EVENT DETAILS HERE!
Rare chance to wander the home landscape of beloved naturalist Doug Elliott—plants, stories, and the wonder of the wild.
Much more than a plant walk, this is an opportunity to peek into the life of beloved elder and naturalist Doug Elliott. For the first time in Firefly herstory, we will walk with Doug at his home, on the land he and his lovely wife Yanna have tended for more than 30 years.
Doug and Yanna chose their little slice of heaven because it had everything they wanted:
Diversity: located 40 miles from cotton fields in the Piedmont and 40 miles from the tallest peaks of Appalachia, their homestead sits at an intersection of these ecotones, offering a wide range of habitat for plant and animal life.
Features: When Doug and Yanna found it, this little slice of heaven had a house, flats for gardening, a creek and pond for swimming – even a waterfall! Everything they needed to build their dreams upon.
Now, more than 30 years later, we can see the fruits of their labor and witness what living your dreams looks like. We will wander their beautiful landscape, learning about plants and animals as we go. Doug says, “Nature will surprise us and we can’t plan who will show up, but it will be exciting! You never know what we’ll find out there!”
This workshop is a special opportunity to be inspired by an Appalachian folk hero who has followed his heart’s path all of his life. On this ramble, participants will:
Learn to recognize and identify fascinating wild plants and their practical uses.
Encounter birds, insects, and critters, hearing their stories through local cultural and scientific lore.
Laugh out loud with lively harmonica tunes, regional dialects and tales stranger than fiction. You might even get to hear about Doug's favorite animal (o’ possum) and maybe even about the time he got swallowed by a SNAKE!
Gain unique insights from Doug’s decades of experience as a naturalist.
Be inspired by a ever evolving farmstead; it is truly a unique experience to witness the fruits of decades of love and labor.
So join us for this wonderful wander and come and honor and celebrate our beloved Doug Elliott, a man who has truly dedicated his life to opening the eyes and hearts of the people to the wonders of the natural world.
This class will be held outdoors on Saturday, May 9th, 2026, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm in Union Mills, NC.
