Winter is the perfect time to get outside and take a walk among the trees, said Calyx Liddick, clinical herbalist and ethnobotanist. She will lead the "Winter Plant and Tree ID" program at the Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education, 4945 Horn Road, York, on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m.

"Winter botany is intimidating to some, but it's also a nice time to pare down and focus on the shapes and textures of things we tend to ignore in the growing seasons, like barks and twigs," Liddick remarked. "So, while it is a challenge, there's a lot less busyness going on overall, so we can slow down and really get in tune with what we're seeing."

Liddick said the program will help participants expand awareness and what she calls a "mental image reservoir," an important tool for foragers. "The class will be plant ID-focused, but we'll also be discussing the uses of some of these species," she shared.

The program is perfect for beginners as well as experienced foragers, Liddick stated, adding, "Anyone is welcome - folks interested in foraging, herbalism, plant nerds, hikers, gardeners - really anyone who loves the outdoors or is looking for inspiration to get themselves out in the cold season."

The main inspiration for the class is to expand plant identification beyond the warmer months, she said, and to get people outdoors in the winter. "If you don't know how to ID from bark, twig and bud, that's a long stretch of time over the winter that really limits your ability to decipher the species around you," Liddick explained. "I also encourage students to spend time with plants outside of their optimal harvest season, and winter is a great time for that for most plants and trees."

Liddick is the founding director of the Northern Appalachia School, based in Dillsburg. "We founded the school in early 2020," she said, adding that she travels all over the mid-Atlantic and Northeast to teach. "We offer workshops and consulting on botany, herbalism, land management, earth/survival skills, decolonization, etc. We also offer intensive programming every year on herbalism and ethnobotany."

As Liddick explained, "ethnobotany" focuses on the relationship between plants and humans or how plants integrate into culture. "Everyone has relationships with plants, whether they realize it or not," she commented. "Even in the herbal field, people may work with plants but never meet them in person or understand the impact of their use. Cultivating ethnobotanical relationships means coming to better awareness of how we utilize plants and how we can improve our relationship with them."

She encourages anyone with an interest to sign up for the plant walk, noting, "This is a really great opportunity to come out and have fun with like-minded folks. There's something pretty special about learning the trees, as well. I love hiking through the forest and being surrounded by familiar friends. You'll walk away from this class with the core skills you need to get started and a deeper appreciation for plants."

Participants should dress appropriately for the outdoors and off-trail walking. To register for the program, visit https://hornfarmcenter.org and click on "Programs & Events."