An independent publisher of web and print media. Printed ♻️ in the 🇺🇸.

Back Country Press logo

Cart

  • Classes
    • Botany Road Trip
    • Botanical Tales of the PCT
    • Arborist CEUs
    • Forest Mushrooms of the Pacific Coast
    • Klamath Mountains Winter Webinar 2022
      • Klamath Mountains Webinar Series
    • Magnificent five-needle pines of Western North America
    • Blue Collar Botany
    • Seaweed Classes
  • Books + Guides
    • Books
      • California Desert Plants
      • The Klamath Mountains: A Natural History
      • Field Guide to Manzanitas
      • Wildflowers of California’s Klamath Mountains
      • Conifers of the Pacific Slope
      • Conifer Country
      • Exploring the Berryessa Region
      • Hiking Humboldt Volume 1
      • Hiking Humboldt volume 2
      • Geology of the Lassen Country
      • Articulate Earth
    • Book Resources
    • Sale Items
    • Posters
    • ID Guides
    • Free Downloads
  • Authors
    • Michael Kauffmann
    • Rees Hughes
    • David Rains Wallace
    • Eldridge and Judy Moores
    • Phillip W. Rundel
    • Jason Barnes
    • Julie Kierstead
    • Tom Parker
    • Julie Knorr
    • Justin Garwood
    • Ken DeCamp
    • Kenneth Burton
    • Marc Hoshovsky
    • Michael Clynne
    • Michael Vasey
    • Peter Schiffman
    • Bob Schneider
    • Forrest Hopson
    • Robert J. Gustafson
    • Justin Rohde
  • Blog
    • Podcast
  • About
    • Find Our Books
    • Vendor Sales
    • Newsletter
  • My account
    • Orders
    • Downloads
    • Checkout
    • Login
    • Lost Password

Blue Collar Botany

Rated 4.86 out of 5 based on 14 customer ratings
(14 customer reviews)

$49.00

with Joey Santore

All classes are available for viewing for 90 days with purchase.

What is the name and email of the person we should notify on your behalf?

— OR —

Category: Class Tags: Botany, Plant Exploring
  • Description
  • Reviews (14)

Description

A Webinar Series with Joey Santore

Classes are available for viewing now with purchase.

Cost: $49 

A 4-part virtual class with modern-day plant explorer Joey Santore of “Crime Pays but Botany Doesn’t”

  • Part 1: Flower Anatomy for Identification Purposes
  • Part 2: Plant Naming (Taxonomy) and Classification (Systematics)
  • Part 3: Plant Ecology and Evolution
  • Part 4: Plant Ecology and Evolution

The first two parts of this series you will learn flower anatomy and plant naming systems to help you identify plants. The second two parts will focus on plant ecology and evolution to help you understand WHY you find what you do WHERE you do.

What is Blue Collar Botany?

In Joey’s own words, he offers “A low-brow, crass approach to botany muttered by a misanthropic Chicago Italian.”

In our words, it’s an approachable, digestible, equitable, and entertaining way to teach Botany. Joey’s enthusiasm and curiosity are infectious and totally takes the pretense of inaccessibility out of potentially intimidating scientific language and concepts. He makes this kind of knowledge accessible to all, and “lights the fire of curiosity under your ass.”

About Joey Santore

He’s a brilliant self-taught Botanist who started down this track by growing native plants (and planting them renegade-fashion in a city near you), gained a greater appreciation for plant communities as he piloted diesel trains across the West, and is driven by his passion. He is a modern-day plant explorer–seeking out fascinating plants around the globe in places wild and pristine and those that are heavily trampled by humans.

Joey’s mission to understand plant evolution has taken him to New Caledonia, South America, Australia, Mexico and to just about every botanically unique nook across the U.S. He will draw from his rich bank of stories and photos to bring the content of these four classes to life. He’ll take you on a botanical tour to some far out, oddball places, and help you better understand the plants that grow in your own neighborhood in the process.

Not familiar with Joey?

Check out his “Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t” YouTube channel and Instagram account for a good look at what he’s all about.

You’ve Been Warned
Joey’s teaching is sprinkled with foul language. If you’re a fan of his videos you know and (most likely) appreciate his creative use of the English language. If you’re not familiar with his way of speaking, check out one of his YouTube videos to get a sense of it. We don’t want you to find yourself listening to a fascinating botany presentation that may include occasional words that feel offensive to you.

14 reviews for Blue Collar Botany

  1. Rated 5 out of 5

    dstakelum (verified owner) – May 13, 2021

    Joey Santore is a hero amongst the botany community. His videos are extremely informative as well as entertaining. He’s a real character, and his level of knowledge is always immediately evident. The class was great; thanks a ton to Allison for organizing this, and a huge thanks to Joey Santore for taking the time to teach us.

  2. Rated 5 out of 5

    kyle.schoneman (verified owner) – May 13, 2021

    Great webinar series, gotta give a round of applause to mr. Joey Santore. Very detailed descriptions and fantastic photos of plants from around the world. 10/10 💚

  3. Rated 5 out of 5

    V – May 13, 2021

    I could not be happier after watching all 4 webinars! Joey is a treasure–so knowledgable and down to earth, he makes it really easy to stay focused on the lesson & get excited about plants and geology. His breakdown over these four sessions really stuck in my brain more than most of the books I’ve read, and he mentions so many wonderful botanists as well! Tons of info and advice from him, and Allison was a wonderful host 🙂 so bummed it’s over. MORE than worth the money–but of course, I knew it would be 😉

  4. Rated 5 out of 5

    Nathan Marmon (verified owner) – May 13, 2021

    I honestly could not believe the amount of knowledge that Joey can retain and his passion is equally impressive. Thank you for stoking my interest in botany Joey! Joey has inspired me on a whole new level with his love and interest in plants. Given that his foundation is all self interest and research I can now see the value of my own interest in the field. There simply are not enough people who care and it just so happens that I do. I never fed my interest because of the demands of early fatherhood and the career I chose but after taking this class I am excited to continue to build my knowledge and I hope that someday I will inspire others with my knowledge and keep the interest growing. Botany doesn’t pay but it doesn’t matter because it is important.

  5. Rated 5 out of 5

    mitra (verified owner) – May 13, 2021

    Joey is a great teacher, if you like his videos then these classes are absolutely worth the purchase. These were even better than the first couple he did over zoom a while back. Support the dude so he can keep doing his thing!

  6. Rated 5 out of 5

    Wily (verified owner) – May 14, 2021

    This class was amazing. Joey is great, and I got so much out of this class. It was exactly what I was looking for as I’m just starting my journey into the plant world.

  7. Rated 5 out of 5

    teri.chace (verified owner) – May 15, 2021

    Thrilled, blown away, jazzed, fascinated, challenged, inspired, amused, grateful.

    Joey is fucking brilliant, and I thought so before I tuned into the classes. (I listened to his interview with Peter Raven with my hair on fire!) He doesn’t just retain and synthesize botanical and ecological information like a boss…he’s got the big picture in view as well: LIFE! on this beleaguered planet!

    I’ve been studying botany as long as I can remember. I bought field guides with my babysitting money starting when I was, like, 12 years old. I grew up to work in horticulture and nature writing. I’ve written over 35 books, including one on flowers organized by plant families. I don’t know shit compared to this guy.

    I did not get my botanical education from college. I’m self-taught and had amazing mentors along the way, some I met and some I never met but corresponded with. The internet exploded the possibilities in this regard, of course. I suspect Joey had a similar path…but he’s far past me (holy shit he’s even been to New Caledonia), and I LEARN from him, and consider him another great teacher I’ve been fortunate to tap into.

    Rock on, dude. World of wonders!

    PS Charge more next time, Backcountry. My god this course was the bargain of the freaking century!

  8. Rated 5 out of 5

    Spooner (verified owner) – May 15, 2021

    Joey is responsible for me falling into this rabbit hole of botany. I hope the next class is very soon!

  9. Rated 5 out of 5

    Raul – May 15, 2021

    Academic snobbery and being condescended to have often made it extra challenging for me to learn more about things I am interested in and care deeply about—not the case here. If you like the sound of learning about plants from a coyote that got stuck 1/4 of the way shapeshifting into Al Pacino, then pour yourself a nice glass of marinara sauce and savor the complimentary spicy tang of botanical knowledge dished right into your cranium.

  10. Rated 5 out of 5

    nobodylovesscience (verified owner) – May 16, 2021

    The Blue-Collar Botany series was very informative, and it helped focus intended botanizing on the most rudimentary and critical aspects of the science. Baja is a place worth visiting for an isolated and endemic plant population – thanks for that. The pictures and drawings were informative and drew interest.

    Giggled at Joey’s comparison of invasive plants to COVID aptly demonstrating the absurdity of the all-too prevalent defense that “they just want to live”.

    A provocative question was asked regarding poached plants. In attempting to be properly addressed, he danced around incitement on a recorded lecture, with open registration to the public, associated with another business. Personally, don’t give a flying shit, but I want to be able to learn more about plants from Joey.

    Technical glitches were too frequent, some unavoidable, some a direct result of misuse. Those can be fixed.

    The Plant Ecology and Evolution session re-iterated much of high school biology, loosely referencing authors of in-depth scientific studies. The loose references didn’t give confidence in the veracity of the iteration.

    Joey’s existence in the botanical world is proof that someone distinctive, who went through it, is capable of both learning, teaching, and attracting similar folk to something inherently good – science.

  11. Rated 5 out of 5

    Laurie (verified owner) – May 17, 2021

    Really enjoyed getting into the deep botany with Joey’s knowledge and humor. Inspiring and understandable to us lay people. Thanks to Backcountry Press!

  12. Rated 5 out of 5

    Karen Orso (verified owner) – May 17, 2021

    What a great world tour via Joey’s photos of all the diverse and sometimes extreme adaptations plants have engineered to meet the challenges of surviving on our dynamic earth! Joey’s presentation made the miracle of life and evolution all the more meaningful and exciting. His enthusiasm is super-infectious and that he is self-taught I find inspiring. Hopefully his webinars will encourage others to spend more time in marvel at the real world and perhaps make an effort to protect and preserve biodiversity. I also enjoyed hearing his common-sense commentary on subjects ranging from attitudes towards invasive species to attacks on our current scientific nomenclature.

  13. Rated 5 out of 5

    Darren McClelland (verified owner) – May 18, 2021

    An excellent class. Covers a lot of ground and presents things in a novel, entertaining manner.

  14. Rated 3 out of 5

    Leslie F Lewis (verified owner) – May 23, 2021

    Strongest point in the class was the presentation of Mr Santore’s field work. The photos of plants and various ecologists was a plus.
    However, the basic lecture tended to be rambling and off point at times. Trying to get cohesive info was sometimes a chore. Trying to cram taxonomy, ecology, and botany into a four part class is TMI for the time allotted. I’d like to see Mr Santore do a series on
    plant ecology. There are better programs on taxonomy and botany. However, the plant photos and lectures were spot on. And the class was entertaining at times.

Add a review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related products

  • Plant Communities of the Klamath Mountains

    $10.00
    Add to cart
  • Forest Mushrooms of the Pacific Coast

    Rated 4.97 out of 5
    $49.00
    Add to cart
  • Wildflowers of California’s Klamath Mountains

    Rated 4.83 out of 5
    $29.95
    Add to cart
  • California Desert Plants paperback

    $34.95
    Add to cart

FREE SHIPPING with orders over $75

Join Our Newsletter

* indicates required
bookstore

Subscribe to the Backcountry Press Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 165 other subscribers

backcountrypress

Backcountry Press
Nuggets of knowledge we soaked up from @sheriff_wo Nuggets of knowledge we soaked up from @sheriff_woody_pct on the Botany Road Trip to the Intermountain West:

1. Rare plants tend to grow in clusters with other rare plants.

2. When choosing to except a hitch or not, feel more comfortable if a couple is offering the ride. Couples, generally, don’t murder people.

3. If it looks onionish but doesn’t smell a onionish, don’t eat it. It may kill you.

4. Studying satellite imagery for interesting soil types and rocky outcrops is a great way to hunt for rare plant locations.

5. Look more closely at the tiny plants you step over.

6. Penstemon is the most diverse genus that is endemic to North America!

Part 2 of our 3 part journey featured 12  of them, including this gorgeous King’s Beardtongue (Penstemon kingii) from Utah.

This evening Part 3 takes us to the southeast to meet, among others things, loads of carnivorous plants. Sundews, flytraps, and pitcher plants — oh my!

#botanyroadtrip #botanizing #botanist #nativeplants #rareplants #carnivourousplant #penstemon

https://backcountrypress.com/product/botany-road-trip/
✉️These envelopes are ready to roll! If you ✉️These envelopes are ready to roll! 

If you preordered your copy of CALIFORNIA DESERT PLANTS we’ll be sending it off this week!

Books arrive from our favorite printer tomorrow — printed in the good ol’ U S of A, of course 🙌

We’ve extended our Preorder Sale until then! Check it out at our link in profile… just one more day to get the eBook for free with your paperback 📕 

#independentpublishing #desertplants #californianativeplants #naturenerds #botanizing #fieldguide

https://backcountrypress.com/product/california-desert-plants-paperback-ebook/
We have 2 winners for our Botany Road Trip! 🎉 We have 2 winners for our Botany Road Trip!

🎉 Congrats to @jordankwalkerart & their tagged pal @epooleart! Many thanks to all who entered!

There’s still a spot for you if you’d like to join us this evening when @sheriff_woody_pct takes us on a plant tour of California’s 3 Deserts!

The virtual tour is rich with hiking tales (you find weird things wandering around in the desert), floral eye candy, astounding biodiversity and copious tips for plant ID, and features 137 species!

🚘 Find your pass at our link in profile

Featured desert flower: Lilac Sunbonnet (Langloisia setoissima ssp. punctata)

#botany #roadtrip #rareplants #biodiversity #mojavedesert #sonorandesert #greatbasindesert #joshuatreenationalpark #anzaborrego  #desertplants @californianativeplantsociety #californianativeplants 

https://backcountrypress.com/product/botany-road-trip/
🏵 G I V E A W A Y 🏵 @sheriff_woody_pct & @ba 🏵 G I V E A W A Y 🏵
@sheriff_woody_pct & @backcountrypress are teaming up for a Botany Road Trip – and you’re invited!

If you love Botanizing and Road Trip Adventures (& the legendary stories no one saw coming when they set out on said adventures), then this virtual plant-centric road trip is for you!

Hear Matt’s captivating tales as he introduces you to a TON of fascinating plants he encountered on an epic year long road trip in this 3-part webinar series.

🏵 We’re giving away FREE PASSES and copies of our new book “CALIFORNIA DESERT PLANTS” (featuring loads of Matt’s photos) for you and a pal!

THE DETAILS

• 3 evenings beginning April 30th | 6-8pm PT (All sessions will be recorded. Plant lists included.)

• $35 class fee, pre-registration is required

• 10% donated to the @californianativeplantsociety

💰 Limited Scholarships are available for BIPOC, students, and/or those experiencing economic hardship. We don’t want $ to be a barrier to participation.

THE LINEUP:

4/30 | All 3 California Deserts

5/7 | The expansive Intermountain West

5/15 | The swamps of the Southeast

🏵 W I N Y O U R S 🏵

TO ENTER:

1. Like this post and follow @backcountrypress & @sheriff_woody_pct

2. Tag one friend per comment below. Comment as many times as you like. Each is an entry.

3. Share this post in your story for an extra entry (be sure to tag us!)

4. We’ll pick a random winner at 9pm PT on Friday, 4/29. You and your tagged pal will both win passes & books!

If you just can’t wait and want to save your spot NOW, tap LINK IN PROFILE to find your way there -- and see all the details!

#botany #roadtrip #nativeplants #storyteller

https://backcountrypress.com/product/botany-road-trip/
We're late to the party 🥳 Apparently it's Calif We're late to the party 🥳 Apparently it's California Native Plant Week and, luckily, we have a brand new book of beloved #californianativeplants to celebrate with!

From Joshua Tree Woodlands,
to Palm Oases,
to Succulent Scrub,
to Alkali Sinks,
to Sand Dunes and more... 

This photo-filled field guide takes you through the Sonoran, Mojave, and Great Basin Deserts of CA introducing you to an incredible variety of plants and their adaptations to life in diverse desert habitats.

This beauty is currently printing and will be shipped out in mid-May. Pre-order yours by May 1st and we'll send you the eBook for FREE now!

🏵 Find it at our Link In Profile

#californianativeplantweek @californianativeplantsociety @latimesplants

#californiadesert #deathvalley #deathvalleynationalpark #anzaborrego #joshuatreenationalpark #greatbasin #mojave #mojavedesert #sonorandesert #cactus #biodiversity #botany #ecology

https://backcountrypress.com/product/california-desert-plants-paperback-ebook/
Join us right here on Sunday 4/10 at 6:30pm PT whe Join us right here on Sunday 4/10 at 6:30pm PT when @backcountrypress will be LIVE with plant explorer and botanical storyteller Matt Berger @sheriff_woody_pct!

For the last year Matt’s been hitting the trail and the road (hard, mind you) seeking out unusual plants in unusual places. 

He’s seen magnificent, fascinating, surprising, weird, grotesque, and even creepy things along his Botany Road Trip zigzagging the U.S.

❓What questions do you have for Matt?

💥 Comment with yours and we’ll be sure to ask him!

Hop on the Live at the 🔔 link above to catch the answers!

#botanyroadtrip #rareplants #botany #botanist @californianativeplantsociety
Load More... Follow on Instagram

GIft Card from BCP

Product tags

Botany Butterflies California Conifers Desert ecology ectotherms explorations Fire Fire Ecology Forest pathogens Fungi Geology Hat Hiking Hiking Guide Humboldt County Identification Card Invertebates Klamath Mountains Lassen Volcanic National Park Literature Mammals Natural History Oregon Pacific Crest Trail pathogens Pines Plant Exploring Plants redwood forest Rivers road guide Seaweed Trinity Alps Washington