"Lessons from the Land" at Olana

The Olana Partnership has launched a new program series called "Lessons from the Land" at Olana State Historic Site. The series explores how humanity shapes the landscape and how the land shapes us. The program is offered free for all Columbia and Greene county residents as part of a Humanities NY grant award, which also supports Spanish-language translators during each offering, to broaden access to the program and to Olana.

During each program, naturalists, herbalists, and ecologists will lend a new perspective on Olana's 250 acres. By connecting their expertise with Olana's physical landscape through dialogue and hands-on explorations, each visiting speaker will give a deeper understanding of Olana not only as a historic artist-designed landscape but as a site for appreciating the natural world and exploring humanity's connections to and histories with the land. The program series uses this season's exhibition, Terraforming: Olana's Historic Photography Collection Unearthed, as a framework to provide perspective on the earth around us and examine the layered ways humanity interacts with the natural world.

"By bringing on speakers with diverse expertise and backgrounds, I hope this program will provide a wide range of visitors with opportunities to learn more about how we connect with the natural world and the land we inhabit," said Carolyn Keogh, Director of Education and Public Programs for The Olana Partnership.

• On Saturday, August 26, at 6:00 p.m., Nkoula Badila, founder of Grow Black Hudson, will present "Moving and Healing with Mother Earth: A Sunset Walk with Workshop." During this nature walk and workshop, Badila will guide participants through Olana's landscape, discussing the health benefits of regional species and the ways we can connect with nature through movement and herbal medicine. Badila, a seasoned yoga practitioner and performing artist, will lead a short yoga practice inspired by the flora on site. The program will culminate with a hands-on activity where participants will be invited to create their own herbal tea blend or a mugwort smudge stick to take home.
• On Friday, September 15, at 5:00 p.m., Antonia Pérez of Herban Cura will present "Turning to the Plants: A Guided Plant Walk Through Olana." Participants will learn about several medicinal and food plants growing at Olana and how we can build mutually regenerative relationships. Participants will turn to the plants to learn some of the stories of the land, how they got there, and the messages the plants have to share with us all about the history of settler colonialism and displacement.
• On Saturday, October 14, at 10:30 a.m., the series will culminate with "Walking in Wonder," led by The Outside Institute. Laura Chávez Silverman, founding naturalist of The Outside Institute, will guide participants in accessing their curiosity and sense of awe in nature. A walk throughout Olana's artist-designed landscape will give participants a chance to observe ecological conditions and think more about the relationship between humans and their surroundings. Identifying flora, fauna, and fungi's edible and medicinal properties will help participants cultivate a more intimate connection to their surroundings.

Refreshments will be served following each program. The series is free to Columbia and Greene county residents. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. For more information or to register, visit olana.org, email education@olana.org, or call (518) 751-6938.