In 2016, Ojai, CA native plant educator Lanny Kaufer celebrated 40 years 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. He has co-led workshops, field classes and expeditions with noted experts such as the late Chumash teacher Juanita Centeno, the late herbalist and author Michael Moore, author-herbalist Michael Tierra, author-herbalist Amanda McQuade Crawford, Professor James Adams of USC School of Pharmacy, and Chumash educator Julie Tumamait-Stenslie. 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 and Ojai Herbal Symposium and Ojai Medical Cannabis Conference. For more information about him, visit HerbWalks.com.