The Plant Talk Classroom
New class starting March 23, 2012! Make sure to get a copy of Botany in a Day 5th edition if you don't have one already.
My name is Marc Williams and i will be the main facilitator for our journey. This website is a continuation of the work of the amazing ethnobotanist , explorer, and humanitarian Frank Cook. Frank conducted this class through email for 9 years and we are excited to bring this course into a website format.
In honoring Frank Cook's tradition this class will be held by donation. A suggested amount of $50 is greatly appreciated. Proceeds will go to further my work as an ethnobotanist and teacher as well as to organizations supporting the work of Frank Cook.
Money can be given through Paypal marc@botanyeveryday.com and checks may be written to Marc N. Williams, PO Box 6362, Asheville, NC 28816
We focus on understanding the characteristics and classifications of plant families in our class. Familiarity of patterns within the plant world can allow one to demystify the "green wall" and begin to have confidence in the usefulness and abundance of plant resources all around us.
The focus of the plant talks is a tour through the world of plants using the book by Thomas J. Elpel entitled Botany in a Day 5th edition. Other texts will be cited when available and appropriate. However, everyone taking this course should at least have access to the most current edition of Botany in a Day if possible to reinforce the learning. The book can be purchased directly from Thomas at www.hopspress.com/Books/Botany_in_a_Day.htm. Authors make very little royalties when their books are purchased from resellers. Please purchase this book and others in the resources section directly from the author when possible!
Every two-three weeks a new entry concerning readings from the text is posted to this website. The PLANT TALK entries are BEST VIEWED WITH the FIREFOX web browser!!! Internet Explorer and Google Chrome do not currently show citations correctly. Pictures will accompany posts when possible. The course for this year will continue until November. With each posting, new assignments will be given that may allow the student to go deeper with their understanding of botany. Your reflections are greatly encouraged and appreciated. Take time to ask yourself how much you can commit to this process. By doing the readings and some suggested exercises, the information will become much more embedded.
Last year, i took the opportunity to greatly update and expand upon Elpel’s 5th ed. by going linearly family by family with postings that were 5-15 pages in length. Over 130 pages containing updated plant classifications and a bunch of supplemental ethnobotanical information was generated. All of this information will remain available under the plant talk tab of the site. Specific families or plants can be found through using the new search bar function on the website.
This year, i will follow Frank Cook’s pattern more closely by using postings around three pages in length that are focused on specific categories of plant information. The first few postings will cover the introductory sections of Botany in a Day. Other postings will center around themes including, Major plant families seen everywhere, Early flowering plants, Wild food families, Medicinal and sacramental plant families, Aquatic, desert, parasitic and insectivorous families, Tropical families and The shapes and colors of flowers.
In honoring Frank's tradition this class will be held by donation. A suggested amount of $50 would be greatly appreciated. Proceeds will go to further my work as an ethnobotanist and teacher as well as to organizations supporting the work of Frank Cook.
Money can be given through Paypal marc@botanyeveryday.com and checks may be written to Marc N. Williams, PO Box 6362, Asheville, NC 28816
Any other forms of appreciation will be gratefully and humbly accepted! Commentary on the classes or plant families monographs are especially appreciated.
As Frank would say "Please give what you can, receive what you need"
Thanks a bunch! marc
DISCLAIMER:
Use of Information
marc williams has carefully selected and enjoyed edible plants wild and cultivated for many years. Foragers often need numerous, quality references and personal knowledge gained from studying these materials through classroom and "hands on" training in order to harvest safely. Please seek professional advice before using any plants if you are at all unsure. When in doubt leave it out!!!
marc williams or anyone associated with the development or distribution of material at www.botanyeveryday.com assume no liability for any actions taken in viewing, reading, or using any information provided herein. Please use caution when collecting, preparing, and utilizing these plants, just as you should always use caution and common sense in the outdoors.
Information Accuracy
marc williams as the main developer of the website www.botanyeveryday.com makes every effort to provide and maintain accurate, complete, useable, and timely information. However, the data and information herein are provided with the understanding that they are not guaranteed to be correct or complete. Conclusions drawn from or actions undertaken on the basis of, such data and information are the sole responsibility of the user.
Plant Talks
Active Classes
- 12/21/2011 - Plant Talk 14: Year End Review and Extended Californian Botany
- 11/27/2011 - Plant Talk 13: Neotropical Plant Overview: Places to see, Resources for further study, Major families missing from Elpel
- 11/12/2011 - Plant Talk 12 Botany In a Day Online Class: Missing Plant Families from Elpel 5th ed.
- 10/15/2011 - Plant Talk 11 Botany In a Day Online Class: Temperate (Mostly Appalachian) Medicinal Plant Study Review
- 09/25/2011 - Plant Talk 10 Botany In a Day Online Class Woody Plants
- 09/03/2011 - Plant Talk 9 Botany In a Day Online Class Plants that Support Biodiversity
- 08/12/2011 - Plant Talk 8 Botany In a Day Online Class Exotic Invasive Plants
- 07/21/2011 - Plant Talk 7 Botany In a Day Online Class Poisonous Plants
- 06/27/2011 - Plant Talk 6 Botany In a Day Online Class Wild Foods
- 06/16/2011 - Plant Talk 5 Botany In a Day Online Class Pages 25-37
- 06/06/2011 - Plant Talk 4 Botany In a Day Online Class Pages 14-24
- 05/21/2011 - Plant Talk 3 Botany In a Day Online Class Pages 4-13
- 05/07/2011 - Plant Talk 2 Botany In a Day Online Class Inside Covers and Pages 1-3
- 04/22/2011 - Plant Talk 1 Botany In a Day Online Class Introduction/Overview
Archived Classes
Comments
mbdavisFriday, February 10, 2012 - 08:57 PM
I would like to know why the twig of the multiflora rose is green on top and red underneath?
Thank you.
Talley
Thursday, August 04, 2011 - 01:10 PM
marc, thanks so much to you, robin, alan and natalie for the incredibly informative and broad spectrum ethnobotany classes at firefly. what an inspiration to be able to go into such depth of hands-on knowledge with such an intimate class size over the course of just a few days! i love your easy-going and fluid approach to teaching this vast and interesting course of material...THANKS!!!
Aura Morris
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 - 06:18 PM
Hey Marc! Thanks so much for teaching and facilitating the Ethnobotany intensive last week. It was truly amazing - I had a great time and I learned a ton. I'm going on a plant walk with a friend this week to look for some of the plants we learned, and I'm going to make my first mead tomorrow. I'll let you know how it turns out. See you in Celo!
marc williams
Monday, June 06, 2011 - 05:27 PM
Hey Folks,
Our server was down from Friday to Monday 6/3-6/6. Sorry for any inconvenience. Should be okay now. Thanks for your interest, patience and support.
marc
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - 07:00 AM
Ariel,
Thanks for writing and avid interest in Ferns. They could use all the appreciation they can get. One of the premier botanists for ferns lives around Asheville, David B. Lellinger. He wrote A Field Manual of the Ferns and Fern-Allies of the United States
Ariel Burns
Monday, May 23, 2011 - 11:40 PM
Hey Marc, we've met once before on a rainy day down by the Garden Cabin on WWC campus (you led a wild edibles walk). I am a student, and I had completed a vascular/non-vascular seedless plant collection for Mark Brenner's Field Natural History class this last spring. I learned so much about these ferns
marc
Sunday, May 22, 2011 - 06:58 AM
David,
Thanks so much for your thorough response! Great to get insights from the left coast. What are you studying about Skullcap for your masters? Very interesting and diverse genus. i just finished my masters in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University. Not easy!!! Good luck...
We have all the same greens ready where i live even the Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) which is a western plant but grown intentionally here in our garden. Cherries are almost ready and Juneberries (Amelanchiar spp.) are ready too. Interesting that our Rhododendrons are cycling together. We have so many species and hybrids that some are done and some have not yet begun though.
Very excited to have another friend of Frank's on board. i look forward to hearing more!
Peace, marc
David Rodriguez
Monday, May 16, 2011 - 01:08 AM
Why are you taking this class? Hi everyone, my name is David and I live in Oakland. I'm here to learn and share about plants and their spirits. The East Coast is quite different than the West and it will be fun to relate the two botanically. I'm also here because I was a close friend of Franks. I sure miss him.
What are five plants you hold closely? My favorite plant is Skullcap (Scutellaria sp.). It's the plant I'm studying for my masters and generally a great and loving plant. I'm also fond of Osha (Ligusticum porteri) for its powerful lung properties, Elephant Tree (Bursera microphylla) for its guidance and wisdom, Brown's Peony (Paeonia brownii) for bringing a smile to my face and Ocotillo F(ouquieria splendens) for its spiny beauty.
What food is ready for harvest around you right now? Well there is plenty to eat right about now. The Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum sp.) are looking rather yummy as well as the Miners Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) and the late spring Nettles Urtica dioica). Personally I enjoy a mouthful of young Cleavers (Galium aparine) every now and then (young is the key). Also there seems to be some kind of front yard gardening thing going on because there are sweet peas for the picking all around the neighborhood. And the mints, Spearmint (Mentha spicata) and Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii),are nodding enthusiastically.
What are a few plants blooming around you right now? You all missed the amazingly beautiful Silk Tassel(Garrya elliptica) down the street by a month and all the plumbs and cherries have done their thing but the roses and azaleas-rhododendrons are just out of this world right now. I'll give a wilder version soon.
I'll try and get some photos up soon to share a West Coast vantage point.
Marc Williams
Monday, April 18, 2011 - 09:00 PM
By the way comments are greatly appreciated. When you click on the post comment link below you will see fields for email and website but they are not absolutely necessary to make commentary.
Marc Williams
Monday, April 18, 2011 - 08:56 PM
New class starting on Earth Day April 22, 2011! Excited to continue the work of Frank while offering a unique service to the plant loving community. Giving thanks to all that have supported me!
Marc Williams
Saturday, February 05, 2011 - 06:40 PM
How thankful i am to carry out this work of my dear friend and teacher Frank Cook. This feels like a prime year to take the class to a whole new level.
David Williams
Monday, October 11, 2010 - 07:46 PM
Hello Marcus , i enjoyed plant walking in the Edible Park
on 10 / 10 / 10 . i am interested in your classes online
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