People, Plants, and Culture

Catalog description

This course will provide students with an appreciation of the fundamental role of plants and plant-derived products in all aspects of human life in both industrialized and non-industrialized societies. Topics will include food plants, medicinal plants, psychoactive plants, and sustainability issues surrounding the use of plants by people, among many others. Students will also gain an understanding of how plants and their uses have shaped both past and present cultures around the world. This course will combine traditional lectures with discussions based on readings from the textbook and articles. We will engage in experiential learning through a variety of small projects that will incorporate “field” research and hands-on projects focused on matters of local plant traditions, including those concerning foodways, medicines, art and aesthetics, among others.