WEEDS

‘Part of human history’

In addition to cooking, Baldwin said wild foods can be used to make skincare products, tinctures, infused honey, medicines and more.

“There’s many different things you can do with foraged foods, and the great thing about it is that we have tons of free, wonderful, wild foods here in Colorado,” she said.

Some of Baldwin’s favorite plants to forage are pine and conifer needles, which are high in vitamin C. She uses the needles to make a simple syrup that she drinks with seltzer water and fresh lemon.

“It’s extremely refreshing and has a lot of minerals, so it’s very hydrating in the summertime when it’s hot,” she said. When foraging, it’s important to do so in a way that does not damage plants or plant populations, Baldwin said. When gathering pine needles, for example, she takes about an inch or two from each branch and moves around to different branches so as to not damage the plant.

Davis agreed that sustainability is an important part of foraging process, and it’s something foragers need to be mindful of in order to do correctly.

“Sometimes people think ‘Foraging must be bad for the environment because you’re picking the plants!’ But I think the actual truth is much more nuanced than that,” she said. “Foraging is part of human history, I mean, we have been foraging since time immemorial, and we can do it in ways that don’t harm the plant populations if we’re mindful.”

Beyond freshness and accessibility, Davis said foraging offers health benefits and a range of flavors that are not available in grocery stores.

And perhaps best of all, wild food offers a way to get close to nature.

“For me, also, they offer a connection to nature,” Davis said. “They invite time spent outdoors, getting to know plants, working with my hands.”

Davis has available spots in her classes in Ramah and Fairplay this spring and summer. Her classes can be found at https://wildfoodgirl.com/ wfg-events/.

On her webpage, people who want to learn more about foraging can also sign up for the Colorado foragers email list.

In May, Baldwin is hosting a wild food cooking class at her shop, taught by veteran forager Wendy Petty. Interested students can sign up at https:// earthsweetboutique.com/products/wild-foraged-food-cooking-class and see future classes at https://earthsweetboutique. com/pages/classes-events.

Street 16

CONIFER – On the night of March 29, residents reported “shots red” in their Eagle Cli neighborhood. On the morning of March 30, a homeowner asked deputies to drop by and take custody of 16 shell casings she’d collected from the road near her house. After a thorough survey of nearby structures, o cers declared the habitations un-hit. e homeowner believed the shootists had been peppering a “random spot on the hillside.” Deputies took custody of the casings and tabled the case.

AKA Napoleon Solo

CONIFER – A Lakewood resident, Larry has been staying with his friend, Balki, in Evergreen on account of “fungus and parasite infestations” at his apartment complex, which Larry believes are part of a “conspiracy” against himself and his fellow tenants masterminded by his “landlord” and the “co-op.” Eventually getting around to the point of his complaint, Larry said that he and his dog had been walking around at the Beaver Ranch Disc Golf Course when his dog gave a mighty tug on the leash, causing Balki to “fall on the ice” and prompting Balki to “kick my dog.” Later, back at stately Balki Manor, Larry could tell that something was eating his good friend. He could tell because Balki “rushed at” him, pushed him down and took a few swings at him. e two ultimately “hugged it out,” and Larry returned to the Infested Arms Apartments to call JCSO. Larry told deputies that Balki was, in fact, “deep undercover,” and that he wasn’t at all sure that Balki “is even his real name.” He said Balki has “an AR-15 and anger issues.” He said he worried that Balki might be a clear and present danger to himself and his dog. Deputies advised Larry that, should they arrest Balki on the strength of his statement and he’s subsequently judged guilty of assault, he’d almost certainly “go to jail.” at being the case, Larry decided that, instead of pressing charges, he just “won’t be speaking to Balki anymore.”

Shopper’s little helper

EVERGREEN – On the evening of March 30, grocery store employees were surprised and a little concerned to nd a patron “slumped over” and sound asleep in the Little Caballeros room. Unable to rouse him from his porcelain perch, they summoned deputies. A little o cial persistence brought the comatose customer closer to his senses, and a quick pat-down turned up a “single blue M-30 pill,” a tablet “typically laced with fentanyl.” Deputies seized the M-30 as evidence and the grocery formally trespassed the catnapping consumer from the premises.

Smashed and smashing

EVERGREEN – With the Missus o on a Girl’s Night Out with friends, the Mister enjoyed a relaxing evening at home in front of the tube. When Missus was still out at midnight, Mister strolled down to the saloon to see that nothing was amiss. Six sheets to the wind and not happy to have Mister intruding on her toot, Missus loudly ordered Mister to “pay the (frightful) bar tab” and get lost.

Mister was pleased to get lost, but left the bar tab as he found it. When Missus nally rolled home, Mister retreated to the basement, listening with growing concern as Missus systematically trashed the kitchen upstairs. When Mister heard the large window over the kitchen sink shatter, he decided it was time to call for county counsel. Deputies eyed the wreckage, noted Missus’s state of extreme inebriation, and asked Mister how he wished to proceed. Mister said he didn’t want to press charges, but he did want some assurance that Missus wasn’t going to shamble-ize the rest of the house. “I was wrong,” Missus sobbed, explaining that she was “acting out” because she was “heartbroken.” Deputies gave Missus a lift to a friend’s house and closed the case.

Sheri ’s Calls is intended as a humorous take on some of the incident call records of the Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce for the mountain communities. Names and identifying details have been changed. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty.

We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.canyoncourier.com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email dbrobst@coloradocommunitymedia.com to get items in the print version of the paper. Items will appear in print on a space-available basis.

— deciding whether to consolidate will host community meetings for the public. e meetings will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at InterCanyon Station 3, 8445 U.S. 285, Morrison; 3-5 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at North Fork Station 1, 19384 County Road 126, Bu alo Creek; 3-5 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Elk Creek Station 1, 11993 Blackfoot Road, Conifer; and 3-5 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Inter-Canyon Station 3, 8445 U.S. 285, Morrison.

FRIDAY

Bash and Bene t for Evergreen Nature Center: Evergreen Audubon’s Bash and Bene t for the Evergreen Nature Center will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Evergreen Lake House. is evening will include silent and live auctions, and a program highlighting Nature Center programs. To purchase tickets and get more information, visit www.EvergreenAudubon.org.

Springtime Boogie: e Boogie Trust presents the Springtime Boogie from 5-10 p.m. April 28 at e Wild Game, 1204 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen. e Jersey Boys and Pat Travis & Friends will perform. Proceeds bene t Resilience1220. For more information and tickets, visit www.boogieatthebarn.com.

SATURDAY

World Tai Chi Day: World Tai Chi Day will be celebrated at 10 a.m. April 29 at the patio outside the Buchanan Park Recreation Center pool.

Sip, Socialize & Shop: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Women in Business Luncheon Kicko with Sip, Socialize & Shop from 4-6 p.m. April 29 at Evergreen Gallery. For more information, visit evergreenchamber.org.

Evergreen’s Got Talent: Evergreen’s Got Talent talent show will be from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at Center for the Arts Evergreen. Winners perform at the Evergreen Summer Concert Series. Admission is free.

SUNDAY

Searching for the American Dream: Local historian John Steinle will present Searching for the American Dream: e Homestead Act and Settling the American West at 2 p.m. April 30 at the Little White Schoolhouse in Conifer. Millions of people took advantage of the 1862 Homestead Act to start their Western farms. Purchase tickets at www. coniferhistoricalsociety.org.

Rodeo, western-themed art: Visit Shadow Mountain Gallery for depictions of Evergreen’s famous rodeo, western-themed art, mountain vistas and the iconic Lake House, plus a showing of local wildlife. e show featuring local artists runs from April 30 to June 24. e gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it is in downtown Evergreen near Beau Jo’s. For more information, visit www.shadowmountaingallery.com.

TUESDAY

Fire department consolidation community meetings: e three 285 Corridor re departments — Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon and North Fork

WEDNESDAY

Evergreen chamber monthly breakfast: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly breakfast meeting from 7:30-9 a.m. May 3 at Troutdale Tavern. For more information, visit evergreenchamber.org.

Osteoporosis: ere Is Something You Can Do About It!: Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice will o er a free education program called Osteoporosis: ere Is Something You Can Do About It! From 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at the Buchanan Park Recreation Center. Registration is required at https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0d44adab2ca6fbcf8-osteoporosis3#/.

Resilience1220 celebration: Resilience1220 will celebrate four years of elevating youth mental health from 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at Mount Vernon Canyon Club. Cost is $50 per person. Visit r1220.org to purchase tickets.

EARC meeting: e Evergreen Area Republican Club (EARC) will meet at 6 p.m. May 3 in the Evergreen Fire/Rescue Administration Building, 1802 Bergen Parkway. Speaker will be Je erson County Republican Party Chairwoman Nancy Pallozzi. Independents and unafliated welcome. Pizza available. Check evergreenarearepublicanclub. org for additional information.

UPCOMING

Free legal clinic: A free legal clinic for people with no attorney will be from 2 to 5 p.m. ursday, May 4. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help ll out forms, and explain the process and procedure for all areas of civil litigation. Preregistration for individual 15-minute appointments is available by calling 303-235-5275.

Women in Business luncheon: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business luncheon will start at 11 a.m. May 4 at Mount Vernon Canyon Club. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit evergreenchamber.org.

Defensible space, home hardening presentation: Evergreen Fire/

HAPPENINGS, P19

Bear Creek Cattle Co Barb Howe 2645 Yankee Creek Rd Evergreen, CO 80439 www.bearcreekcattleranch.com

The Chris King Band Chris King 723 Snyder Mountain Rd. Evergreen, CO 80439 www.chriskingband.com

Carole Callaghan Law Carole Callaghan 53 Paradise Rd Golden, CO 80401 http://www.cclawdenver.com

Suc N Up, LLC Craig Cheney 1580 CO Rd 20 1/2 Longmont, CO 80504 sucnup.com

Wild Rabbit Boutique Erin McKay 27975 CO-74 Evergreen, CO 80439 www.wildrabbitboutique.com

Zeroload, LLC Eric Schultz Evergreen, CO 80439 zeroloadse.com

Hiwan Golf Club

Je Matthews 30671 Clubhouse Ln. Evergreen, CO 80439 hiwan.com

Evergreen Bread & Cocktail Lounge

Kris Porter 1260 Bergen Pkwy, Suite C-220 Evergreen, CO 80439 evergreenbreadlounge.com

Big Chili Inc. Lora Knowlton P.O Box 3667 Evergreen, CO 80437 www.bigchili.org

PuroClean Laramie Campbell 6901 W. 117th Ave., #7 Broom eld, CO 80020 www.puroclean.com/boulder-copuroclean-disaster-response/ broom eld-co-restoration

Evergreen Equity Management LLC

Francesco Compagnino 30735 Bryant Drive #706A Evergreen, CO 80439 evergreeneq.com

Ignite The Mind, LLC Michelle Blue 25587 Conifer Road Conifer, CO 80433 ignitethemind.net

High Country Home Design Corinne Willis 29017 Hotel Way, Unit 103-C Evergreen, CO 80439 www.highcountryhomedesign.com

Please join the Chamber in recognizing the nominees for the Mountain Area Women in Business Hall of Fame: Ginny Ades, one of the founding members of Evergreen Sustainability Alliance, Jackie Bell, longtime President of Evergreen Animal Protective League, Holly Arnold Kinney, founder of the Tesoro Cultural Center, Maren Schreiber longtime Supervisor of the Inspire Program at Evergreen Parks and Recreation, and Barbara Sternberg who was a founding member of the Evergreen Chapter of PFLAG –Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

The Hall of Fame inductees will be announced at the Chamber’s annual Women in Business luncheon on May 4 at Mount Vernon Canyon Club but all of these women will be recognized for their indelible imprint they have left on our community and the positive legacy that have each passed to so many others. Please join us in celebration of these women.

The luncheon is open to all and tickets may be purchased at evergreenchamber.org.

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL (RI)

is a global network of service clubs with a long history and mission of serving others. The Rotary Club of Evergreen is our local club that supports projects throughout the world through our International Service Committee (ISC). Amazing members right here in Evergreen who saw a need in the world are taking action. We champion many ongoing projects including sustainable agriculture, the drilling of freshwater wells and the building of water distribution systems,