CHRISTOPHER NYERGES

Christopher Nyerges’ early interests included the outdoors, mycology, ethnobotany, and the various skills and history of Native Americans. An interest in the outdoors – he grew up close to the Angeles National Forest – and studies in agriculture and world affairs led him to his interest in "practical survival skills."

As an educator and writer, he has shared his research and experiences in many ways.

His classes and projects have been reported in various articles over the years in the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena Star News, Daily News, Backpacker, Mother Earth News, etc., and many radio and television programs. The most popular subject has been showing how to identify and use wild edible plants for food and medicine.

TEACHER/ LECTURER

Beginning in 1974, Nyerges has conducted classes, lectures, field trips for community organizations and schools in areas of outdoor skills, American Indian themes, and wild plants. This began with the first Wild Food Outings in the Arroyo Seco with WTI Inc., and continued with School of Self-Reliance. He’s taken approximately 22,000 children and adults on field trips since 1974.

He’s given lectures, or field trips, to many public schools, libraries, and organizations, including, but not limited to,

Southwest Museum --- Gene Autry Museum --- Eaton Canyon Nature Center --- U.S. Forest Service --- The Tree People --- KidSpace --- Wilderness Institute --- Wilderness Outdoor Leadership Foundation --- Deer Tribe --- Sierra Club (various chapters) --- Boy Scouts of America (various chapters) --- Summer Kids --- Armory Foundation for the Arts --- JPL Hiking Club --- Elder Hostel --- REI stores --- Philosophical Research Society --- Indian Education, Ontario-Montclair School district --- Pitzer College --- Mount San Antonio College --- Etc.

1980 to present: Taught for Pasadena City College and Glendale Community College. Conducts classes in Hiking, Survival Skills, and Writing for Income. Occasionally teaches classes in Integral Gardening, and Native American Religion and Philosophy.

REGULAR WRITER FOR:

Desert This Week in Laguna Altadena Chronicle

Well-Being Survival Tomorrow Herbalist

Bike World American Survival Guide Backwoodsman

FREELANCE WRITER FOR:

Los Angeles Times (Op-Ed, View, Food, Home magazine, Children’s section)

San Francisco Chronicle

Christian Science Monitor

Acres USA

Whole Life Times

Awareness magazine

Mother Earth News

Etc.

EDITORIAL POSITIONS

Currently: Editor of Wilderness Way magazine.

9/94 to present: West coast editor of Wild Food Forum.

6/94 to present: Co-publisher of Talking Leaves Newsletter.

11/88 to 9/91: Editor of LAment, monthly magazine of Greater L.A. Area Mensa.

1975 to 1976: Editor of Sporeprint, monthly newsletter of L. A. Mycological Assoc.

9/72 to 6/73: Opinion Page Editor, John Muir High School paper, The Blazer.

BOOKS BY NYERGES

In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors: Guide to Wild Foods. Survival News Service, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1995, 1997, 1999.

Urban Wilderness: A Handbook to Resourceful City Living, Peace Press, 1980.

Wild Greens and Salads, Stackpole Books, 1981.

Testing Your Outdoor Survival Skills, Survival News Service, 1994.

Enter the Forest, Big Santa Anita Historical Society, 1998.

Urban Wilderness, a Y2K Preparedness Manual, 1999.

Writing for Survival -- How to write for publication -- 2000.

Extreme Simplicity: Homesteading in the City (with Dolores L.Nyerges), 2002