|
|
|
2013 Herbal CSA & Home Health with Herbs Series
Herbal medicine is an ancient practice and our bodies have evolved with plants as our food and medicine over time. It is because of this inherent relationship that our bodies positively respond to plants for nourishment and healing. The goal in offering the herbal CSA, classes and products is to bring people to the awareness of the body’s innate ability to heal itself by connecting to the plant world around us. And the first step to reaching this goal is as easy as making a cup of tea!
Descriptions & Details... If you’re able, I recommend taking the class series and CSA in conjunction for a more thorough experience of both medicine making and growing your herbal knowledge. Both the weekly pick-ups and monthly classes are held on Wednesdays for convenience sake! Herbal CSA : Inspired by the now popular Vegetable CSAs across the country, this Herbal CSA models community supported herbalism. When participants buy shares at the beginning of the season they not only support the herbalist by off-setting initial seasonal costs to grow herbs, they also demonstrate the community's faith in herbal medicine as an important contributer to our family's health & the healthcare system at large. The share is designed for tea lovers and the herbal-curious who want to build their tea & spice pantries and gain a greater understanding of using medicinal herbs. Other herbal CSAs offer pre-made products, which can separate people from experiencing & getting to know the live plants. This share offers fresh, unprocessed herbs that members can then use dry or fresh for tea, infuse in oil for cooking, or make a tincture or syrup for the cold & flu season. Herbs included in the share are a mixture of some familiar, some maybe-not-so-familiar & some prized culinary herbs. Examples being: Anise Hyssop, Chamomile, Peppermint, Dandelion leaf, Holy Basil, Thyme, and Lemongrass. Each herb offered in the share will be described & pictured in a small informative booklet, explaining the variety of ailments they can be used for at home, including: colds & flu, low energy, occasional sleeplessness, indigestion, stress, sore throat, cough, difficulty focusing and skin issues. Shares help members develop a relationship with plants to feel comfortable using them daily to support personal and family health! COST: $150 TIME & LOCATION: Pick-ups are every Wednesday, starting June 5th and can be received between 3-7pm at Plough in the Stars Farm. INCLUDES: 2 to 3* bunches of fresh medicinal/culinary herbs per week from June to October (* Note: there may be repeat herbs throughout the season depending on crop availability). An informative small booklet containing hand drawn pictures of all the herbs you’ll receive in your share, and short descriptions of each herb’s historic uses, natural habitats, how it’s characteristic flavors affect the body and how it's used medicinally. The booklet will also include simple instructions for properly making tea and drying herbs for storage. References for further research will be provided as well. Home Health with Herbs Series (see below for class descriptions): This class series is designed for people who want to learn to make herbal home remedies for personal and family health needs, all from plants found in your backyard or easily grown in your garden! These remedies can help a range of home ailments, from headaches, to sleeplessness, indigestion, stress, and bumps & bruises. This fun and interactive environment shows participants how taking basic home health care into their own hands can be a very positive and enriching experience. COST: $20/class, or $80 for all 5 classes Drop-in discount of $15/class to Plough share members TIME & LOCATION: 5 classes (Ist Wednesday each month, June-October), 5-7pm, at Plough in the Stars Farm INCLUDES: - Class topics on home herbal medicine skills include how to make: lip balm & salves, syrups, tinctures, lotion, infusions, decoctions, infused honey and oils, herbal vinegars, compresses &poultices (see below for all 5 class descriptions). - An herbal product, made by participants, received after each class (if you’d like a product, but can’t take the class, a limited amount will be offered for $5 each after class) - An informative handout for each class' topic - If time allows, we will go on plant walks to identify the variety of plant friends that are all around us through the different seasons! Classes open to non-members of Plough and Just Herbal CSA, so tell your friends! At least part of all classes are held outside, so come prepared for the weather! Download a 2013 Registration Form here Home Health with Herbs Series
Class Descriptions Making Herbal tea: Best drying & storing techniques for herbs
June 5th, 2013, 5-7pm, $20
Come learn the sublties of the art of making tea! Whether herbs are fresh or dry, leaves, flowers or roots, you’ll come away from this class knowing how to make a mean cup o’ tea, knowing the difference and why it matters. This is the first pick-up for herbal CSA members, so we’ll also focus on the best methods of drying and storing your fresh herbs. We’ll also talk about some herbs that will be received in shares that will help with common ailments such as headache, indigestion, sleeplessness, anxiety, cold & flu etc. Activity: We’ll make a cleansing, spring tonic syrup with leaves and roots we learn to identify and wild harvest from Plough in the Stars. herbal infused oils & honeys
July 3rd, 2013, 5-7pm, $20
Using infused oils and honeys is a very simple way to preserve and incorporate herbs into your daily life, and they’re so easy to make! Herbal oils add depth and flavor to cooking, and enhance healing benefits of salves applied to skin. Herbal honey is just delicious and makes any cup of tea that much more tasty. Learn what, and what not to do to capture the healing properties of fresh herbs into oils and honey. Activity: Participants will make herbal oil from fresh plants we identify and harvest from Plough in the Stars (that will be strained and used for next class!). Then we’ll make a salve with a pre-made, finished herbal oil that you can use at home to help heal scrapes, bruises, dry skin or lips. Compresses & poultices
August 7th, 2013, 5-7pm, $20
Compresses and poultices have long been used as methods to calm fevers, reduce swelling from wounds, bruises, cramps or arthritis. This class will teach the difference between a compress and a poultice, and focus on the handy weeds surrounding us everyday that can help us in a first aid situation. Activity: We'll strain the herbal oil made at last class & learn another use for infused oils by mixing it into a batch of handmade lotion! Herbal Extracts & tinctures
September 4th, 2013, 5-7pm, $20
Tincturing is a method used to preserve fresh or dry herbs. There are many reasons why a home herbalist would want tinctures on hand in their medicine chest. They are fast and convenient, and can last forever, since some (not all!) are made with alcohol. We'll explore how strong tinctures will be by how much herb to add to alcohol, whether using fresh or dry herbs, differences between using alcohol, vinegar and glycerin, and dosages for each. Activity: Make a tincture that will help support our immune systems this winter! Winter Wellness with Herbs
October 2nd, 2013, 5-7pm, $20
Learn about staying healthy and supporting the body’s immune system this winter with herbs and nutrition. We’ll talk about recipes and how seasoning with culinary & medicinal herbs can help different wintertime ailments. Activity: Harvest horseradish and make the spicy “Fire Cider” for winter wellness. |
For more information on classes or to register please contact Just Herbals by email at [email protected] or by phone at (978)-273-4276
** These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are for educating purposes only. They are not meant to prescribe, diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.
** These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are for educating purposes only. They are not meant to prescribe, diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.
