The Chumash Kitchen at SLO Botanical Garden

Experience Summer Flavors and Discover Sacred Spaces with Chumash chef and herbalist, Violet Cavanaugh Taste the wild flavors of the season. Join us this July as we reconnect with the local environment, the season, and your health during the summer Chumash Kitchen offering with Chumash chef and herbalist, Violet Cavanaugh. This offering will leave you nourished, connected, and grateful for the gifts of nature. Join Violet as we learn the practices of collecting, processing and transforming seasonal, local foods into several modern and traditional recipes, all while developing a deeper awareness for the sacred spaces in Central California. After the summer solstice we will focus our attention on honoring the summer bounty of the California Valley, and sacred Painted Rock National Monument in the Carrizo Plains. Discover the history and legends of the sacred space as well as contemporary issues facing the Carrizo Plains. A beautifully prepared, seasonal breakfast and lunch are provided at the summer Chumash Kitchen offering. Our feast will be supplemented by the wild game, berries, herbs, nuts and grains that grow in our area during our Summer Season. This cultural and culinary offering will leave you connected and nourished. Pre-registry is REQUIRED for this intimate offering. This Chumash Kitchen program is offering a sliding scale of $88-$120 per participant. We ask that you select the price option that works for your budget. Pre-registry is REQUIRED for this intimate offering. Friday July 27 from 10am – 1pm, join Violet in the kitchen at the SLO Botanical Garden to learn and help process wild foods in preparation for the Saturday offering. This hands-on and in-depth work-trade is offered for an additional $25 and is open to the first ten people who select the “+prep day” in the sliding scale drop-down payment menu. ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Violet Sage Cavanaugh, is an indigenous woman and co-chair of the Northern Chumash Tribe. Born in Avila Beach, a great granddaughter of Chumash Vaquero, Antonio Lopez of Lopez Canyon, Violet has deep roots in the San Luis Obispo area. An expert in several areas, her specialty is in herbal skin care, salves, essential oil blending, wild harvesting and making high end all natural bath and body spa products. Incorporating the modern science in combination with ancient teaching, Violet, follows the teachings of her elders and legends and has created her own unique signature of products. She has consulted in local politics for more than 20 years, working with the county, city, and Coastal Commission to protect the environment. Her background in religion, politics, and activism gives Violet a unique understanding and acceptance in diverse groups. Violet calls it an obligation to speak for those plants and animals who have no voice, and because of her background and interests and open honest communication style, learning is fun, social and focused on creating a legacy of her culture through the students. Violet says “What we have we share, it’s a gift and obligation, people won’t protect what people don’t understand. Everyone is welcome.”