Mar 10, 2020
Like
the roots of the honey mesquite and creosote, Robin Kobaly's desert
roots go deep. Her immediate family moved to Morongo Valley when
she was 2 years old. At six, Robin had an extraordinary experience
with desert wildflowers - an experience she was hesitant to share,
being part of a scientific community, fearing her work would not be
taken seriously.
In her
studies of plants, Robin also came to appreciate the ways in which
Native Americans used plants dyes for basket-weaving, textiles and
ceremonial paints and tells a story about the dye found in prickly
pear cactus.
Studying plants with her mother in the Morongo
Valley, they would collect and sometimes serve them for dinner. "My
brothers were always petrified about what they were going to eat
the next night".
Having
spent time as a botanist for the federal government, her life has
been dedicated to try and protect plants and the desert while
educating people to do the same. Robin is the Founder and President
of The Power of Plants as well as
serving as Executive Director of SummerTree
Institute.
In this episode, Robin
explains how much more alive the desert is than it appears, what is
happening underground, how the plants are partnering up to survive,
and the value the desert provides in naturally removing carbon from
the air.
Robin's recent book, 'The
Desert Underground', began as a scientific 'white
paper' of sorts to assist the San Bernardino County Board of
Supervisors to understand what happens to the desert when it is
prepared for thousands of acres of industrial solar fields. With a
number of folks asking for a copy of this 'report', Robin decided
to turn it into a book. The book was extended to large display
boards, creating expositions, which Robin is now developing for a
traveling exhibit and along with her husband, Doug. If that wasn't
enough, they are also creating a documentary on the subject, to
educate even more people about the importance of the
desert.
Robin was the 2018 recipient of the
Minerva Hoyt California Desert Conservation Award, presented
annually by the
Joshua
Tree National Park Association. "The Minerva Hoyt
California Desert Conservation Award recognizes annually
individuals or organizations that have worked to further Mrs.
Hoyt’s legacy by making notable achievements in the areas of
leadership, protection, preservation, research, education, and
stewardship of California’s desert lands. The award seeks to
recognize an individual or persons whose efforts lead to a
significant and lasting contribution on behalf of the deserts of
California."
When
things slow down a bit, Robin is looking forward to hearing the
flowers talk to her again.