Home About Projects Image by Karma Rhythm Chapter 2: Finding a Place to Garden in IV I decided if I wanted to garden that the first step was finding an accessible garden plot. After looking into the options I noted that some gardens had very long wait lists and others were open to only specific residents, like the West Campus Gardens. Not the Green House and Garden Project though, where students can secure a plot for roughly $20 a quarter. ​ I found Seth’s email, who runs the garden, and reached out to him. By that weekend we had met up and made the exchange. He got the cash and the plot was mine. And it was huge and it was dead. It was that easy though and it surprised me that in 3 days and over the course of just 2 emails, I had gone from wanting to garden to having my own plot. That day there was a community exercise going on and I felt tense around some of the other gardeners I ran into, so after I got my plot I hurried off. I remember noticing for the first time in a while how nice the wind felt as I walked home, I think after this day I began to nurture my connection with nature more. View Campus Garden Map Read Chapter 3 Sources: UC Cooperative Extension http://cesantabarbara.ucanr.edu/Master_Gardener/Master_Your_Garden_Month-By-Month/

Why Should You Give A Shiitake About Mushrooms? Home About Projects Image by Presetbase We may only think of mushrooms as a tasty treat or a gateway to a psychedelic trip, but mushrooms have played a larger role in human history than once thought. Human interactions with mushrooms caused an expansion in capacities of human minds, allowing us to evolve to our current state. The addition of a certain mushroom in the diets of ancient humans, “led to better eyesight (an advantage for hunters), sex, language, and ritual activity (religion among them), when eaten ”. The addition of the mushroom to early diets changed the actions of ancient humans giving them the ability to dominate their environments and evolve to what we are today. ​ Mushrooms have a vital role in human development, but also have a crucial impact on the environment. Mushrooms are one of the main decomposers of dead matter and without them, many nutrients would not be recycled into the environment. Fungi also play a big role in jumpstarting other environmental processes, including the carbon cycle. Fungi decompose dead matter, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and nutrients into the soil which will later be used by plant matter . Humans rely heavily on the continuation of this process, and thus we rely heavily on mushrooms. Though it may seem that humans live in different worlds and rarely interact, mushrooms have and will play a vital role in human history and existence. More About Mushrooms Sources: http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/wong/BOT135/Lect20b.htm https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/recycling-dead

Winner of the Brazil Section of the Latin American Studies Association's Best Book Award Read an Excerpt Rainforest Cowboys The opening of the Amazon to colonization in the 1970s brought cattle, land conflict, and widespread deforestation. In the remote state of Acre, Brazil, rubber tappers fought against migrant ranchers to preserve the forest they relied on, and in the process, these "forest guardians" showed the world that it was possible to unite forest livelihoods and environmental preservation. Nowadays, many rubber tappers and their children are turning away from the forest-based lifestyle they once sought to protect and are becoming cattle-raisers or even caubois (cowboys). Rainforest Cowboys is the first book to examine the social and cultural forces driving the expansion of Amazonian cattle raising in all of their complexity. ​ Drawing on eighteen months of fieldwork, Jeffrey Hoelle shows how cattle raising is about much more than beef production or deforestation in Acre, even among "carnivorous" environmentalists, vilified ranchers, and urbanites with no land or cattle. He contextualizes the rise of ranching in relation to political economic structures and broader meanings to understand the spread of "cattle culture." This cattle-centered vision of rural life builds on local experiences and influences from across the Americas and even resembles East African cultural practices. Written in a broadly accessible and interdisciplinary style, Rainforest Cowboys is essential reading for a global audience interested in understanding the economic and cultural features of cattle raising, deforestation, and the continuing tensions between conservation and development in the Amazon. Table of Contents Buy from UT Press Reviews "Rainforest Cowboys makes for delightful reading...foreseeing political conflict and real problems for the ideal of rain forest preservation in Acre...Jeff Hoelle explains these issues with the open-mindedness and astute analysis we should expect from really good cultural anthropology." -American Ethnologist "Hoelle's insightful depiction of Amazon transformations offers solid ground over which others may critically advance some of his key arguments...arguably the book's most important contribution: it bridges the research agendas of scholars who often talk past on another. Rainforest Cowboys' heterodox approach may be useful for a wide range of projects, from science and technology studies on emerging socio-natural entanglements to quantitative modeling of cultural beliefs...Rainforest Cowboys will inspire anthropologists working in a range of fields to critically engage with Amazonia's shifting ecologies." -Current Anthropology "For scholars and students of the amazon region and cattle cultures, Rainforest Cowboys offers a compelling account of the cultural importance of cattle and beef...his in-depth focus on the Brazilian state of Acre can illuminate similar or contrasting cultural changes in other areas undergoing environmental change." -Agricultural History "L’auteur fait plus qu’éclairer l’agencementd’une culture née de l’expansion de l’élevage, il fournit une explication Culturelle des freinsà l’adoption d’une politique de préservationde la nature, peu compatible ici avec l’idéeque le progress consiste justement à transformerla forêt. Bref, violà un ouvrage riche etintelligent, rapidement résumé ici, à lire pourle bonheur de l’esprit, de la recherche, et pourla qualité de l’exposé.” -Etudes Rurales "This book is an important contribution to literature on world cattle culture and Amazonian development...Anyone interested in the current state of the Amazon region, and its future, will find this book to be a valuable resource." -Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology "With this book, Hoelle joins others who have begun to remedy that considerable gap in the literature by focusing on what he terms "cattle culture" and how it modulates the social interactions of ranchers, cowboys, agricultural colonists, rubber tappers, environmentalists, and government officials in the Brazilian state of Acre." -Journal of Latin American Geography "This complex, multivalenced historical ethnography of Acre state in the western Amazon unexpectedly portrays the rise of a Western-influenced cattle culture." -Choice "Much is written about the livestock sector in Amazonia, and most of this is expressed in the dry language of statistics and graphs of this sector that has exploded in the last decades. This is the first study we have that explores the livestock sector as a cultural system in a very complex rural sociology --the state of Acre, the place best known for the rubber tappers movement. This careful analysis of social identities and local political ecologies helps explain why cattle production now pervades all livelihoods and lifeways in the politically 'greenest' corner of Amazonia. This book isn't just about rural but also city influence, and thus captures new dynamics that now shape forest frontiers." -Susanna B. Hecht, Professor in the Luskin School of Public Affairs and the Institute of Environment and Sustainability, UCLA ; author of The Scramble for the Amazon and the "Lost Paradise" of Euclides da Cunha; coauthor of The Fate of the Forest: Developers, Destroyers, and Defenders of the Amazon "Rainforest Cowboys illuminates one of the most salient yet least-explored dimensions of society and environment in Amazonia: the rise of cattle culture among smallholders, forest peoples, and large ranchers. While other studies have explored the economy of cattle ranching and its widespread adoption in the Amazon, Hoelle's book is the first to look closely at the cultural dimensions behind cattle raising's ever-growing presence there. Historically informed, ethnographically rich, and enjoyable to read, it unravels the region's emerging tangle of social identities, individual expectations, global markets, and economic development. Filling a major gap in Amazonian ethnography and human ecological studies, Rainforest Cowboys will no doubt become required reading for anyone aiming to understand the Amazon today." -Eduardo S. Brondizio, Professor of Anthropology ; co-director, Anthropological Center for Training and Research on Global Environmental Change (ACT); and Chair, Advisory Council, Vincent and Elinor Ostrom Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, Indian a University Bloomington "I think that this is a valuable book -indeed, fascinating." -David G. Campbell, Professor of Biology and Henry R. Luce Professor of Nations and the Global Environment, Chair of Environmental Studies Concentration, Grinnell College, and author of A Land of Ghosts: The Braided Lives of People and the Forest in Far Western AMazonia and the Crystal Desert: Summers in Antarctica

Home Database Maps Guidelines Engaging Ebot IV ETHNOBOTANY PROJECT DIY: Nature Journaling Want to get better at identifying plants? Or do you have a plant you want to learn more about, but don't know it's name? We have some resources for you! ​ If you have a little extra time, click the link below to explore our DIY Ethnobotany Classes page. There you can see a full recording and slideshow of a 25 minute class on Plant Identification. It is more detailed than the video below.

"Chumash Appreciation" Acorn Dumpling Stew and Chia Lemonade Home About Projects Video by Logan Snyder Song: "Basic Space" by The XX Recipe: Acorn Dumpling Stew Ingredients: Soup base: Dried seaweed packs Water ​ Nut flour dumplings: 1/2 cup nut flour blend​ 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup milk (I used almond milk) 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 beaten egg Cracked black pepper and a grating of nutmeg ​ Meat: A large hunk of stewing beef (I personally do not like beef that much, so you could just use vegetables, or even just the dumplings with acorn meal soup​) Directions: Soup base: Blend up dried seaweed until powdery Boil water and mix powdered seaweed into broth ​ Stewing meat/vegetables: If stewing meat, place in a large, tall-rimmed pot and fill with broth up 1/4 of the way over the meat, simmer on low heat for about 2 and a half hours If stewing vegetables, saute in a pan and then add the broth, simmer on low heat for about 1 hour ​ Dumplings: Simmer the milk, butter, and salt in a pan on low heat Whisk both flours together, and add to the milk, butter, salt mixture Stir to combine until a dough starts to form and easily comes out of the pan Let the dough cool, and then add the beaten egg, pepper, and nutmeg Mix together, and drop spoon fulls into the simmering soup After about 3-5 minutes, the dumplings and soup will be ready! ​ Optional: Add the nut flour straight into the broth to thicken up the stew and eat without meat, vegetables, or dumplings ​ Recipe: Chia Lemonade Ingredients: Apple juice ​ Lemon juice ​ Chia seeds Directions: Add the juice of 1 lemon to a cup of apple juice Add 1/4 cup chia seeds, and let sit for about 30 minutes Chill in fridge or add ice, or enjoy as is! Recipes with Cultural Significance: For the past two videos, I have been focused on providing knowledge about the local environment and how to create easy, flavorful food for cheap. The inspiration for this video comes from the people that have been living off the land in the Isla Vista area for the past 15,00 years. I wanted to dedicate this episode to those whose land we are living upon by creating a modern interpretation of a beef and acorn dumpling stew that I found within a native Californian cookbook. To learn more about the "First Peoples" of Isla Vista, explore Donovan's project page. First Peoples Read the Whole Book: For more Chumash inspired recipes like these, you can read the book, Seaweed, Salmon, and Manzanita Cider: A California Indian Feast , by Margaret Dubin and Sara-Larus Tolley. Read More Try Another Recipe

Home About Projects MPA/No Take Zone Open Zone Map made by Natalie Plumb How To: Beachcomb Responsibly Before You Go: Know the Protected Areas Before you set out on your beachcombing adventures, make sure to identify where exactly you will be beachcombing because some areas of our coastline are classified as "Marine Protected Areas" (MPA's). While these areas are great places to enjoy the beach, see amazing wildlife, and visit the tidepools, it is ILLEGAL to remove any natural materials from these areas. You can use the map above to figure out the best place for your beachcombing experience based on what you are trying to accomplish. As a general guideline, try to only take man-made materials such as sea glass or trash from the beach. What You Will Need: Bucket, jar, or bag for collecting your beachcombing treasures a camera or phone for taking photos and identifying shells, plants, and animals When to Go: The best time to beachcomb is at low tide, which is when the greatest amount of sand is visible and you are more likely to find treasures. When is Low Tide? Marine Protected Areas: Campus Point MPA: The area between Campus Point and Coil Oil Point, which includes Devereux Beach, is classified as an MPA. As an MPA, this expanse of the coastline (shaded in red) is a "No Take" zone, meaning that it is illegal to remove any natural materials from these areas, including rocks, animals, shells, plants, sand, or seaweed (Santa Barbara Channel Keeper). However, this area is the perfect place to find sea glass, which is a man-made material and therefore not included in MPA regulations. Additionally, the area along Devereux and Sands Beach is often littered with man-made "trash." Some of this trash can be re-purposed into useful pieces of art. For example, one day while beachcombing, my friends and I stumbled across a broken old Wavestorm surfboard. While perfect for beginning surfers, these surfboards are made entirely from Styrofoam , which is harmful to our coastal environment. In order to prevent the Styrofoam from polluting the ocean, we decided to bring it home with us, sand it down, and make it into the perfect portable picnic/camping table. ​ What you can take: only man-made materials such as sea glass and "trash" What must stay: all natural materials (shells, animals, rocks, plants, etc.) Activities you can enjoy: (rentals available through UCSB Excursion Club or UCSB Adventure Programs) Kayaking Surfing Stand up paddle boarding snorkeling walks on the beach beach clean-ups Photograph by Marco Mazza MPA's Open Area Open Zone: Anacapa Beach: The area between Campus Point and Goleta Pier, which includes Anacapa Beach, is not part of any MPA. As an "Open Zone", this expanse of the coastline (shaded in blue) is the only area along the UCSB and Isla Vista coastline where you can collect natural materials such as seashells and rocks. However, if you do decide to take shells from this area, first make sure that it is not currently serving as the home to any sea creature. You do not want to take home a beautiful shell only to discover that there was a hermit crab or sea mollusk living inside, which is now stinking up your room. To determine whether a shell is safe or not to take, follow these simple steps: Only take from the sand, not in the water. Turn the shell over in your hand and look to see if there is anything inside. Usually, if something is living inside the shell, you will be able to see a small hermit crab claw or the bottom of the mollusk. However, some smaller creatures are not immediately visible, so make sure to wait a few seconds to allow time for any small organisms to emerge. ​ What you can take: shells, rocks, plants, and man-made materials What must stay: all living animals (check shells before taking them) Photograph by Marco Mazza Try A Project Sources: https://www.sbck.org/current-issues/marine-conservation/marine-protected-areas/explore-your-mpa/campus-point-mpa-profile/ https://ucnrs.org/reserves/coal-oil-point-natural-reserve/ https://copr.nrs.ucsb.edu/ https://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Goleta/tides/latest Images by Marco Mazza

Home About Projects Image by Karma Rhythm Chapter 7: Composting Basics I did not start a compost pile this quarter, but it seems so easy after doing the research that I am convinced I should have. I’m also certain that anyone who makes it this far into the guide should consider composting for their garden as well. According to the EPA, there are 5 main factors which will determine the health of the compost and these are: Graphic by Natalie Plumb Wayne says he uses local kelp in his compost and swears by it. Organic Blends to help your pile better compost can also be found at specialty shops like Island Seed and Feed. I have also found that Rock Phosphate, Fish meal and Alfalfa Meal can also be added to compost to help enrich it, or even mixed directly into soil to promote growth and act as fertilizers. What I Learned Sources: Compost guideline - EPA: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/types-composting-and-understanding-process#basics Gardening with Fish Meal - GardenIQ: http://www.gardeniq.com/fish-meal?ReturnUrl=LwBwAHIAbwBkAHUAYwB0AHMA Gardening with Alfalfa Meal and Rock Phosphate - GardeningKnowHow: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/rock-phosphate-fertilizer.htm https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/fertilizing-with-alfalfa-meal.htm

"Jamming Out" Foraging and Jam-Making in Isla Vista Home About Projects Video by Logan Snyder Songs: "What You Sippin' On" by Penthouse Penthouse , "Now" by Tom Misch Recipe: Natal Plum Jam Ingredients: Ripe natal plums: you should be able to squeeze them and they squish a little bit. The more they squish the better, unless they look old and brown/moldy ​ Sugar: equal weight to the plums ​ 1/2 cup water ​ Lemons or oranges: 1 of each or two total of whichever you have Directions: De-seed and mash natal plums. Add equal weight in sugar. Pour into sauce pan. Add splash of water. Squeeze juice from lemons/oranges into mixture. Mix ingredients. Bring to a hard boil for about 10 minutes, and then put into heat-proof container and let cool in fridge. After about a day, jam should be set and ready to spread. Recipe for Any Jam Ingredients: Mashed fruit: specific fruits will set "stronger" and thicker due to them having more pectin in their skin ​ Sugar: equal weight to fruit (You can substitute honey, agave nectar, brown sugar, etc. but their flavors may overpower the fruit flavor. A good idea would be half white sugar and half other sweetener). ​ 1/2 cup water: so the sugar doesn't burn ​ Citrus: lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, etc. Directions: Mash fruit and add equal weight in sugar. Add citrus and water. Bring to a hard boil for about 10 minutes, or until the jam looks thicker than when you started. Pour into heat-proof container and cool in refrigerator for a day or so. Jam! The Science Behind Jam: "The pectin content of different fruits varies: fruits such as apples and blackcurrants have higher levels of pectin than those such as strawberries and raspberries. In cases where a jam is being made from a low pectin fruit, either a higher pectin fruit must also be included, or commercial pectin must be added. Commercial pectin is obtained from the peel of citrus fruits, which have a naturally high pectin content" (Compound Interest). Learn More Foraging Considerations: If you choose to forage for the fruits when making your Jam, make sure to consider the ethical implications of taking fruit from nature. To learn more about these ethical considerations, check out these projects: Ethics of Enjoying IV Ancient Herbs for Modern Students For more safety tips and advice on foraging, visit: "A Beginner's Guide to Foraging" View Guide Try Another Recipe

Home Database Maps Guidelines Engaging Ebot IV ETHNOBOTANY PROJECT Cultural Landscape: The Truth About "Weeds" When most people in the U.S. think of weeds, they most likely think of dandelions and thistles, or that unfamiliar thing growing in your garden. Weeds are the plants seen to have no use, or growing where they are undesired. In many places around the world, however, the idea of a weed does not exist. In Maya languages, for example, there is no word which translates as “weed,” because the uses of all plants have historically been known. Similarly, around California, if we look beyond the idea of “weeds,” we can see that many plants growing around us have value. One person’s weed is another’s salad. Read on to learn about some of the “weeds” around Isla Vista. WARNING: Because weeds are considered undesired, they may be sprayed with toxic chemicals. Make sure you forage in non-sprayed areas and always wash what you pick! Chickweed Latin Name: Caryophyllaceae Stellaria media Season: All year Parts to Eat: All How to Eat: Raw or cooked Nutrition: Vitamins A, D, B, C, rutin, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, sodium, copper, iron, silica Other Uses: Medicines ​ WARNING: Chickweed has a toxic Euphorbia lookalike which exudes a milky toxic latex. ​ Learn More: https://www.wildabundance.net/the-glories-of-chickweed/ https://www.wildedible.com/chickweed Common Sowthistle Latin Name: Asteraceae Sonchus oleraceus Season: Winter-Summer Parts to Eat: All How to Eat: Raw; cook or boil to ease digestion Nutrition: Vitamins A, B, C, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, zinc, antioxidants Other Names: Hare’s colwort, hare’s thistle, milk thistle Curly Dock Latin Name: Rumex Crispus Season: Curly dock can flower twice a year Parts to Eat: Leaves and seeds How to Eat: Raw, sauté, or boil Nutrition: Leaves are high in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and zinc. Seeds are rich in calcium and fiber. Cool Fact: Curly Dock is one of the most widely distributed seed in the world and can remain dormant in the soil for 80 years. Curly Dock was also an important food source during the Great Depression. ​ Learn More: http://eattheinvaders.org/blue-plate-special-curly-dock/ khkeeler.blogspot.com/2017/07/plant-story-curly-dock-uses-and-folklore.html Dandelion Latin Name: Asteraceae Taraxacum officinale Season: Spring-Autumn Parts to Eat: All (root, stem, leaves, flower) How to Eat: Raw, boiled, as tea, and in many other forms Nutrition: Vitamins A, C, K, E, B, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium. The roots also promote healthy intestinal bacteria and are a good source of antioxidants. Other Uses: Medicines Other names: Blowball, Cankerwort, Priest’s Crown, Lion’s Tooth, Shepherd’s Clock, Fairy Clock Cool Fact: Dandelion flowers open an hour after sunrise and closes at dusk, leading to the name “Shepherd’s Clock” or “Fairy Clock.” ​ Learn More: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dandelion-benefits https://www.healthline.com/health/ways-dandelion-tea-could-be-good-for-y... https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-706/dandelion https://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/holistic-medicine-library/herb-myt... Fennel Latin Name: Apiaceae Foeniculum vulgare Season: All year Parts to Eat: All How to Eat: Raw or cooked Nutrition: fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin C and B Cool Fact: In medieval Europe, fennel seeds would be inserted into keyholes on Midsummer’s Eve to protect the home from ghosts. The fennel was hung over doorways to ward off malicious spirits. A thirteenth century physician noted, “he who sees fennel and gathers it not, is not a man but a devil.” ​ Learn More: https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/fennel/california https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284096.php https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/five-ways-to-eat-fresh-fenne... https://www.cookinglight.com/food/in-season/discovering-fennel http://www.ourherbgarden.com/herb-history/fennel.html Mallow Latin Name: Malvaceae Malva neglecta Season: All year Parts to Eat: Leaves, Stalk, Seeds How to Eat: Raw, Boiled Nutrition: Leaves- Vitamins A, B, C, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium; Seeds- 21% protein, 15% fat Other Names: Cheeseweed ​ Learn More: Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Proximate Analysis Tables of Higher Plants. Boca Raton, Fl. CRC Press, 1986. 389 p. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Malva+neglecta https://www.gardenbetty.com/mallow-the-everywhere-edible-weed/ Mugwort Latin Name: Asteraceae Artemisia douglasiana Season: Spring-Autumn Parts to Eat: Leaves How to Eat: Cooked or as a tea Other Uses: Medicine, spiritual Other Names: Dream Plant Cool Fact: The Romans planted mugwort by roadsides for travelers to use for aching feet and it also flavored beer before hops were used. Many people place mugwort under their pillows to enhance dreams. It often grows near poison oak and can be applied crushed to the skin to prevent a rash. ​ Learn More: UC Irvine: Local natural history & ethnobotany ofArtemisia douglasiana (California Mugwort) http://www.eattheweeds.com/mugwort/ https://www.ediblewildfood.com/mugwort.aspx New Zealand Spinach Latin Name: Aizoaceae Tetragonia tetragonioides Season: All year Parts to Eat: Leaves How to Eat: Raw, Cooked, Boiled Nutrition: High in antioxidants and fiber Other Names: Warrigal Green Cool Fact: James Cook took this plant on voyages to prevent scurvy ​ Learn More: https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/tetragonia-tetragonioides-profile/ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/australia-food-blog/2014/feb/02... https://www.survival.org.au/bf_tetragonia_tetragonoides.php Stinging Nettle Latin Name: Urticaceae urtica dioica Season: Spring Parts to Eat: Leaves, Roots How to Eat: Soak in hot water, cook briefly. Can boil for tea, add to soup, quiche, or pasta. Nutrition: High in Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Manganese. In peak season, nettle can contain up to 25% protein Other Uses: Medicines, Textiles Cool Fact: Nettle is one of nine plants listed in the 10th Century pagan Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm. Burial Shrouds made of nettle have been found in Denmark dating back at least 5000 years where the stem fibers would be spun like flax. Nettle also produces a green dye which was historically used for war camouflage in Europe. ​ WARNING: Stinging nettles sting. Do not attempt to eat without cooking first. ​ Learn More: http://www.sunriseorganicgardens.ca/stinging-nettle-useful-and-delicious/ https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/stinging-n... Gregory L. Tilford, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West Hughes, R. Elwyn; Ellery, Peter; Harry, Tim; Jenkins, Vivian; Jones, Eleri (1980). "The dietary potential of the common nettle". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 31 (12): 1279–86. doi:10.1002/jsfa.2740311210 Sourgrass Latin Name: Oxalidaceae Oxalis pes-caprae Season: Winter-Spring (in Santa Barbara) Parts to Eat: All How to Eat: Raw, Cooked, or Boiled Nutrition: Oxalic Acid, Vitamin C Other Uses: Medicine Other Names: Bermuda buttercup, goat’s foot Cool Fact: The roots of Sour Grass have been used to treat tapeworms. ​ WARNING: Oxalic Acid can upset your stomach in large quantities. ​ Learn More: http://thrivingminimalist.com/articles/raw-food-foraging-sour-grass/ Duke, James (2000) The Handbook of Edible Weeds. CRC Press Wild Mustard Latin Name: Brassicaceae Sinapis arvensis Season: Spring-Summer Parts to Eat: Leaves and flowers How to Eat: Raw or Cooked Nutrition: Vitamins K, A, C, B, E, copper, manganes, calcium, fiber, iron Other Uses: medicine Other names: charlock, field mustard Cool Fact: Legend has it that Spanish priests spread mustard seeds along the California coast as they travelled north building missions, so that they could follow the golden path home to Spain upon their return. ​ Learn More: http://ediblesanluisobispo.ediblecommunities.com/recipes/wild-mustard-mu... https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-mustard-fire-pictures-2019-pho... https://survivalweekly.com/719/wild-mustard/ http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=93 Wild Radish Latin Name: Raphanus raphanistrum var. sativus Season: Annual or Perennial Parts to Eat: flowers, leaves, roots How to Eat: Raw. Boil to avoid upset stomach Nutrition: Vitamins B, C, rutin, and minerals Cool Fact: Radishes were domesticated in China, entered Europe in the 1500s, and reached the Americas by 1629. ​ Learn More: https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/raphanus-sativus-profile/ http://www.eattheweeds.com/radish-mustards-wild-rough-cousin/

Meet the Team Professor Jeffrey Hoelle UCSB Anthropology Professor Jeffrey Hoelle is an environmental anthropologist who studies the ways that people think about and use the environment in the Brazilian Amazon and around the UCSB campus and adjacent community of Isla Vista, California. Learn More MacKenzie Wade UCSB Graduate Student Research Interests: edible insects, environmental anthropology, perceptions of food, nature and the environment Jordan Thomas UCSB Graduate Student Research Interests: wildfire, perceptions of "nature", political ecology, ethnobotany, climate change, ethnoecology Pablo Sepulveda-Diaz UCSB Graduate Student Research Interests: environmental anthropology, political ecology, invasive species, food studies, fisheries Ingrid Feeney UCSB Graduate Student Research Interests: agroecology, regenerative agriculture, soil cultures, waste, (social) reproduction, degrowth Kirsten Cook UCSB Graduate '20 IV Ethnobotany and student researcher Briana Pham UCSB Graduate '21 IV Ethnobotany and student researcher Cyrus Kayhan UCSB Graduate '20 IV Ethnobotany and student researcher Bailey McKernan UCSB Undergraduate IV Ethnobotany and student researcher Natalie Plumb UCSB Graduate '21 Web designer and student researcher Graduate Students: MacKenzie Wade UCSB Graduate Student MacKenzie Wade is a PhD student in sociocultural anthropology with an interdepartmental emphasis in Environment and Society. Her research involves changing cultural perceptions of edible insects, and the impact of the food we eat. MacKenzie has published on edible insect industrialization and speaks publicly on the topic in the local area through her platform, Santa Barbara Bugs. She received her BA in Anthropology from Kansas State University, and an MA in International Cultural Heritage Management from Durham University in the UK. Santa Barbara Bugs MacKenzie runs the Santa Barbara Bugs website and Instagram account, which seeks to connect the Santa Barbara community to edible insects. Instagram SB Bugs Site A Review of Edible Insect Industrialization: Scales of Production and Implications for Sustainability MacKenzie, collaborating with Professor Jeffrey Hoelle, presents a comprehensive and systematic review of the research on edible insect industrialization, the mass rearing of insects for human consumption, published in the year 2018. Their review of 2018 articles provides an overview of the edible insect industry at a specific moment, as the field becomes more industrialized, and research addresses health, safety, and other concerns of consumers and legislators. Review Press Release Central Coast Public Radio Episode MacKenzie discusses the role of insects in the everyday diets in many parts of the world on this segment of the Central Coast Public Radio. MacKenzie teaches listeners about raising awareness and changing the perceptions of Americans around eating bugs. Radio Episode Interdisciplinary Humanities Center Read MacKenzie’s post on the Public Humanities Graduate Fellows Blog, which discusses murder hornets, edible insect, and new perspectives on invasive species management. IHC Profile IHC Blog MacKenzie Jordan Thomas UCSB Graduate Student Jordan Thomas is a socio-cultural anthropologist researching the intersections of humans, environments, and wildfire in California. He is particularly interested in conceptualizing ideologies as environmental forces to better understand the unprecedented socio-environmental shifts of the “Anthropocene.” His imminent doctoral research will use multi-sited, multi-scalar methods to demonstrate how wildfire knowledge is created, predictions formed, and uncertainties managed in contexts of increasing environmental instability. In the past, he conducted graduate research at the Universities of Cambridge and Durham, where he explored the role of fire in contemporary Maya agroforestry systems. He currently also work as a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service. A Note from the Fireline: Climate Change and the Colonial Legacy of Fire Suppression Jordan explores the colonial legacy of fire suppression through his experience in the California redwoods in his article published by The Drift magazine. The Drift Op-ed: The New Line of Attack on Climate Science in the Age of Megafires In his opinion piece for the Los Angeles Times , Jordan examines the roles that fire suppression and climate change have played in creating an era of "megafires." Los Angeles Times The (Un)natural Disaster of California Fires Jordan examines the role of the fossil fuel industry and the Trump administration in contributing to climate change, causing increasingly destructive wildfires. Jordan also points to the indigenous Chumash's practice of controlled burns as a possible solution in his article for the Santa Barbara Independent . SB Independent Jordan Thomas Pablo Sepulveda-Diaz UCSB Graduate Student Pablo is a sixth year PhD Candidate in Sociocultural Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He received his BA in Communication Studies from ITESO in Guadalajara, Mexico. He received his MA in Sociocultural Anthropology and Ethnohistory from UADY in Yucatán Mexico, and an MA in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. After working as a reporter and correspondent in political, urban and environmental topics in central and Southeast Mexico, he became interested in local communities and their changing relationship with the ecosystems. ​ Pablo is interested in the cultural changes driven by invasive species. He also studies how, in the context of the Anthropocene and climate change, the movement and relocation of animals and plants, result in shifts of practices such as cooking, fishing and trading. He analyzes how these species as biological inputs drive the development of new technologies and techniques, knowledge production local and scientific, and the general changes in the relationship with the environment. ​ His favorite species, so far, is the lionfish, an Indo-Pacific fish that is considered a danger to biodiversity, human activities, and economies, local and national, along the Atlantic coast of the Americas, from Massachusetts to Brazil. He currently works in the Mexican Caribbean where the local groups, government and organization have developed, imported and adapted fishing gear, dishes, techniques to construct a new species that acts as invaders, but also as an environmental option for tourism and local consumption. Learn About Lion Fish Pablo Ingrid Feeney UCSB Graduate Student Ingrid Feeney is a PhD Candidate in Sociocultural Anthropology and Environmental Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She holds a BA in Linguistics from CUNY Brooklyn College and an MA in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. Her dissertation work looks at how collective memory of violence is shaping the agroecological transition in the Argentine Pampas. Reflections on the First Ecosocialist International Read Ingrid's article for Resilience.org . Resilience Article Feeny, Ingrid El í sabet. (2019) "Latin American Ciencia Digna Movement Asks: 'Science for What and for Whom?'" Science for the People . Vol 22, Issue 1. Feeny, Ingrid El í sabet. (2017) "Por una Vida Digna: Science as Technique of Power and Mode of Resistance in Argentina." Alternautus - (Re) Searching Development: The Abya Yala Chapter . Vol. 4, Issue 1. Feeny, Ingrid El í sabet. (2015) "Reimagining the New Industrial City: Articulating an Alternative Ethos of Waste and Production Through 'Closing the Loop.'" Society & Space Open Forum . August, 2015. Ingrid IV Ethnobotany Team: Kirsten Cook UCSB Graduate/ IV Ethnobotany Kirsten is a recent BA Environmental Studies and Spanish graduate from UCSB. She has spent four years working on and leading the Isla Vista Ethnobotany Project, and considers herself a plant nerd thanks to all the things she's learned over the years while making content for the website. Along with writing articles and creating video content for IV Ethnobotany, she is also a backpacking and travel blogger, teaches a weekly nature awareness zoom workshop with UCSB Adventure Programs, and much more! She is an avid reader, photographer, light-weight thru-hiker and downhill skier. Her current adventure has brought her to Colorado, where she is working as a marketing assistant for a real estate broker, and as a ski tech at a rental shop. IV Ethnobotany Project Kirsten has worked on the IV Ethnobotany Project with Professor Jeffrey Hoelle for over four years, acting as student project leader. After graduation, Kirsten continues to contribute valuable content to the project through articles encouraging site visitors creatively interact with the plants featured on the IV Ethnobotany site. IV Ethnobotany Just a Girl and a Backpack Blog Kirsten created her blog a few years ago to share her experiences with like-minded people who have are interested in world travel, backpacking, and outdoor education. Whether she is exploring the backcountry, traveling to Chile, or enjoying the plants in her backyard, Kirsten's love for nature and the outdoors shines through. Kirsten's Blog Kirsten Briana Pham UCSB Graduate/ IV Ethnobotany & Cultivating Communities Briana is a recent graduate from UCSB with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Spatial studies. She loves everything that is related to the environment, and is especially passionate about sustainability within food systems. During her fourth year, Briana was also a member in Professor Hoelle's ANTH 197JH course, creating "Mushroom for Fun" as part of the Cultivating Communities project. She continues to contribute to the IV Ethnobotany Project with articles and plant research entries. IV Ethnobotany Cultivating Communities: Mushroom for Fun Briana's project explores the mysterious world of mushrooms. Mushrooms are mysterious organisms known for their occasional psychedelic qualities and their tendency to kill, but there is more to these fanciful fungi than shown. Briana's project seeks to teach visitors about the history and uses of mushrooms, as well as how to grow them at home. She seeks to foster a deeper connection with the environment through her love of mushrooms. Mushroom for Fun Briana Cyrus Kayhan UCSB Graduate/ IV Ethnobotany Cyrus is a recent UCSB graduate with a degree in Environmental Science. He was a member of the Hoelle Lab throughout his undergraduate career as a contributor to the IV Ethnobotany Project. IV Ethnobotany Cyrus Bailey McKernan UCSB Undergraduate/ IV Ethnobotany/ Student Researcher Bailey is a third year undergrad at UCSB majoring in Environmental Studies. She is interested in plant ecology, traditional ecological knowledge, and human relationships with “nature.” In 2021, she created “Eat Your Weeds,” a zine focused on challenging our notions of weeds and fostering a deeper connection with the natural world around us. Eat Your Weeds Bailey Natalie Website Development Team: Natalie Plumb UCSB Graduate/ Web Designer Natalie is a graduate of UCSB, where she studied Cultural Anthropology and minored in Multimedia Professional Writing. She is also an avid surfer and ocean lifeguard for the City of San Diego. As an independent web designer, Natalie worked closely with Professor Jeffrey Hoelle to create the Cultivating Communities website, as well as the Hoelle Lab website. She completed a professional certificate in User Experience/User Interface through UC Berkeley, and is pursuing a career in UX/UI after graduation. Cultivating Communities: Beachcombing DIY Art Natalie became part of the Hoelle Lab team during her third year at UCSB as a student in Professor Hoelle's ANTH JH special course that resulted in the creation of the Cultivating Communities website. Natalie's student project, "Beachcombing DIY Art" encourages UCSB students and Isla Vista residents to interact with their local coastline through sustainable beachcombing for materials that can be used in a range of art projects. She hopes that by teaching Isla Vista residents about the creative uses of elements of the Santa Barbara coastline, they can begin to cultivate a deeper connection with their local environment. Beachcombing DIY Art

Home About Projects By Briana Pham Delve into the World of Mushrooms Mushrooms are mysterious organisms known for their occasional psychedelic qualities and their tendency to kill, but there is more to these fanciful fungi than shown. Humans have interacted with mushrooms for centuries to cure ailments, alter perceptions, and speak to the gods. Though fungi may be fearsome, there is much to learn from interactions that I chanterelle you about. The Past, Present, & Future of Fungi Learn More Why Should You Give a Shiitake About Mushrooms? Learn More Morels of Mushroom Foraging Learn More Growing Your Own Mushrooms! Learn More More About Mushrooms Meet the Researcher: I’m Briana, a fourth year Environmental Studies major and minor in Spatial Studies. I love everything that’s related to the environment, but specifically sustainability within food systems. I also really like succulents! Briana Pham Environmental and Spatial studies student, UCSB ES

Home About Projects Image by Karma Rhythm Chapter 6: Maintaining a Garden Sustainable Practices: ​ Organic Ways to Combat weeds and pests - Hand weeding is a sustainable alternative to pesticides which can contaminate waterways. Gopher wiring or even caging can help keep out small pests like gophers and mice. Insecticides can be homemade out of vegetable oil or other oils and soaps, sometimes garlic or pepper can be effective too. ​ Sustainable Watering Habits - proper irrigation is a keystone in sustainable gardening, both for conserving water and maintaining the quality of water. Using the least amount of water necessary to grow healthy plants can be challenging, but is increasingly important as water becomes scarcer. You can check the moisture of soil by digging in a little with a probe or your hand (or a shovel I guess if you’re into that). Additionally, watering plants in the early morning before the sun rises can help stop water from evaporating in the sunlight. ​ Smart Fertilizing - It is easy to make fertilizing your soil part of the weekly routine, but the addition of unnecessary fertilizers can actually be a bad thing. Runoff from fertilizers can cause problems for our local waterways, not to mention your plants. Too much nitrogen can lead to weaker stems in plants, make plants more attractive to insects, as well as more susceptible to diseases. Graphic by Natalie Plumb Insects can be a serious pain depending on what you grow and how attractive to bugs your garden is. Here is a link to a detailed guide of different types of homemade insecticides posted on TreeHugger, a media outlet which focused on promoting sustainability. Homemade Insecticide Read Chapter 7 Sources: Sources: Soil Types - Old Farmer’s Almanac https://www.almanac.com/video/types-soil-garden Too much Nitrogen - International Rice Research Institute http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/training/fact-sheets/nutrient-management/deficiencies-and-toxicities-fact-sheet/item/nitrogen-excess