Herb Walk in Salt Lake City
I am excited to announce the first public herb walk of 2025! Spring has sprung and some of my favorite local and native plants have woken up to soak up the sun. Let’s get out there and greet them!
In this springtime herb walk, we’ll:
Focus on a gentle walk around the lower Avenues neighborhood and nearby park- dress accordingly and bring water!
Meet 10 really special plants that I think everyone in Salt Lake City should know; exploring their botany, folklore, medicinal virtues, and how to craft simple medicines with their support
Connect with many, many other plants along the way and learn neat things about them
Look at wild, garden, urban forestry, invasive, and native plants and focus on the ones that have established medicinal lore
Hear sacred stories and real-life anecdotes about several plants and connect to their unique personalities
Learn to confidently identify many bioregional medicinal herbs
Play Minty Bingo along the way
Get a small sketch book to take notes and to draw a special plant ally at an art stop
The size of this group will be limited, so please RSVP now and join us- these are so much fun!
Springtime Urban Herb Walk
Sunday May 25, 2025
10:00am-11:30 (or so)
$20 per person
If you’ve ever wondered about the plants growing just beyond your doorstep, an herb walk might be the perfect way to connect with nature and learn more about the healing and culinary powers of local flora. These guided excursions are part educational outing, part nature immersion—and they’re so much fun!
What Is an Herb Walk?
An herb walk is a guided tour through a natural area—such as a forest, meadow, or even an urban park—led by an experienced herbalist or plant expert. The focus is on identifying and discussing native and non-native plants with a special emphasis on their traditional, medicinal, and practical uses.
Unlike a hike, the pace is slow and exploratory. You'll stop frequently to examine plants, smell leaves, touch bark, and hear stories about how these plants have been worked with in medicine, folk magic, storytelling, and more over the ages.
What to Expect from a Walk with Josh
Here’s what typically happens on an herb walk:
Small group setting: Walks are usually intimate, with 5–15 participants to allow for questions and hands-on learning- and to prevent Josh from having to yell!
Plant identification: You’ll learn how to recognize edible, medicinal, and even toxic plants using visual cues, scent, texture, and sometimes taste along the way.
Interactive learning: Expect to reference field guides, look at plants through loupes, take notes, and even sketch plants as part of the experience.
Mindful connection: Herb walks often emphasize being present in nature, noticing seasonal changes, and tuning into the landscape. We will enter into visionary states through storytelling and enjoy some guided heart-centered practices along the way.
You don’t need any prior knowledge—just curiosity, appropriate outdoor clothing, and some water!
What You’ll Learn
Every herb walk is different depending on the season and where we wander, but most walks cover topics like:
Basic botany and plant families
How to safely forage and harvest herbs
Traditional medicinal uses of common herbs
Edible wild plants and how to prepare them
Plants to avoid due to toxicity or environmental sensitivity
Respectful and ethical wildcrafting practices
Folklore and sacred stories about the plants
Why Come Along on an Herb Walk?
An herb walk isn’t just about identifying plants—it’s about developing a relationship with your environment. You’ll gain:
A deeper understanding of local ecology
Practical skills for foraging and natural wellness
A sense of empowerment and independence
A more mindful and sustainable approach to living with nature
A personal connection to the amazing plants who share their spaces with us
