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Upcoming Workshops!
Past Workshops
Wildflower Watercolor Class 4
Designed for all levels in a relaxed setting, this class will start with the basics to color mixing and creating those perfect earth tones and hues that capture the essence of Appalachian Spring Wildflowers.
Attend individual class or whole series of 4 classes, each ticket purchased separately.
Focusing on Spring Wildflowers, Instructor Kat Ryalls will guide through the process with step by step instructions; pre-sketched flowers to paint will also be available for those who prefer.
All paint and supplies are included in ticket price: professional grade watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper.
$35 ticket
This class is for Adults and older Teens.
Attend individual class or whole series of 4 classes, each ticket purchased separately.
Focusing on Spring Wildflowers, Instructor Kat Ryalls will guide through the process with step by step instructions; pre-sketched flowers to paint will also be available for those who prefer.
All paint and supplies are included in ticket price: professional grade watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper.
$35 ticket
This class is for Adults and older Teens.
Wildflower Watercolor Class 3
Designed for all levels in a relaxed setting, this class will start with the basics to color mixing and creating those perfect earth tones and hues that capture the essence of Appalachian Spring Wildflowers.
Attend individual class or whole series of 4 classes, each ticket purchased separately.
Focusing on Spring Wildflowers, Instructor Kat Ryalls will guide through the process with step by step instructions; pre-sketched flowers to paint will also be available for those who prefer.
All paint and supplies are included in ticket price: professional grade watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper.
$35 ticket
This class is for Adults and older Teens.
Attend individual class or whole series of 4 classes, each ticket purchased separately.
Focusing on Spring Wildflowers, Instructor Kat Ryalls will guide through the process with step by step instructions; pre-sketched flowers to paint will also be available for those who prefer.
All paint and supplies are included in ticket price: professional grade watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper.
$35 ticket
This class is for Adults and older Teens.
Wildflower Watercolor Class 2
Designed for all levels in a relaxed setting, this class will start with the basics to color mixing and creating those perfect earth tones and hues that capture the essence of Appalachian Spring Wildflowers.
Attend individual class or whole series of 4 classes, each ticket purchased separately.
Focusing on Spring Wildflowers, Instructor Kat Ryalls will guide through the process with step by step instructions; pre-sketched flowers to paint will also be available for those who prefer.
All paint and supplies are included in ticket price: professional grade watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper.
$35 ticket
This class is for Adults and older Teens.
Attend individual class or whole series of 4 classes, each ticket purchased separately.
Focusing on Spring Wildflowers, Instructor Kat Ryalls will guide through the process with step by step instructions; pre-sketched flowers to paint will also be available for those who prefer.
All paint and supplies are included in ticket price: professional grade watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper.
$35 ticket
This class is for Adults and older Teens.
Wildflower Watercolor Class 1
Designed for all levels in a relaxed setting, this class will start with the basics to color mixing and creating those perfect earth tones and hues that capture the essence of Appalachian Spring Wildflowers.
Attend individual class or whole series of 4 classes, each ticket purchased separately.
Focusing on Spring Wildflowers, Instructor Kat Ryalls will guide through the process with step by step instructions; pre-sketched flowers to paint will also be available for those who prefer.
All paint and supplies are included in ticket price: professional grade watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper.
$35 ticket
This class is for Adults and older Teens.
Attend individual class or whole series of 4 classes, each ticket purchased separately.
Focusing on Spring Wildflowers, Instructor Kat Ryalls will guide through the process with step by step instructions; pre-sketched flowers to paint will also be available for those who prefer.
All paint and supplies are included in ticket price: professional grade watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper.
$35 ticket
This class is for Adults and older Teens.
Foraging Stinging Nettle
Led by professional herbalist Michelle Bouton, classes will include:
~~guided plant ID walk
~~harvesting lessons and sustainability discussion
~~wild food preparation and tasting
~~sharing medicinal and health benefits
~~handouts with recipes to take home
After foraging, we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage of each of the plants we harvest and prepare the bounty!
For this class, we will forage both Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis) and Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), discuss the differences between the two, then enjoy nettle tea and snacks made from each.
Tickets $40 per class, each class limited to 14 students.
~~guided plant ID walk
~~harvesting lessons and sustainability discussion
~~wild food preparation and tasting
~~sharing medicinal and health benefits
~~handouts with recipes to take home
After foraging, we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage of each of the plants we harvest and prepare the bounty!
For this class, we will forage both Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis) and Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), discuss the differences between the two, then enjoy nettle tea and snacks made from each.
Tickets $40 per class, each class limited to 14 students.
Foraging Greens & Fleurs!
Led by professional herbalist Michelle Bouton, classes will include:
~~guided plant ID walk
~~harvesting lessons and sustainability discussion
~~wild food preparation and tasting
~~sharing medicinal and health benefits
~~handouts with recipes to take home
After foraging, we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage of each of the plants we harvest and prepare the bounty!
For this class, we will make sushi from wild greens and flowers, sample pickled magnolia flower and enjoy a spring herbal tea blend of hemlock tips and nettle.
Tickets $40 per class, each class limited to 14 students.
~~guided plant ID walk
~~harvesting lessons and sustainability discussion
~~wild food preparation and tasting
~~sharing medicinal and health benefits
~~handouts with recipes to take home
After foraging, we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage of each of the plants we harvest and prepare the bounty!
For this class, we will make sushi from wild greens and flowers, sample pickled magnolia flower and enjoy a spring herbal tea blend of hemlock tips and nettle.
Tickets $40 per class, each class limited to 14 students.
Beekeeping 101
Curious and interested in learning to keep bees?
These classes are a great introduction:
part lecture, part hands-on looking into the magical inner workings of the beehive! Beekeeper Phil Rizzuto will share a broad overview of what you need to consider before diving in.
Two class dates:
Sat 4/27 AND Sat 5/4, 10-12:30
**Reserve Sun 5/5 as rain date, since we will need decent weather for outdoor hive session.
Limited to small class of 10 students.
$60 Registration includes both classes.
TICKETS:
5 hours of instruction
Lecture handouts & snacks each day
Plenty of time to handle equipment & ask questions
CLASS 1:
Lecture: Evolution and nature of bees and the hive
Bee life cycle, hive division of labor
How does the Queen manage 30,000 workers??
Hands-on look at equipment options:
Hive box options, frames, protective equipment
Resources lists & pricing you can expect for initial setup
CLASS 2:
Lecture: Bee anatomy, pests, diseases, predators
Communication & foraging for pollen & nectar
Harvesting honey
Optimal hive placement, best pollinator plants
Seasonal hive management
Hands-on look in the hive:
Placement of inner hive parts & equipment
ID drones, workers, maybe a queen
Phil has been my (Michelle Bouton) mentor in learning to keep bees, and his passion for caring for the bees is both thoughtful and enthusiastic. More than just 'grab all the honey you can!', his approach is one of true, thoughtful husbandry of the creatures.
While there is no 'natural beekeeping' once we take them in from the wild, Phil's philosophy is to let the hive do their own thing while offering 'minimally invasive management.'
This would include protecting the hive from predators, pests, and disease, while strategically providing food and weather protection to facilitate growth and welfare of the hive.
Phil is finishing up his Masters degree in Beekeeping at Cornell University and will be offering upcoming advanced classes and queen bee sales at Chris's Apiary near his home.
These classes are a great introduction:
part lecture, part hands-on looking into the magical inner workings of the beehive! Beekeeper Phil Rizzuto will share a broad overview of what you need to consider before diving in.
Two class dates:
Sat 4/27 AND Sat 5/4, 10-12:30
**Reserve Sun 5/5 as rain date, since we will need decent weather for outdoor hive session.
Limited to small class of 10 students.
$60 Registration includes both classes.
TICKETS:
5 hours of instruction
Lecture handouts & snacks each day
Plenty of time to handle equipment & ask questions
CLASS 1:
Lecture: Evolution and nature of bees and the hive
Bee life cycle, hive division of labor
How does the Queen manage 30,000 workers??
Hands-on look at equipment options:
Hive box options, frames, protective equipment
Resources lists & pricing you can expect for initial setup
CLASS 2:
Lecture: Bee anatomy, pests, diseases, predators
Communication & foraging for pollen & nectar
Harvesting honey
Optimal hive placement, best pollinator plants
Seasonal hive management
Hands-on look in the hive:
Placement of inner hive parts & equipment
ID drones, workers, maybe a queen
Phil has been my (Michelle Bouton) mentor in learning to keep bees, and his passion for caring for the bees is both thoughtful and enthusiastic. More than just 'grab all the honey you can!', his approach is one of true, thoughtful husbandry of the creatures.
While there is no 'natural beekeeping' once we take them in from the wild, Phil's philosophy is to let the hive do their own thing while offering 'minimally invasive management.'
This would include protecting the hive from predators, pests, and disease, while strategically providing food and weather protection to facilitate growth and welfare of the hive.
Phil is finishing up his Masters degree in Beekeeping at Cornell University and will be offering upcoming advanced classes and queen bee sales at Chris's Apiary near his home.
Spring Foraging 1: RAMPS!
Join us for one class or for all three!
Spring Foraging Series:
Sat April 13: Ramps (wild leeks)
Sun May 5: Wild Greens & Edible Fleurs
Sun May 19: Stinging Nettles
Each class will focus on different Appalachian Spring plants such as violet, dandelion, dead nettle & stinging nettle, wood sorrel, chickweed, chicory, garlic mustard, redbud, creasy greens (cress), and more.
Led by professional herbalist Michelle Bouton, classes will include:
~~guided plant ID walk
~~harvesting lessons and sustainability discussion
~~wild food preparation and tasting
~~sharing medicinal and health benefits
~~handouts with recipes to take home
First half of the class will be a plant walk and identification, then we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage of each of the plants we harvest and prepare the bounty into tasty wild foods.
Some of the recipes: ramp butter, ramp salt, wild greens sushi rolls, stinging nettle pesto, etc.
The Southern Appalachians region is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet and offers abundant medicinal and wild food plants. Our location is the pristine 400+ acre conservation land at Tilson Mountain Cove, an 1800's homestead now maintained by the Tilson family descendants. Class will be outdoors, with walks through the woods and creek, then classroom on the front porch of the historic farmhouse.
Instructor Michelle Bouton is a practicing Herbalist and Doctor of Acupuncture in Erwin, TN and director of HERBalachia school. She finds great delight in helping preserve the traditional ways and medicines of her east TN mountain home.
Tickets $40 per class, each class limited to 14 students.
Spring Foraging Series:
Sat April 13: Ramps (wild leeks)
Sun May 5: Wild Greens & Edible Fleurs
Sun May 19: Stinging Nettles
Each class will focus on different Appalachian Spring plants such as violet, dandelion, dead nettle & stinging nettle, wood sorrel, chickweed, chicory, garlic mustard, redbud, creasy greens (cress), and more.
Led by professional herbalist Michelle Bouton, classes will include:
~~guided plant ID walk
~~harvesting lessons and sustainability discussion
~~wild food preparation and tasting
~~sharing medicinal and health benefits
~~handouts with recipes to take home
First half of the class will be a plant walk and identification, then we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage of each of the plants we harvest and prepare the bounty into tasty wild foods.
Some of the recipes: ramp butter, ramp salt, wild greens sushi rolls, stinging nettle pesto, etc.
The Southern Appalachians region is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet and offers abundant medicinal and wild food plants. Our location is the pristine 400+ acre conservation land at Tilson Mountain Cove, an 1800's homestead now maintained by the Tilson family descendants. Class will be outdoors, with walks through the woods and creek, then classroom on the front porch of the historic farmhouse.
Instructor Michelle Bouton is a practicing Herbalist and Doctor of Acupuncture in Erwin, TN and director of HERBalachia school. She finds great delight in helping preserve the traditional ways and medicines of her east TN mountain home.
Tickets $40 per class, each class limited to 14 students.
Fall Foraging in October
The Southern Appalachians region is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet and offers abundant medicinal and wild food plants.
First half of the class will be a plant walk and identification, then we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage and have a tasting of some of the wild things we have found along with a tasty fall tea.
When we align ourselves with the 'old ways', we learn to identify plants, know their uses, and act as steward for their continued survival with ethical harvesting practices.
Typical plants this time of year are goldenrod flower, amaranth seed, dock seed, autumn berry (autumn olive), elderberry, crabapple, persimmon, dandelion root, thistle root, chicory root, rose hips, sumac berries, and others.
Our location is the pristine 400+ acre conservation land at Tilson Mountain cove, an 1800's homestead now maintained by the Tilson family descendants. Class will be outdoors, with walks through the woods and creek, then classroom on the front porch of the historic farmhouse.
Instructor Michelle Bouton is a practicing Herbalist and Doctor of Acupuncture in Erwin, TN and director of HERBalachia school. She finds great delight in helping preserve the traditional ways and medicines of her east TN mountain home.
First half of the class will be a plant walk and identification, then we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage and have a tasting of some of the wild things we have found along with a tasty fall tea.
When we align ourselves with the 'old ways', we learn to identify plants, know their uses, and act as steward for their continued survival with ethical harvesting practices.
Typical plants this time of year are goldenrod flower, amaranth seed, dock seed, autumn berry (autumn olive), elderberry, crabapple, persimmon, dandelion root, thistle root, chicory root, rose hips, sumac berries, and others.
Our location is the pristine 400+ acre conservation land at Tilson Mountain cove, an 1800's homestead now maintained by the Tilson family descendants. Class will be outdoors, with walks through the woods and creek, then classroom on the front porch of the historic farmhouse.
Instructor Michelle Bouton is a practicing Herbalist and Doctor of Acupuncture in Erwin, TN and director of HERBalachia school. She finds great delight in helping preserve the traditional ways and medicines of her east TN mountain home.
Fall Foraging Late September
The Southern Appalachians region is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet and offers abundant medicinal and wild food plants.
First half of the class will be a plant walk and identification, then we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage and have a tasting of some of the wild things we have found along with a tasty fall tea.
When we align ourselves with the 'old ways', we learn to identify plants, know their uses, and act as steward for their continued survival with ethical harvesting practices.
Typical plants this time of year are goldenrod flower, amaranth seed, dock seed, autumn berry (autumn olive), elderberry, crabapple, persimmon, dandelion root, thistle root, chicory root, rose hips, sumac berries, and others.
Our location is the pristine 400+ acre conservation land at Tilson Mountain cove, an 1800's homestead now maintained by the Tilson family descendants. Class will be outdoors, with walks through the woods and creek, then classroom on the front porch of the historic farmhouse.
Instructor Michelle Bouton is a practicing Herbalist and Doctor of Acupuncture in Erwin, TN and director of HERBalachia school. She finds great delight in helping preserve the traditional ways and medicines of her east TN mountain home.
First half of the class will be a plant walk and identification, then we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage and have a tasting of some of the wild things we have found along with a tasty fall tea.
When we align ourselves with the 'old ways', we learn to identify plants, know their uses, and act as steward for their continued survival with ethical harvesting practices.
Typical plants this time of year are goldenrod flower, amaranth seed, dock seed, autumn berry (autumn olive), elderberry, crabapple, persimmon, dandelion root, thistle root, chicory root, rose hips, sumac berries, and others.
Our location is the pristine 400+ acre conservation land at Tilson Mountain cove, an 1800's homestead now maintained by the Tilson family descendants. Class will be outdoors, with walks through the woods and creek, then classroom on the front porch of the historic farmhouse.
Instructor Michelle Bouton is a practicing Herbalist and Doctor of Acupuncture in Erwin, TN and director of HERBalachia school. She finds great delight in helping preserve the traditional ways and medicines of her east TN mountain home.
Fall Foraging Mid-September
The Southern Appalachians region is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet and offers abundant medicinal and wild food plants.
First half of the class will be a plant walk and identification, then we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage and have a tasting of some of the wild things we have found along with a tasty fall tea.
When we align ourselves with the 'old ways', we learn to identify plants, know their uses, and act as steward for their continued survival with ethical harvesting practices.
Typical plants this time of year are goldenrod flower, amaranth seed, dock seed, autumn berry (autumn olive), elderberry, crabapple, persimmon, dandelion root, thistle root, chicory root, rose hips, sumac berries, and others.
Our location is the pristine 400+ acre conservation land at Tilson Mountain cove, an 1800's homestead now maintained by the Tilson family descendants. Class will be outdoors, with walks through the woods and creek, then classroom on the front porch of the historic farmhouse.
Instructor Michelle Bouton is a practicing Herbalist and Doctor of Acupuncture in Erwin, TN and director of HERBalachia school. She finds great delight in helping preserve the traditional ways and medicines of her east TN mountain home.
First half of the class will be a plant walk and identification, then we will retire to the farmhouse porch (bring a chair!) to discuss usage and have a tasting of some of the wild things we have found along with a tasty fall tea.
When we align ourselves with the 'old ways', we learn to identify plants, know their uses, and act as steward for their continued survival with ethical harvesting practices.
Typical plants this time of year are goldenrod flower, amaranth seed, dock seed, autumn berry (autumn olive), elderberry, crabapple, persimmon, dandelion root, thistle root, chicory root, rose hips, sumac berries, and others.
Our location is the pristine 400+ acre conservation land at Tilson Mountain cove, an 1800's homestead now maintained by the Tilson family descendants. Class will be outdoors, with walks through the woods and creek, then classroom on the front porch of the historic farmhouse.
Instructor Michelle Bouton is a practicing Herbalist and Doctor of Acupuncture in Erwin, TN and director of HERBalachia school. She finds great delight in helping preserve the traditional ways and medicines of her east TN mountain home.
Fungi Series Class 3
Amazing research is showing that mushrooms can boost our body's healing ability! Join mushroom professional Rodney Webb as he discussed the merits of the various delivery methods for these fungi.
In this class, Rodney will review extraction and delivery methods for the most common medicinal mushrooms: shiitake, chaga, lions mane, reishi, and turkey tail. He will compare and contrast the most efficient ways in the home setting to extract and preserve the targeted medicinal constituents for these fungi.
For the hands-on portion of the class, we will create and taste a chaga water extraction (tea!).
We will then discuss and complete in class the more advanced dual-extraction technique using either shiitake or turkey tail, and each student will have a bottle of mushroom extract to take home.
In this class, Rodney will review extraction and delivery methods for the most common medicinal mushrooms: shiitake, chaga, lions mane, reishi, and turkey tail. He will compare and contrast the most efficient ways in the home setting to extract and preserve the targeted medicinal constituents for these fungi.
For the hands-on portion of the class, we will create and taste a chaga water extraction (tea!).
We will then discuss and complete in class the more advanced dual-extraction technique using either shiitake or turkey tail, and each student will have a bottle of mushroom extract to take home.
Fungi Series class 2
Join mushroom professional Rodney Webb for an informative and TASTY evening of safety, preparation, and cooking with various mushrooms.
In this class, Rodney Webb will focus on several mushrooms species which can be both foraged and propagated in our area for culinary use such as oysters, shiitake, and lion's mane.
Mushrooms are enjoying time in the spotlight, but attention needs to be paid to proper handling and storing of these nutritious crops.
Rodney will discuss safe harvesting, proper kitchen handling, best cooking techniques, and efficient storage to save the harvest for a later date.
After the lecture, we will all enjoy several mushroom dishes to taste different flavors and cooking techniques.
In this class, Rodney Webb will focus on several mushrooms species which can be both foraged and propagated in our area for culinary use such as oysters, shiitake, and lion's mane.
Mushrooms are enjoying time in the spotlight, but attention needs to be paid to proper handling and storing of these nutritious crops.
Rodney will discuss safe harvesting, proper kitchen handling, best cooking techniques, and efficient storage to save the harvest for a later date.
After the lecture, we will all enjoy several mushroom dishes to taste different flavors and cooking techniques.
Fungi Series Class 1
Join mushroom expert Rodney Webb for an evening of Oyster mushroom cultivation, preparations, and TAKE HOME your own oyster grow kit!
Oyster mushrooms are one of the tastiest and easily cultivated of the culinary mushrooms. Rodney will discuss the flavor profile and best cooking techniques for oysters, then cover home cultivation of oysters in liquid culture.
HANDS ON: each student will inoculate their own grain culture kit with mushroom spawn to take and grow at home!
Rodney is the owner of Appalachian Fungorum in Marshall, NC and has been cultivating various kinds of fungi for home use as well as area farmer's markets for over 20 years. He is one of HERBalachia's favorite fun instructors, and is always generous with his experience and knowledge.
Oyster mushrooms are one of the tastiest and easily cultivated of the culinary mushrooms. Rodney will discuss the flavor profile and best cooking techniques for oysters, then cover home cultivation of oysters in liquid culture.
HANDS ON: each student will inoculate their own grain culture kit with mushroom spawn to take and grow at home!
Rodney is the owner of Appalachian Fungorum in Marshall, NC and has been cultivating various kinds of fungi for home use as well as area farmer's markets for over 20 years. He is one of HERBalachia's favorite fun instructors, and is always generous with his experience and knowledge.
Mugwort & Moxabustion
Join Acupuncturist/Herbalist Michelle Bouton in an exploration of the traditional uses of local mugwort.
You will learn to:
* Identify local Artemisia species
* Harvest and dry the plant
* Use the plant for health benefits
* Acupuncture points on the body which respond best to external application
You will learn to:
* Identify local Artemisia species
* Harvest and dry the plant
* Use the plant for health benefits
* Acupuncture points on the body which respond best to external application
Community Herbal Medicine-Making
Join this pay-it-forward herbal medicine making event as we prepare healing gifts of Elderberry Syrup and Fire Cider!
These immune-boosting remedies will be distributed to members of our community in need.
Michelle Bouton of HERBalachia will share info about these traditional recipes and how the ingredients protect us from colds and flu.
Jo Wohlberg of Herbalists Without Borders will share the vision and values of HWO, including:
health and wellness are human rights, not privileges
volunteer efforts which focus primarily on natural and botanical health and wellness solutions
roles of traditional herbalists and healers in our society
These immune-boosting remedies will be distributed to members of our community in need.
Michelle Bouton of HERBalachia will share info about these traditional recipes and how the ingredients protect us from colds and flu.
Jo Wohlberg of Herbalists Without Borders will share the vision and values of HWO, including:
health and wellness are human rights, not privileges
volunteer efforts which focus primarily on natural and botanical health and wellness solutions
roles of traditional herbalists and healers in our society
Medicinal Mead-Making
The class is a demonstration on how to brew mead at home with basic equipment, which ultimately empowers even the novice to begin fermenting their own medicinal beverages.
The class includes discussion and hands-on components, giving the students a “feel” for fermentation. We will also sample previously made beverages that are not limited to mead, and potentially includes Kombucha, Kvass, and Kefir.
This event offers insight into the ancient practice of fermentation. Fermentation predates distillation by 2,000 years and was the primary way of concocting herbal plants (and their constituents) into bio-available medicines that have a lasting shelf-life.
A major focus of the class highlights the role of lacto-bacillus in digestive health and the over all function of the Gastro-Intestinal Tract. In addition to the role of fermentation on our health, we will discuss the role of plants in providing support for our health as well the importance of the honey bee, a major pollinator and contributor to the health of the natural world. As my good friend and teacher once joked with me, “It is as easy as making tea.”
INSTRUCTOR Thomas Cooper joins us from Boone, where he lives with his sweetie and son. His background includes a degree in Sustainable Agriculture as well as studies in primitive skills, foraging and wild-crafting plants, fermentation, and bird language.
The class includes discussion and hands-on components, giving the students a “feel” for fermentation. We will also sample previously made beverages that are not limited to mead, and potentially includes Kombucha, Kvass, and Kefir.
This event offers insight into the ancient practice of fermentation. Fermentation predates distillation by 2,000 years and was the primary way of concocting herbal plants (and their constituents) into bio-available medicines that have a lasting shelf-life.
A major focus of the class highlights the role of lacto-bacillus in digestive health and the over all function of the Gastro-Intestinal Tract. In addition to the role of fermentation on our health, we will discuss the role of plants in providing support for our health as well the importance of the honey bee, a major pollinator and contributor to the health of the natural world. As my good friend and teacher once joked with me, “It is as easy as making tea.”
INSTRUCTOR Thomas Cooper joins us from Boone, where he lives with his sweetie and son. His background includes a degree in Sustainable Agriculture as well as studies in primitive skills, foraging and wild-crafting plants, fermentation, and bird language.
Harvesting Medicinal Tree Barks
In this class, students will learn to properly identify medicinal trees and harvest their barks for medicine. We will also discuss the variety of herbal preparations that can be made with medicinal tree barks. We will discover our innate powers of observation, learn new skills (or refresh skills), and connect with like-minded community through the hands-on art and practice of working with medicinal tree barks.
Herbal Medicine offers a cornucopia of phytochemicals, known as ‘constituents’ that we consume to better our health and outlook on life. As herbalists we chase these constituents through the seasons like riding Nature’s Wave. As the seasons change and the days become shorter and the nights cooler we begin to look inward. At this time of the year, many perennial plants begin to draw their energy and constituents inwards and down towards their roots. We begin to dig more roots, harvests nuts and fruits, and we have another opportunity to harvest medicinal barks.
Please dress in layers and proper footwear for outdoor exploring, including rain gear. A harvesting basket or pack and sharp knife would be useful. Plan to bring lunch or snacks if you plan to attend the afternoon Mead-Making class as well.
Instructor Thomas Cooper joins us from Boone, where he lives with his sweetie and son. His background includes a degree in Sustainable Agriculture as well as studies in primitive skills, foraging and wild-crafting plants, fermentation, and bird language.
Herbal Medicine offers a cornucopia of phytochemicals, known as ‘constituents’ that we consume to better our health and outlook on life. As herbalists we chase these constituents through the seasons like riding Nature’s Wave. As the seasons change and the days become shorter and the nights cooler we begin to look inward. At this time of the year, many perennial plants begin to draw their energy and constituents inwards and down towards their roots. We begin to dig more roots, harvests nuts and fruits, and we have another opportunity to harvest medicinal barks.
Please dress in layers and proper footwear for outdoor exploring, including rain gear. A harvesting basket or pack and sharp knife would be useful. Plan to bring lunch or snacks if you plan to attend the afternoon Mead-Making class as well.
Instructor Thomas Cooper joins us from Boone, where he lives with his sweetie and son. His background includes a degree in Sustainable Agriculture as well as studies in primitive skills, foraging and wild-crafting plants, fermentation, and bird language.
Herbal Tea Blends for Winter
Ready to sip, sniff, and create?
Specific herbal blends can help keep us healthy through the challenges each season of the year presents. This class will explore the best selection of herbs for women’s daily tonics as we head into cooler months. Michelle will introduce us to various herbs and discuss why you would choose particular ones according to your own constitution and needs.
After sampling a few tea blends, each person will create a custom tea blends to take home and enjoy.
Specific herbal blends can help keep us healthy through the challenges each season of the year presents. This class will explore the best selection of herbs for women’s daily tonics as we head into cooler months. Michelle will introduce us to various herbs and discuss why you would choose particular ones according to your own constitution and needs.
After sampling a few tea blends, each person will create a custom tea blends to take home and enjoy.
Bamboo Tea Party and Class
Join us for a Bamboo intensive class with “Bamboo Bill” Howes, who has been studying bamboo cultivation, foods, and crafts for many years.
Class includes:
*Short tour of growing varieties
*Bamboo Tea Party, including pickled bamboo shoots and bamboo leaf tea
*How to make bamboo charcoal
*Discuss varieties for food, fencing, craft, etc
*Make and take home a Bamboo Bird Whistle
Class includes:
*Short tour of growing varieties
*Bamboo Tea Party, including pickled bamboo shoots and bamboo leaf tea
*How to make bamboo charcoal
*Discuss varieties for food, fencing, craft, etc
*Make and take home a Bamboo Bird Whistle
Fine-Tune Your Salves for Market
Beloved Native American instructor, Cindi Quay, shares her traditional teachings and years of experience in herbal products business, Cindi’s Sacred Garden. We will dive deeper into making salves for topical application, fine-tuning issues we may have encountered along the way.
Class includes:
• which plant allies work together to address skin issues
• therapeutic strategies: warming, cooling, circulating…
• salve recipes: base oil selection, infusions methods
• hands-on salve making demonstration
• troubleshooting/ advanced tips: bring your questions!
Everyone will leave with a freshly made jar of salve as well as ample handouts of selected plants and salve recipes.
This class will guide you in:
• plant suggestions for this year’s garden
• products to create for loved ones to enjoy
• raising the quality of your herbal-product business
Herbal Medicine offers a cornucopia of phytochemicals, known as ‘constituents’ that we consume to better our health and outlook on life. As herbalists we chase these constituents through the seasons like riding Nature’s Wave. As the seasons change and the days become shorter and the nights cooler we begin to look inward. At this time of the year, many perennial plants begin to draw their energy and constituents inwards and down towards their roots. We begin to dig more roots, harvests nuts and fruits, and we have another opportunity to harvest medicinal barks.
Please dress in layers and proper footwear for outdoor exploring, including rain gear. A harvesting basket or pack and sharp knife would be useful. Plan to bring lunch or snacks if you plan to attend the afternoon Mead-Making class as well.
Instructor Thomas Cooper joins us from Boone, where he lives with his sweetie and son. His background includes a degree in Sustainable Agriculture as well as studies in primitive skills, foraging and wild-crafting plants, fermentation, and bird language.
Class includes:
• which plant allies work together to address skin issues
• therapeutic strategies: warming, cooling, circulating…
• salve recipes: base oil selection, infusions methods
• hands-on salve making demonstration
• troubleshooting/ advanced tips: bring your questions!
Everyone will leave with a freshly made jar of salve as well as ample handouts of selected plants and salve recipes.
This class will guide you in:
• plant suggestions for this year’s garden
• products to create for loved ones to enjoy
• raising the quality of your herbal-product business
Herbal Medicine offers a cornucopia of phytochemicals, known as ‘constituents’ that we consume to better our health and outlook on life. As herbalists we chase these constituents through the seasons like riding Nature’s Wave. As the seasons change and the days become shorter and the nights cooler we begin to look inward. At this time of the year, many perennial plants begin to draw their energy and constituents inwards and down towards their roots. We begin to dig more roots, harvests nuts and fruits, and we have another opportunity to harvest medicinal barks.
Please dress in layers and proper footwear for outdoor exploring, including rain gear. A harvesting basket or pack and sharp knife would be useful. Plan to bring lunch or snacks if you plan to attend the afternoon Mead-Making class as well.
Instructor Thomas Cooper joins us from Boone, where he lives with his sweetie and son. His background includes a degree in Sustainable Agriculture as well as studies in primitive skills, foraging and wild-crafting plants, fermentation, and bird language.
Skin-loving Topical Herbs
Garden growing and skin glowing?
Come be introduced to plants growing wild and in our gardens that can be made into products to heal, protect regenerate, and make our skin more comfortable. This class will set you up for many years of self-care, gift-making for loved ones, and value-added market products.
Cindi will present:
• materia medica of herbs that support skin
• herb combinations that create synergy
• therapeutic strategies for different skin conditions
• working with itching, redness, dryness…
• different mediums of application (oil, salve, lotion, mist)
We will sniff and sample several skin care products made locally.
Handouts will be provided including herb spotlights and basic recipes. This class will lead us into the afternoon Fine-Tuning Salves for Market class!
Instructor: Cindi Quay, native American herbalist and owner of Cindi’s Sacred Garden herbal products.
Come be introduced to plants growing wild and in our gardens that can be made into products to heal, protect regenerate, and make our skin more comfortable. This class will set you up for many years of self-care, gift-making for loved ones, and value-added market products.
Cindi will present:
• materia medica of herbs that support skin
• herb combinations that create synergy
• therapeutic strategies for different skin conditions
• working with itching, redness, dryness…
• different mediums of application (oil, salve, lotion, mist)
We will sniff and sample several skin care products made locally.
Handouts will be provided including herb spotlights and basic recipes. This class will lead us into the afternoon Fine-Tuning Salves for Market class!
Instructor: Cindi Quay, native American herbalist and owner of Cindi’s Sacred Garden herbal products.
Appalachian Spring Tonics
The Appalachian mountain folk carried many traditions around spring herbal tonics. We will discuss the reasons and health benefits from our ancestor’s times and how it can be applied to modern challenges to health and lifestyle.
Class will include:
*guideline for identifying several medicinal spring herbs
*health benefits and safety precautions of these plants
*harvesting these herbs together
*make and enjoy a green tonic drink in class
*handout of different recipes to try at home
Bring a drinking vessel with you and a child like since of wonder!
HERBalachia insructor Amanda River Fern Bryant is a massage therapist and herbalist in Johnson City.
Class will include:
*guideline for identifying several medicinal spring herbs
*health benefits and safety precautions of these plants
*harvesting these herbs together
*make and enjoy a green tonic drink in class
*handout of different recipes to try at home
Bring a drinking vessel with you and a child like since of wonder!
HERBalachia insructor Amanda River Fern Bryant is a massage therapist and herbalist in Johnson City.
Medicinal Mushrooms & Shiitake Log Inoculation
medicinal use including shiitake, oyster, turkeytail, reishi, chaga, maitake, hoof conk, woodear, and lion’s mane. All of these can be found wild or cultivated locally.
Mushroom teas will be available to sample, then we head outside for the hands-on project of learning to inoculate logs with mushrooms spores. Please wear work clothes and gloves for this outdoor project class.
Tickets are $40, includes one 4′ inoculated shiitake log, which should bear several times per year for about 4-5 years.
Mushroom teas will be available to sample, then we head outside for the hands-on project of learning to inoculate logs with mushrooms spores. Please wear work clothes and gloves for this outdoor project class.
Tickets are $40, includes one 4′ inoculated shiitake log, which should bear several times per year for about 4-5 years.
Herbs for Pain & Advanced Salves
Fine-tune your Pain-Relieving Salves!
Beloved Native American instructor, Cindi Quay, returns to TN to share from her traditional teachings and years of experience in herbal products business, Cindi’s Sacred Garden. We will dive deeper into teachings of salves for topical application, fine-tuning issues we may have encountered along the way.
Class includes:
• study of selected of Native pain relief herbs
• which plant allies work together to address pain
• therapeutic strategies: warming, cooling, circulating…
• salve recipes: base oil selection, infusions methods
• hands-on salve making demonstration
• troubleshooting/ advanced tips: bring your questions!
Everyone will leave with a freshly made jar of salve as well as ample handouts of selected plants and salve recipes.
This class will guide you in:
• plant suggestions for this year’s garden
• products to create for loved ones to enjoy
• raising the quality of your herbal-product business
Beloved Native American instructor, Cindi Quay, returns to TN to share from her traditional teachings and years of experience in herbal products business, Cindi’s Sacred Garden. We will dive deeper into teachings of salves for topical application, fine-tuning issues we may have encountered along the way.
Class includes:
• study of selected of Native pain relief herbs
• which plant allies work together to address pain
• therapeutic strategies: warming, cooling, circulating…
• salve recipes: base oil selection, infusions methods
• hands-on salve making demonstration
• troubleshooting/ advanced tips: bring your questions!
Everyone will leave with a freshly made jar of salve as well as ample handouts of selected plants and salve recipes.
This class will guide you in:
• plant suggestions for this year’s garden
• products to create for loved ones to enjoy
• raising the quality of your herbal-product business
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