Lanny Kaufer, Ojai herbalist and native plant educator, is enjoying his 45th year of leading “Herb Walks” and nature hikes in Ojai, Santa Barbara, and the surrounding area. A retired public high school teacher with a Biology degree from the University of California, Lanny specializes in making learning about edible and medicinal plants accessible and fun for people of all ages.
Lanny acquired much of his plant knowledge in field study with well-known herbalists and ethnobotanists, including the late William LeSassier and the late Chumash teacher Juanita Centeno. He has co-led workshops, field classes and expeditions with noted experts such as the late herbalist and author Michael Moore, author-herbalist Michael Tierra, author-herbalist Amanda McQuade Crawford, Professor James Adams of USC School of Pharmacy, Chumash educator Julie Tumamait-Stenslie and others. In 2015 Lanny began offering plant classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a branch of the California State University, Channel Islands, Extended University program.
Lanny is the founder and director of the Ojai Herbal Symposium and Ojai Medical Cannabis Conference.
