Herbal Medicine Cabinet
Doreen Nolan
Herbalist

Growing, harvesting, and preparing our own medicine is an empowering practice that is easy to adapt and places healthcare back into the hands of the people. This workshop focuses on when and how to use both cultivated plants and backyard weeds. Topics will include how to prevent illness and how to care for common health concerns such as colds, flues, allergies, burns, bites, sore muscles, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue. We will make and sample a variety of herbal preparations that you can add to your medicine cabinet.

Doreen Nolan has been studying and practicing herbal medicine for the last eight years. She holds a BS from Rutgers University in Nutritional Science and has certification in Herbal Medicine from the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine and from Herbal Therapeutics School of Botanical Medicine. Currently she teaches classes, holds herb walks, and provides health consultations in the Mt. Airy community.

Saturday, March 11
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Members: $38
Non-members: $42

Herbal Journaling
Jeannine Vannais
Historic Herbalist and Medicinal Plant Teacher

Few things are finer than setting off, notebook, pencil and field guides in hand, for a morning out in nature. Herbal journals are a wonderful way to slow down and appreciate the details of the outdoors. Sitting near a stream or in a rocky woods, intent on sketching the turn of a leaf, or determining the identity of a flower, or noticing the plants in a community can deepen your appreciation of and knowledge about the natural world. In this class we will make our own herbal journaling books: binding hand-folded sets of pages inside handmade paper covers.

We will talk about botanical field notes, and how to use journaling and drawing as ways to deepen our understanding of plants and plant communities. Then we will venture out into the Arboretum for some drawing and writing in nature. By combining these field notes with excerpts from herbal texts, each participant can create a beautiful personal reference work. NO DRAWING EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY — the learning is in the process, not the result! Please bring pencils, scissors, a favorite field guide, and something to sit upon (newspapers in a plastic bag work well).

Saturday, May 20
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Members: $30
Non-members: $32

Herbal Garden, Herbal Spa
Jeannine Vannais
Historic Herbalist and Medicinal Plant Teacher

Luxurious spa treatments can easily be made from fresh natural plants in your garden. Come enjoy the fragrant delights of the season as we discuss skin health and home beauty treatments. We will make a bath mixture, and bath and body oils. We will also plan out a full six-step facial. Herbal facial masks, sauna herbs, facial messages and astringents will all be covered. There will be recipes and samples to take home. We will also visit the Arboretum’s herb garden, weather permitting. Bring your lunch and a bath towel. All materials are included.

Saturday, June 10
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Members: $63
Non-members: $70