Indigenous Edible Landscape Design: Lessons from the Past and Present

Start Date

10/07/2025

End Date

10/07/2025

Description

The notion that the Americas were "wilderness" prior to European arrival is false. The notion that Native Americans were sparsely populated and technologically stunted are also false. The Americas were inhabited for 25,000+ years according to recent archaeological finds, and within this time period humanity managed to transform vast regions into edible ecosystems that benefitted both humans and non-humans alike. Dr. Johnston's extensive research in the area draws lessons from paleo-archaeological stories of abundant and sustainable bioregional food systems and applies them to contemporary landscape design, with a focus on edibility ratings. How can we (and why should we) make our household, municipality and community landscapes more edible, moving away from the "ornamental" goals of Euro-centric landscape design?

Distance Learning

Yes

Course Equivalency

Subjects

Design-Build
Sustainable Development & Design

Health, Safety and Welfare

Hours

1.25

Learning Outcomes

1. Learners will have a deeper understanding of the true ecological history of the Americas
2. Learners will have concrete takeaways/lessons from historical case studies that can be applied today
3. Learners will gain a new evaluation lens of how to give various landscape designs an "edibility rating."

Instructors

Lyla June Johnston

Course Codes

Provider

New Directions in the American Landscape

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