David Self

Botanist / Ecologist / Artist. Nurtured on berry collecting, fishing, beach combing, hiking and other wild pursuits – Dave has worked some 30 years in ecological restoration as a professional botanist, including the last 20 years with Zentner & Zentner, a restoration firm. He helped found the Restoration Trust, was a founder and served as President for the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Association, and served as President of the California Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration. Dave has also volunteered many hundreds of hours as a naturalist and as a cultural demonstrator. A consistent thread that runs thru 50 years of Dave's work, school, play, volunteering and art, is the vital importance of nature-based culture (art, craft, cooking, story, tradition … ) in reconnecting people with plants and place thru stewardship of wild useful plants. It’s not unusual for Dave to show up at potlucks and other gatherings with an offering of wild salad, acorn bread or other wild treat – as tangible lessons that the world tastes good if you take care and pay attention, and that there is an active, positive role for people to play in caring for the wild world.