WIP: all my fonts got messed up
Plants and seeds we shared at F.M.Smith Park, Oakland
Ancestral Native American Lifeways of the Half Moon Bay Area
Mark Hylkema is an archeologist working for the California State Parks system. On October 18, 2022, he gave a presentation for the Half Moon Bay History Association on the history, culture, and lives of Native Americans (Ohlone) in the Half Moon Bay and San Francisco Peninsula.
Vitis ‘Roger’s Red’ Grape
Is it the same as Vitis Californica? I’m still trying to figure that out. But here are some of the sources i’ve been looking at:
Native American Ethnobotany Database
Calflora
USDA
Jepson Herbaria (ucb)
Excerpt from a document from 1902 that talks about plants used by Native Californians in Mendocino:
“[...] The berry is full of seeds, and generaly very sour; but my Yokia informant, who seemed to be especially well versed in Indian lore, told me that while those vines which grow on laurel and willow trees produce tart fruit, those that grow on the white or black oak produce sweet fruit. [...] The smaller woody parts of the vine are extremely flexible and are considerably used by the Pomo tribes for the rims of their large cone-shaped carrying baskets. It is gathered at almost any time and soaked in water and hot ashes, after which the bark is removed and the wood split into a couple of strands, which, although very coarse, are used substantially as thread."
Soaprοοt (from Sogorea Te, Pinnantak)
Our community was gifted Soaproot seeds from Sogorea Te Land Trust at the Pinnantak location. We plan to plant the seeds this week (Beginning of October)
Please check out their website to learn about the Native people of the Bay Area as well as pay your Shuumi Tax:
“A voluntary annual contribution that non-Indigenous people living on the Confederated Villages of Lisjan’s territory can make to support the critical work of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.”
Shuumi means gift in the Ohlone language Chochenyo.
I found these videos about soaproot really informative and fun to watch:
Care and Propagation
The bulb is easy to grow either in full sun or part shade. It requires little watering, and can tolerate clay, loam, and sandy soils. Once established, it requires very little care. Soaproot can be used as a filler between small trees or chaparral shrubs, or in grasslands, meadows or rock gardens, along with native grasses. Other companion plants include Mariposa Lily (Calochortus sp.), Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), succulents such as Dudleya sp., and various cactus species. They are great for butterfly gardens, are deer resistant, and can tolerate cold to 5 degrees. The flowers usually attract native bees and hoverflies.
USDA PLANT GUIDE
Documented native tribes that used soaproot:
Chlorogalum pomeridianum (DC.) Kunth
Pomo
Maidu
MiwokMiwok people played mixed-gender games on a 110-yard (100 m) playing field called poscoi a we'a. A unique game was played with young men and women. Similarly to soccer, the object was to put an elk hide ball through the goalpost. The girls were allowed to do anything, including kicking the ball and picking it up and running with it. The boys were only allowed to use their feet, but if a girl was holding it he could pick her up and carry her towards his goal.[16]
Miwok sweat lodge in Yosemite Valley
Websites:
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy - Information about Soaproot
Calscape - Information about Soaproot
Early-Spring Blooming Soaproot Serves as Food, Soap, Glue and Medicine - Article 2014
Soaproot Brush Making
Books:
Anderson, K. (2005). Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources. Ukraine: University of California Press.
Blue Elderberry (berries collected from Dimond Park hiking trail)
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
USDA Plant Guide
Calflora
Wikipedia
Calendula seeds (from Gravity garden)
https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=1253
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=1863
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/calendula-calendula-officinalis/#:~:text=The%20leaves%20and%20petals%20of,fabrics%2C%20foods%2C%20and%20cosmetics.
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:187894-1/images
https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/calendula/officinalis/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendula_officinalis