Yes. Lunch and dinner are provided at the Ghost Ranch Dining Hall as part of the program.

Is there an age limit?

Minimum age is 12 for attendees; children under 12 are not permitted in the program.

Can I forage serviceberries during the event?

No. Harvesting is not allowed without explicit guidance—this workshop focuses on observation and reciprocity.

How many people attend?

Group size is limited to about 65 participants to preserve a focused learning environment.

Is the event accessible?

Accessibility details are not specified in the listing; contact Ghost Ranch directly for information about mobility accommodations.

How do I book or view policies?

Visit the booking page for availability and any cancellation policies: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/ghostranch/items/720150/?asn=fhdn&asn-ref=advcollective&ref=advcollective&bookable-only=yes&full-items=yes&marketplace=yes&flow=no

Serviceberry and Reciprocity: Robin Wall Kimmerer at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu | Workshop | Eco Tour

At Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, a single shrub can teach a whole new way to live. On Saturday, September 5, 2026, Robin Wall Kimmerer—author, botanist, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation—unfolds those lessons in an all-day event that pairs field observation with reflection. The schedule centers on three public sessions: 10:00 am Workshop: The Serviceberry; 1:30 pm Workshop: What it means and what it takes to create a world where we all truly belong to each other and the Earth; and a 7:00 pm book signing and reception. Lunch and dinner are provided at the Ghost Ranch Dining Hall. Serviceberry shrubs and small trees dominate riparian edges here, offering sweet fruit to birds and people alike. Kimmerer treats the plant as a teacher: its berries are a living example of abundance distributed for the health of the whole community. You’ll move from close-up natural history—flower and fruit timing, pollinators, seed dispersal—to broader questions about reciprocity, care, and cultural values. The teaching is practical and rooted in science, but carried by storytelling that makes ecological ethics accessible to a broad audience. Ghost Ranch’s layered sandstone, white badlands, and flat-topped Cerro Pedernal provide a high-desert stage. Geological features at the ranch—white sandstone formations and exposed red beds—frame field conversations and offer dramatic photographic backdrops. The site’s size and the event’s limited group of about 65 people create space for both group exchange and quieter observation. Minimum age is 12, making this a rare multigenerational learning day. Why go? Kimmerer’s writing—most notably Braiding Sweetgrass—has reshaped how many people think about plants and place; seeing her teach in a landscape she respects adds urgency and clarity to those texts. Ghost Ranch itself is a distinct part of northern New Mexico’s outdoor culture: a working education and retreat center long associated with artists and naturalists, and the landscape that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings. Practical notes: expect sun and wind on high desert slopes; bring layers, sun protection, water, and comfortable footwear for short walks. Respect harvesting ethics—this is a workshop in observation and reciprocity, not open foraging without guidance. Arrive early for parking and plan to stay through the evening reception if you want a signed copy and conversation. For visitors, base yourself in Abiquiu or nearby Santa Fe to make the drive part of the experience. This day at Ghost Ranch promises clear lessons from a small tree that point toward a different way to live with the land. Expect small-group conversations, field exercises identifying plant parts and pollinators, and time for personal reflection; the tone moves from scientific observation to practical steps you can take at home or in your community to practice reciprocity with the places you love.

About Ghost Ranch

Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, is a public education and retreat center known for dramatic red hills, colorful cliffs, and cultural resources that inspired artist Georgia O’Keeffe. Located near the village of Abiquiu, Ghost Ranch offers interpretive tours, hiking trails, museums, lodging, camping, and wellness experiences that highlight art, anthropology, and paleontology.

The campus includes the Florence Hawley Ellis Museum and the Ruth Hall Museum, where visitors can learn about the Gallina people and view Triassic fossil discoveries including Coelophysis finds. Guided Paleontology Tours include a scenic drive and a moderate walk to original quarry sites, providing close-up views of Triassic paleontology and fossil history.

Ghost Ranch offers multiple Georgia O’Keeffe experiences, including landscape tours, guided walks retracing O’Keeffe’s paths, and viewpoints of her Ghost Ranch house. Day passes allow access to trails, museums, and a peaceful labyrinth, with on-site café services and both reservation and walk-in options when available.

Accommodations and activities vary from shared rooms with communal baths to RV sites with full hookups and tent-only camping, alongside seasonal workshops, massage and sound therapy, and evening ghost-and-sunset strolls. Programming combines natural scenery, museum interpretation, and guided experiences designed for visitors seeking art, history, and outdoor exploration. Information, schedules, and reservations are provided by Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

Special events and weekend programs are offered seasonally, including performances, music, yoga sessions, and poetry readings that celebrate art and culture in the landscape that inspired many artists. Visitor information desks and museum staff provide expert interpretation regularly.