherlands, France and Brussels (hence the name). By the 18th century French immigrants had carried them to North America. Most commonly the buds are removed from the stalk, and then either steamed, boiled, or roasted. I like to pan fry them with butter and garlic.

Week 6: Midterm Exam

There will be no blog assignment this week, so that you can study for the midterm exam on Monday. Good luck studying, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Week 5: Return to Sit Spots

Hello Everyone!

It has been about a month since our first sit spot assignment, so for this week I would like for you to return to your sit spot. Please describe the spot, focusing on changes that the warmer weather brings. Remember to sit quietly and focus on observations and impressions.

Week 4: Succession

Week 3: Landscapes

Hello Class,

We are going to be switching focus in the next few weeks. We will be talking more about landscapes and biogeography, rather than just focusing on individual plants as we have been. So for this week I would like for you all to write about a particular natural landscape that stands out in your mind as being important, or having been memorable to you. Please describe the vegetation and any sensory experiences of this location.

I will begin. I worked for a while in the Mojave Desert in Southern California. The desert was so much vastly different from the Southeastern deciduous forests where I grew up. The Mojave is barren, filled with rocks and sand and shrubby vegetation. Unblocked by trees, the sky stretched from horizon to horizon. The Mojave is covered with a small shrub called creosote. Creosote bushes are small, shrubby, spindly things that smelled sweet and powerful after a rain. Between the creosote shrubs, the bunches of tuft grasses, and the succulent cacti grew the icons of the Mojave- the Joshua tree. Joshua trees are different from all the trees I knew. Joshua trees are spiny, sparse tree-like monocots. They are the only thing that grows above 5 feet in the desert, and dot the otherwise barren landscape. Between vicious winds, sparse vegetation, and extreme temperature fluctuations the desert is a hard landscape to like. It took me a while, but I came to enjoy to huge vistas and defiant Joshua trees.