Working on this project was a lot of fun and we appreciate all the support we received from many of you.   Although we have sold out of calendars on our web site, this project continues to develop as more people come forward with their local use and knowledge, perhaps we may see a book in the future from the two main presenters of this calendar : Deborah Small , artist, photographer and professor of Visual and Performing Arts at California State University San Marcos & Rose Ramirez  of Chumash descent, a California Indian basket weaver, photographer, and founding board member of the non-profit  AMERICAN INDIAN CHANNEL. Their slide presentation if it comes to your area is not to be missed.  Check out http://deborahsmall.wordpress.com/ for times and locations.

  There are always new plants to document, harvest or photograph, and that is a great reason to head out to the back country exploring  at this time of year.  Low Desert agave should be blooming in late January and our growing cycle begins again as plants awaken from their brief sleep.

  January and February is when we gather new shoots of sumac, willow, red bud....... these plants require  hours of preparation between harvest and use.  This is another project which will likely be documented as we gather the materials needed for our baskets, fish traps, seed beaters and other traditional items.