Class meets at Reedbird Farm at 2 p.m. Cost is $40 per adult and children under 12 are free (accompanied by an adult). Preregistration is required and must be done by 1 week before class. However, fees are not due until class time and you may cancel at any time with no penalty (please do let me know before class time if you signed up but cannot attend). You will receive a handout and take home a small jar of salve and bag of leaves and roots for teas. Although we will not be hiking widely in the woods, you may want to wear clothes you don't mind soiling as these processes may be messy. All ingredients will be provided and included in the cost of the class.
After a brief history of the use of plants as medicines, this class then precedes to allow you to try your hand at making a salve, a medicinal tea (infusion and decoction) and a tincture. You will learn when and why to use each type of product and some of the benefits of doing it yourself. These items can be useful gifts, useful around the house or just plain fun to taste and smell.
Reedbird Farm is a working farm and you may encounter livestock, farm machinery, cats and dogs, including a working livestock guard dog. Please be aware of this and plan to have all children attended by an adult. No pets, the livestock guard dog may not appreciate that your pet is not a threat to her livestock although she is accepting of children. Electric fencing is used to contain livestock in some areas and we will try and turn fencing off if small children are in attendance but you are responsible for making sure you and your children do not touch electrified fences or open gates and encounter other hazards!
Please avoid wearing perfume, we have honeybees and bumblebees that may be attracted to you and sting. Insect repellent is discouraged unless plant-based. This is an organic farm and we use no chemicals. A better, safer option is lightweight longsleeved cotton shirts, hats and long pants. Pant legs can be covered by long socks to allow you to see and remove ticks as they appear (this is not fashionable but is functional). Soy oil (the kind used in cooking) is a natural mosquito repellent and can be rubbed on hands and faces. This really does work and is quite safe as long as you can tolerate soy and the oily feeling.