2026 CLASSES
Saturday August 15, 2026, 10:30-2:30 -
Summer Ethnobotany with Renee Fredrickson
This third class in the 2026 ethnobotany season will focus on trees. I absolutely love the study of dendrology and taxonomy of trees, the learning of the Latin classification system. To tell the truth, I love trees: their majesty, secrecy, communication skills, their power as weather makers, apothecaries, totems and healers.
In this session, we will take a look at the trees that have grown up in our PNW environment. While
we have large, dense forests with seemingly many, many trees, the number of different species in our
forests are small, making a dive into learning to identify them quite accessible. What constitutes a leaf?
Can I identify a tree by its cones? Its bark? How do trees choose the places they live? So many questions.
We will start at the farm to get oriented to the trees and get our materials together and then move
to a forest location where we can find them in person. The goal is identification and taxonomy,
then an introduction to some of the ethnobotanical uses of the trees near to us. Plan to learn some
Latin!
First Light Farm & Learning Center; $60
1202 West Snoqualmie River Rd NE, Carnation
Registration required by email ([email protected]) and pay on the day of the class. Limited to 12 participants.
September 12, 10:30-2:30 pm - Ethnobotany of the Plants of
Late Summer with Renee Fredrickson
We will gather in September to continue our exploration of the First People, as the indigenous people refer to the plants around them. We will focus on the plants that offer their foods/medicines later in the growing season. This can include plants native to our local environment as well as herbs we grow or find or even consider to be “useless weeds”. We will continue keeping our own personal records of the plants by using plant cards or field journals already in progress or that can be newly started.
In this season, blue elderberries are ready for harvest, acorns are falling from the oaks, and perennial plants are replenishing their roots from a season of growth and production, making this a time for gathering roots and tubers useful in foods and medicines. Included will be plant ID skills, taxonomy, field guide use and plant preparation resources. Come take a dive into the abundant world of our local plants.
First Light Farm & Learning Center; $60
1202 West Snoqualmie River Rd NE, Carnation
Registration required by email ([email protected]) and pay on the day of the class. Limited to 12 participants.
September 12, 10-1 pm - Learn to grow Garlic with Jeremy Houston
In this workshop, you'll cover the difference between hard and soft neck garlic, soil preparation, planting tips, mulching, curing, bulb saving and planting times. $45 and go home with 1 lb of garlic ready to plant! September 12, 10-1 pm at First Light Farm. Register online. Q&A session at the end of the class. First Light Farm's mini farmers can attend for free but must let us know you're planning on attending. Limited to 8 participants.
Saturday August 15, 2026, 10:30-2:30 -
Summer Ethnobotany with Renee Fredrickson
This third class in the 2026 ethnobotany season will focus on trees. I absolutely love the study of dendrology and taxonomy of trees, the learning of the Latin classification system. To tell the truth, I love trees: their majesty, secrecy, communication skills, their power as weather makers, apothecaries, totems and healers.
In this session, we will take a look at the trees that have grown up in our PNW environment. While
we have large, dense forests with seemingly many, many trees, the number of different species in our
forests are small, making a dive into learning to identify them quite accessible. What constitutes a leaf?
Can I identify a tree by its cones? Its bark? How do trees choose the places they live? So many questions.
We will start at the farm to get oriented to the trees and get our materials together and then move
to a forest location where we can find them in person. The goal is identification and taxonomy,
then an introduction to some of the ethnobotanical uses of the trees near to us. Plan to learn some
Latin!
First Light Farm & Learning Center; $60
1202 West Snoqualmie River Rd NE, Carnation
Registration required by email ([email protected]) and pay on the day of the class. Limited to 12 participants.
September 12, 10:30-2:30 pm - Ethnobotany of the Plants of
Late Summer with Renee Fredrickson
We will gather in September to continue our exploration of the First People, as the indigenous people refer to the plants around them. We will focus on the plants that offer their foods/medicines later in the growing season. This can include plants native to our local environment as well as herbs we grow or find or even consider to be “useless weeds”. We will continue keeping our own personal records of the plants by using plant cards or field journals already in progress or that can be newly started.
In this season, blue elderberries are ready for harvest, acorns are falling from the oaks, and perennial plants are replenishing their roots from a season of growth and production, making this a time for gathering roots and tubers useful in foods and medicines. Included will be plant ID skills, taxonomy, field guide use and plant preparation resources. Come take a dive into the abundant world of our local plants.
First Light Farm & Learning Center; $60
1202 West Snoqualmie River Rd NE, Carnation
Registration required by email ([email protected]) and pay on the day of the class. Limited to 12 participants.
September 12, 10-1 pm - Learn to grow Garlic with Jeremy Houston
In this workshop, you'll cover the difference between hard and soft neck garlic, soil preparation, planting tips, mulching, curing, bulb saving and planting times. $45 and go home with 1 lb of garlic ready to plant! September 12, 10-1 pm at First Light Farm. Register online. Q&A session at the end of the class. First Light Farm's mini farmers can attend for free but must let us know you're planning on attending. Limited to 8 participants.
