There is a pharmacopeia of support available to us in the plants that grow in the fields, wild places and even in your own yard. Learning to identify, harvest and prepare these plants - with appreciation and reverence - creates a meaningful relationship not only with the plants, but the whole ecosystem in which we live. When we bring more plants into our kitchens, as food or supportive remedies, life just gets better!
We used to have such a strong connection with the plants, flowers and trees that grow all around us and knew how to use them to support our health. While much of that knowledge has been lost over the last 100 years or so, it’s not too late to reconnect with the wisdom of our ancestors and the land on which we live.
The workshops are led by Alison Magill, herbalist, ecologist, gardener, seed-saver and dedicated plant-lover. Join one or all of the 6 workshops offered this summer as part of the Wild and Weedy Wellness series. The 6 workshops are designed so that by the end of the season, you will have created a home herbal pantry to support you all year long!
Workshop Format:
Each workshop starts with a plant walk through the property of Tuckaway Farm in Lee NH. Over the course of the season, we will visit the different places where wild weeds are ready to harvest. Then we’ll return to the Emerson House kitchen to prepare what we’ve gathered. Each workshop will teach a different preparation method such as herb drying and storage, using beneficial plants as food or making different extracts or oils. Participants will take home a preparation each session. All supplies and materials are included in the cost of the workshop.
PLANT WALK ONLY OPTION is available for those who are not interested in making the herbal preparations.
Workshop Participation:
The workshop cost is $45 single or $65 couple or family. Family tickets only include 1 preparation. If you wish to double your take-home, please register as 2 adults. It is recommended that children be ages 6 or entering 1st grade in order to participate. Contact Alison if you have any questions about your child participating at: thewellcultivatedlife@gmail.com
Plant walk only tickets are $20 single and $35 family.
Plants:
The exact plants we’ll be collecting each month are not guaranteed! Why? Because although we know the general seasonality of the wild plants, every year’s growing season - rain and temperature - is different and plants may not be ready to harvest on a specific date.
Here are a few of the plants we will be looking for each month:
MAY: Nettle, violet, chickweed, dandelion, pine, cleavers
JUNE: Yarrow, plantain, self-heal, St Johns wort, elder flower, horsetail
JULY: Comfrey, clover, mullein, raspberry
AUGUST: Bee balm, goldenrod, jewelweed, black cherry
SEPTEMBER: Aster, elder berries, goldenrod, mushrooms
OCTOBER: Root harvesting! Burdock, yellow dock, dandelion, Japanese knotweed.
Preparations:
To create a usable home apothecary, home herbalists follow the seasons to harvest plants when they are at their peak readiness. Each plant favors a different type of preparations: some are best dried and made into tea. Others have properties that are best extracted in oils or vinegars. Each session features one of these important plant preparation techniques so you will have the skills to continue harvesting throughout the season.