With the inspiration of her parents and her many adventures, Katrina Blair has discovered that “wild foods [are] the most optimal way of being.” This realization led her to create Turtle Lake Refuge, a nonprofit that celebrates the connection between personal health and wild lands.
Blair, a Durango local, has dedicated her life’s work to educating people about the medicinal and nutritional benefits of wild foods while fostering good land stewardship practices.
Blair and her dedicated team achieve this in many ways, including offering wild food cuisine at the Turtle Lake Café on Tuesdays and Fridays. They also work closely with the Farmers Market to share their harvest and sell their natural products.
Blair believes the best education is immersion in the wild, allowing ourselves to tune into plants and receive information from them. Turtle Lake Refuge has created several programs that align with this vision, including Local Wild Living Soil, a program that educates people about harvesting, nutrition, and wild food recipes. A few times a year, Blair and other instructors lead trips into the mountains or desert to teach organic land stewardship practices and how to make earth remedies.
As the “ber” months creep upon us, now is the perfect time for fall foraging. Blair recommends harvesting the wild edible greens in your garden, such as dandelions, plantains, parsley, and mallow. These greens are still in their prime, but in a few weeks, they will begin to wane as winter approaches. She suggests drying these greens and grinding them into a fine powder. This superfood powder can be a lovely addition to any meal or snack, such as a morning smoothie or evening pesto.
Dandelions are still abundant and, after recent rains, have gotten a second flush. Blair adds, “The dandelion is very versatile… [At the café], we make ice cream out of it. It's a sorbet—just dandelion greens, avocado, honey, and lemon.” This combination makes for a super creamy and delightful frozen treat!
Learn more about Turtle Lake Refuge and its programs, events, and volunteer opportunities at their website: turtlelakerefuge.org.