Classes at the 2016 Great Lakes Herb Faire
The Schedule is Here!! (subject to change, but hopefully won't :)
You can read more about each class in the descriptions below.
2016 Great Lakes Herb Faire schedule
We have finalized our plans to record most of our classes this year! So for those of you unable to be in two places at once, you will now have the opportunity to purchase recordings of the classes you are unable to attend so no need fret as we did last year!
Friday
4:30pm Opening Ceremony-
Performance by Don Allen- drummer extraordinaire and overall amazing musician!
Relearning How to Breath Like a Baby with the Alexander Technique - bringing us together as a group of herbalists and providing skills for the weekend and beyond! with Merida Pineda
Announcements and intentions with Shana Weddington.
5:00pm Matthew Wood- Keynote - Wisdom of Nature. What we Gain as Herbalists in Service of Nature
Nature is Alive. No other discipline, except perhaps agriculture, brings us closer to the Living Nature than herbalism. Every simple in the garden or the forest is an expression of some lesson, honed by millions of years of evolution, to deal with some kind of stress in the environment. At the same time, the humble herb personifies the attributes of its Creator, teaching us to see the spirit within Nature and within ourselves. The ancients taught us that Nature was not only a living being, but the source of Wisdom. Nature is the original scripture. It teaches us how to see what is living. It hones our instincts, intuitions, and psychic attunement. Each of us possesses a little slice of Nature within us. By studying the greater Nature without and lesser within, we can become wise.
6:45pm Dinner
8:30pm we will begin the evening entertainment/classes which will simultaneously include:
In this class we will discuss different plant infused preparations that are commonly used in botanical cocktails: elixirs, bitters, cordials, liqueurs, switchels, and syrups and various creative ways to blend them up. This class includes notes + recipes to take home with you, as well as tastings of various plant infused preparations listed above, brought by the instructor.
Saturday
7:00am- yoga or tai chi
9:00am Dr. Jody Noe, ND - Keynote- The Grass Skirts Movement
The movement of the women’s herbal community has grown to encompass 5 to 6 full women’s herbal conferences across the USA. In this keynote I will talk about this movement over the last 20 years as a practicing Naturopathic Physician and for 30 years as a practicing herbalist. I will make points on how this movement is changing the way we view the health care system, food and local farmers, politics and even our planet Mother Earth.
We will have 3 class sessions during the rest of Saturday. Each session will have 4 adult classes to choose from and one kids class. See below for a list of the classes.
Saturday Night's entertainment will be a wonderful local band:
Eyes Unclouded
You can check them out here https://www.facebook.com/eyesuncloudedmusic/
Sunday
7:00 am Earth Wisdom Yoga: All levels welcomed
Breathe with your whole body! Move with your soul! Deepen your connection to the Earth through Yoga postures, meditation and restorative practices. Join us for this inward healing journey. All bodies, ages, sizes and abilities encouraged to attend!
Yoga mats not required, but please bring one for comfort if you have it.
Sunday will include 3 more sessions each with 4 adult classes to choose from and 1 kids class.
Closing Ceremony will begin at 3:45pm on Sunday.
________________________________________________________________
The sessions on Saturday and Sunday will be composed of these classes:
The class descriptions are followed by the words beginner, intermediate, advanced, or some combination. This is just a general guideline. If you have a strong interest in a class but it is rated as a different level than you think you fall into, please don't hesitate to go anyway! Advanced level students can learn a ton at a beginning course and beginners can learn much at an advanced class! As said before, they are just general guidelines for those of you who would like a little more guidance when choosing classes.
Medicine Animals, Medicine Plants
Matthew Wood
In this class we will study medicine animals – the animals serve as the spokespersons, so to speak, of our natural self and our unconscious. As we do this we will study the corresponding medicine plants, because the most powerful plants are associated with medicine animals and we learn back and forth, from kingdom to kingdom. A few examples: bear (burdock, angelica, spikenard), elk and deer (wild bergamot and many mints, sumach, cleavers, dogwood---despite the name), rabbit (rabbit tobacco, nettle, wild yam), turtle (gravel root, boneset, oak, black walnut), wolf (agrimony, cinquefoil, true solomon’s seal), panther (valerian, catnip, chamomile, cramp bark), underwater panther/catfish (white water lily, blue flag, true and false solomon’s seal, marshmallow root, slippery elm, mucilages). Animals teach us about the powers of medicine plants, the constitutions of people, and the functions of society.
Tissue States in Practice.
Matthew Wood
Description to come....
An Herbalist's Repertory
Jim McDonald
Herbalism is an art, and behind the rationale and reason herbalists use in choosing which herbs to give what people, there's a lot of creativity, and a lot of personality. We'll look into jim's repertory and share insights and stories about some of his most important medicines.
Intermediate
Medical Herbal Strategies for Integrative Cancer Therapies
Dr. Jody E. Noe, MS, ND
Cancer is not a single disease. It is a group of many diseases all characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. For cancer to occur it takes several mutations to happen to a single cell before it can become a cancer cell. In this class we will study the aberrant cell and how individual herbal therapies can target these cells. We will also discuss integrative strategies that include herbal formulas to treat as well as reduce side effects of conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapeutics currently used in cancer treatment.
Intermediate/Advanced
Blessed Bitters
Jim McDonald
While often times diet is assessed via adequate intake of vitamin, minerals and other nutrients, in traditional systems of medicine throughout the world great importance was placed upon the representation of flavors in one's diet. In our culture, no flavor suffers omission as much as bitterness. Far beyond most people not eating bitters, bitterness itself is often correlated with "bad". But in fact, there is probably no more important flavor to include in the diet; one could even make a case that the omission of bitters hinders healthy digestion and metabolism. Herbalist jim mcdonald will discuss the various types of plant bitters, their action upon the body, and why those taste buds at the back of your tongue need a good workout.
Beginner/Intermediate
Barks, Nuts, Leaves, Roots and Fungi: Great Lakes Tree Medicines
Lisa Rose
The trees of the Great Lakes offer so many medicines - from acorns to root barks to leaves to fungi. Join herbalist Lisa Rose in this hands-on, medicine making class to learn new ways to incorporate the gifts of the trees into your apothecary.
Intermediate
Delivery: Styles, Types, Ups n’ Downs
Leslie Alexander
Well, yes, I’d like to suggest a particular herb … but how? And why? This workshop will very likely evolve into a discussion/round table with a focus on sharing experience with the many and varied types of delivery systems available to us as herbalists. We’ll discuss modes of delivery, their application, strengths, possible limitations and personal preparation methods. If you fancy bringing a favored example of your own, if portable, please do.
Beginner/Intermediate
Introduction to West African Herbalism
Aku Dunyo Richter
In West Africa traditional village herbalism is practiced in two forms. One is much like how herbalism is practiced elsewhere, with herbs prescribed based on the symptoms presented by the patient; the other is a spiritual form that is guided by diagnoses provided by psychic specialists. Both forms play important roles in the health of villagers, and in this presentation we will explore the benefits and differences of each. We will also discuss some of the common herbs used in both forms of herbalism and the importance of treating plants with respect before harvesting and using them for healing purposes.
Beginner
Brain Boosting Herbs
Maria Groves
Feeling foggy lately? Learn about some amazing, safe herbs that enhance brain circulation, reduce the effects of stress, energize, and have proven memory-enhancing effects. We'll also discuss helpful foods and lifestyle techniques to keep your brain running top-notch whether you're a student, a busy parent, or approaching old age and are concerned about mental decline. Maria will also share recipes for brain-boosting teas, chickpea snacks, and bonbons.
Beginner/Intermediate
Bringing Balance the Endocrine System: Herbs that Create a Symphony, Not a Shouting Match
Maria Groves
So much of our health and wellbeing lies at the mercy of our endocrine system. Maria will discuss the interconnection between seemingly unrelated imbalances in mood and brain function, stress, reproductive health, metabolism/weight, and blood sugar balance. Get a better understanding of your endocrine glands - including the pituitary, adrenals, ovaries/testicles, thyroid, and pancreas - and how they work together to keep you healthy... or make you feel like crap... depending on how well you tend to them. We’ll discuss some of our most valuable tonics for bringing various aspects of your endocrine system into harmony.
Intermediate/Advanced
Caring for Drinkers: Reducing Harm with Plant Medicine
Cali Janae
I work with a lot of people who drink a lot of alcohol. The focus of this class will be to share the strategies I have found useful in dealing with heavy drinking and alcohol dependence. Focus will be on building an herbal toolkit for supporting people who drink and limiting the damage that drinking can cause. We will look at useful plants and their practical applications to the everyday lives of drinkers.
Beginner
The Season of Babies, Herbs for Conception to Post-Partum
Beth Barbeau
The nourishment of our friendly herbal friends have long been known to enhance fertility, build strong babies, support healthy & timely labors, nurture smooth post-partums, and bring in a generous milk supply. Join us for a solid introduction to the essential herbs you can’t be without, herbs for common health challenges in the childbearing year, and which herbs to avoid.
Chinese Herbology: First Aide and Other Topical Applications of Herbs
Joel Robbins
Joel will present an overview of the topical application of herbs in Chinese medicine (liniments, washes, pastes) and the application of heat through herbal soaks and moxibustion techniques. We will gain hands on experience applying techniques, and in the process will explore some common Chinese herbs.
Intermediate
Organic Farming with Herbalists
Jane Hawley Stevens
This class covers plant propagation techniques, soil building, cultivation of various herb types, including which are hot in the marketplace, and information on harvesting and drying herbs. Information will be geared toward organic growing standard techniques. The information is based mainly on my 34 years growing herbs, not so much on my degree in horticulture.
Beginner
Return to Wholeness
Ombassa Sophera
Returning to our source of wellness comes from merging the heart and mind with nature to create meals that build your family's immunity - mentally, emotionally spiritually and physically to where there is no opportunity of infiltration of toxins that will deteriorate them on any level.
Returning to Wholeness in nature’s wellness center, our kitchen.
In the solace and power of this space, is a new creation where we can begin to hear each other's thoughts, fears, hopes and talk through these inner workings around table to create a peaceful idea of living life more abundantly. It is here that we can retrain ourselves and our loved ones, to relish the sacredness of mealtime. In this dining bliss, we all make the choice to feed our bodies, minds and spirits with thoughts and foods specifically designed with lots of love to fit our nutritional needs.
Recreating the kitchen into a healing center is what the world needs now, if we are to really Return to Wholeness.
Workshop Outcomes:
Learning Herbal Constituesnts: Breaking it Down
Lorinda Sorinson
This presentation will break down the constituents of plants, comparing them first to components of foods, then breaking down each group (carbohydrates, proteins and alkaloids, lipids, including volatile oils and terterpenoids, then saponins and glycosides. A very brief discussion of flavonoids will be included. Each group should have an herbal example that can be included with taste, smell or consistency.
Beginner to Advanced
The Herbal Treatment of Auto-Immune Diseases
Althea Northage Orr
With new auto-immune diseases appearing almost yearly, what strategies can we craft as herbalists? This class will focus on herbal and nutritional strategies for dealing with diseases such as lupus, ulcerative colitis and other common auto-immune diseases. We will discuss some of the mainstream treatments and their advantages and disadvantages, and how as practitioners we can work both adjunctively or solely in their treatment.
Beginner/Intermediate
Demystifying Medicine Making
Jessie Belden
Oftentimes when I am asked the difficult to summarize question “What exactly does an herbalist DO, anyways?” I will answer with the decidedly flippant “well, basically I put plants in jars and cover them in various liquids.” While the work of an herbalist is most certainly SO much more than this, making herbal medicine essentially DOES break down to that important first step: putting plants in jars and covering them with something! In this class, Jessie will demystify the practice of crafting herbal medicines. For this hour and a half we will cover infusions, decoctions, syrups, herb-infused oils, salves, tinctures, elixirs, and honeys. This is a hands on class that will leave you feeling fully equipped to concoct your very own personal herbal medicine for your home apothecary.
Beginner
Kids Classes
The Native American Medicine Wheel, Its Journey With The Circle Of Life
Victoria Voges
The Native American Medicine Wheel is a teaching tool of indigenous origin. Here in Michigan it is used in Tribal Schools to teach youth and adults alike, the Sacred Cycle of the “ Circle of LIfe”. It has herbs, plants and even tree’s in one of its 7 layers it its teachings in the 7 directions, yes seven. This offering will show the children how the human being is linked to and a part of, the Natural World in a very special way. They will take with them a Medicine Wheel and make a small bracelet that reminds them of this sacred responsibility we have on planet Mother Earth.
Let’s Help the Honey Bees
Liz Timmerman
I will present First Aid about bee stings, the difference between honey bees and other insects that sting, I’ll show the pieces of a bee hive and the equipment that I use, talk about the life cycle of the honey bee and the different roles they play in the hive, as well as talk about all of the products we can obtain from the hive and finally, how important honey bees are to humans. We will finish by making seed bombs that the kids can take home with them to help the honey bees. If time allows I would love to do a honey taste sampling with the kids.
Let’s Meddle with Nettles!
Kristine Brown
Sound like a crazy idea? Why would anyone want to purposely handle nettles, let alone eat it or use it for medicine? This class will leave your kids singing the praises of nettles, stings and all! We will take a walk to the nettle patch to view it first hand, maybe sketch it and then go back to the kids area to talk about nettles’ uses as well as learn the medicinal properties through story, song and play.
Shelter Building for Kids (and Adults)
Rowena Conahan
Participants will help to construct a shelter framed with saplings and covered with plants, flowers, pinecones, and other treasures from nature. This year, we’ll also weave some plants onto the shelter. Together we will honor the land and plants with a brief ceremony appreciating their support of our shelter project, set up the shelter’s frame, cover it with plants, decorate it, and go inside to play!
Wisdom of the Elders
Tina and Daniel Stone and Trica Bellew
Take a journey to the edge of the clearing to visit the village herbalist. She has magickal potions and healing remedies to share with you. Gather around as she teaches you about Elderberry Syrup with a song, hike, woodcraft, and medicine making. Come along with us on the journey of awe and respect of our Elders!
Plant Whisperers and the Magic Yes/No Meter Inside Your Body
Stacey Quade
Have you ever heard plants singing?! Did you know you have a magic yes/no meter built inside your body?Learn how to use it to help you listen to the plants whisper to you in the language of energy, and to use it to make healthy choices for yourself in your life. Come listen to the plants sing and practice talking and listening to them.
Healing Animals with a Holistic Approach
Angela McElroy
Most Animals are pray animals. This needs to be taken into consideration before approaching a animal in need of help. This class is structured for children to have an hands on approach with different herbs to use on injured animals, but also focuses on how to approach a hurt animal. Using my horse Tut, and some other farm animals and a tortoise, children will learn how to pick the right herbs for different injuries, correctly approach the animal and a dress wounds with herbs they chose.
“Is There a Better Way to Carry my Backpack”? And Other Tips for Staying Strong and Flexible as You Grow Up
Joseph Quade
School giving you a “heavy load”? Muscles sore after soccer practice? Or skiing or other activities? Do you know what plants can help soothe your body and keep you flexible so you can keep having fun? Do you know how to stretch and move your body to help it grow strong and limber? Lets learn and practice together.
Fun With Herbs Using all of Your Senses
Janice Marsh-Prelesnik
In this class we explore five fresh herbs. First we usually observe the plants closely. Then smell the plants. Next the kids are blindfolded and try to guess which plant they are holding. Finally, they taste the herb and guess which one it is. To end the class we draw the plants and write the uses of each.
Plant Walks
Interactive Herb Walk: Walking in Communion with our Elders the Plants
Dr. Jody Noe
Herb Walk
These common plants both native and non native to our local, are under our feet and over our heads and by our sides at all times. During this interactive walk we will examine the important medicinal and physical characteristics of the plants we will meet along our walk-a-about the conference grounds. We will discuss plant families and their particular characteristics as well as use and preparation of each ally we meet along the way. It is often possible to extrapulate whether a plant is edible, medicinal, or poisonous by these characteristics, and this will reinforce each participants identification skills and ability to use this resource of medicine as the "store outside your door".
Botanical Treasures of the Midwest: Great Lakes & Midwestern Plants Not to be Taken for Granted.
Heather Irvine
Herb Walk
One of the Midwest’s greatest treasures is in its richness of medicinal plants, many of which seem common to its residents. Having grown up in a Great Lakes state, the outdoorsy tomboy of a naturalist forester who pointed out everything I might have taken it all for granted had I not come to herbalism. Now that I live a little farther east in Vermont I miss being able to find plants that were common to me before and there are many I wish I could grow that do well in Ohio to Michigan climates and south. In this class we will go over basic recognition (except for those that need no introduction) and uses of plants that are endemic to the Great Lakes region or at least far more common there than in most other regions. Participants will be encouraged to contribute their observations, knowledge and uses and if desired make connections with other participants with the possibility of swapping regional plant medicines after we have all returned home. If there is interest the class leader will compile participant contacts for the purpose of participants staying connected for this purpose after the event.
Jim McDonald
Herb Walk
Join herbalist Jim McDonald in a walk 'round the woods and fields to discover the myriad plants (and their myriad virtues) that grow all around us. We'll explore their history, actions and use through a blend of common sense, humor and practical experience.
Botany for Budding Herbalists
Herb Walk
Elizbeth Heck
Understanding basic botanical characteristics is fundamental for learning how to positively identify plants. We will wander the grounds of Cedar Lake Outdoor Center looking closely at plant details, introducing basic botanical terminology. En route, we will discuss plant classification while teaching about the use of plant keys.
A Dental Herb Walk
Herb Walk
Leslie Alexander
Why not? Let’s walk and talk about herbs for the mouth and focus on identification, use and preparation ... sketchbooks are certainly welcome, watercolors too.
Ecology Walk
Herb Walk
Matt Dennon
Learn the native and non native species of the different micro ecosystems of the Waterloo Recreation area that boasts everything from Pitcher Plants, Coptis and Lady's Slipper in and near the bog to the White Pines that tower above in their both in size and beauty.
You can read more about each class in the descriptions below.
2016 Great Lakes Herb Faire schedule
We have finalized our plans to record most of our classes this year! So for those of you unable to be in two places at once, you will now have the opportunity to purchase recordings of the classes you are unable to attend so no need fret as we did last year!
Friday
4:30pm Opening Ceremony-
Performance by Don Allen- drummer extraordinaire and overall amazing musician!
Relearning How to Breath Like a Baby with the Alexander Technique - bringing us together as a group of herbalists and providing skills for the weekend and beyond! with Merida Pineda
Announcements and intentions with Shana Weddington.
5:00pm Matthew Wood- Keynote - Wisdom of Nature. What we Gain as Herbalists in Service of Nature
Nature is Alive. No other discipline, except perhaps agriculture, brings us closer to the Living Nature than herbalism. Every simple in the garden or the forest is an expression of some lesson, honed by millions of years of evolution, to deal with some kind of stress in the environment. At the same time, the humble herb personifies the attributes of its Creator, teaching us to see the spirit within Nature and within ourselves. The ancients taught us that Nature was not only a living being, but the source of Wisdom. Nature is the original scripture. It teaches us how to see what is living. It hones our instincts, intuitions, and psychic attunement. Each of us possesses a little slice of Nature within us. By studying the greater Nature without and lesser within, we can become wise.
6:45pm Dinner
8:30pm we will begin the evening entertainment/classes which will simultaneously include:
- Story Telling with Rowena - Join storyteller, Rowena Conahan around the campfire for tales from the world of nature. Stories will be appropriate for people of all ages.
- followed by Open Mic- bring your instruments, voice, poetry, storytelling or other talents!!
- Herbalists Chat (This session is respectfully open only to People of Color)
The unique needs and history of people of color require a specific conversation; therefore, this session will be part healing circle and part knowledge sharing as we relearn our historical connections to herbalism. This will be a safe space for POC to unfold our rich history and contributions to herbalism, honor herbal ancestors and share ancient knowledge, as we share ways to move through contemporary boundaries relating to modern-day practicing. - Fairy Cocktail Hour: Plant Infused Cocktails + Mocktails
In this class we will discuss different plant infused preparations that are commonly used in botanical cocktails: elixirs, bitters, cordials, liqueurs, switchels, and syrups and various creative ways to blend them up. This class includes notes + recipes to take home with you, as well as tastings of various plant infused preparations listed above, brought by the instructor.
- After Hours: Herbs for Meditation, Sleep & Dreaming
Description: In this class you will learn traditional herbs to calm your mind, open your senses and aide your journey into the spirit worlds. Explore potions and elixirs to promote a peaceful spirit, deeper awareness and lucidity in the dream state.
Saturday
7:00am- yoga or tai chi
9:00am Dr. Jody Noe, ND - Keynote- The Grass Skirts Movement
The movement of the women’s herbal community has grown to encompass 5 to 6 full women’s herbal conferences across the USA. In this keynote I will talk about this movement over the last 20 years as a practicing Naturopathic Physician and for 30 years as a practicing herbalist. I will make points on how this movement is changing the way we view the health care system, food and local farmers, politics and even our planet Mother Earth.
We will have 3 class sessions during the rest of Saturday. Each session will have 4 adult classes to choose from and one kids class. See below for a list of the classes.
Saturday Night's entertainment will be a wonderful local band:
Eyes Unclouded
You can check them out here https://www.facebook.com/eyesuncloudedmusic/
Sunday
7:00 am Earth Wisdom Yoga: All levels welcomed
Breathe with your whole body! Move with your soul! Deepen your connection to the Earth through Yoga postures, meditation and restorative practices. Join us for this inward healing journey. All bodies, ages, sizes and abilities encouraged to attend!
Yoga mats not required, but please bring one for comfort if you have it.
Sunday will include 3 more sessions each with 4 adult classes to choose from and 1 kids class.
Closing Ceremony will begin at 3:45pm on Sunday.
________________________________________________________________
The sessions on Saturday and Sunday will be composed of these classes:
The class descriptions are followed by the words beginner, intermediate, advanced, or some combination. This is just a general guideline. If you have a strong interest in a class but it is rated as a different level than you think you fall into, please don't hesitate to go anyway! Advanced level students can learn a ton at a beginning course and beginners can learn much at an advanced class! As said before, they are just general guidelines for those of you who would like a little more guidance when choosing classes.
Medicine Animals, Medicine Plants
Matthew Wood
In this class we will study medicine animals – the animals serve as the spokespersons, so to speak, of our natural self and our unconscious. As we do this we will study the corresponding medicine plants, because the most powerful plants are associated with medicine animals and we learn back and forth, from kingdom to kingdom. A few examples: bear (burdock, angelica, spikenard), elk and deer (wild bergamot and many mints, sumach, cleavers, dogwood---despite the name), rabbit (rabbit tobacco, nettle, wild yam), turtle (gravel root, boneset, oak, black walnut), wolf (agrimony, cinquefoil, true solomon’s seal), panther (valerian, catnip, chamomile, cramp bark), underwater panther/catfish (white water lily, blue flag, true and false solomon’s seal, marshmallow root, slippery elm, mucilages). Animals teach us about the powers of medicine plants, the constitutions of people, and the functions of society.
Tissue States in Practice.
Matthew Wood
Description to come....
An Herbalist's Repertory
Jim McDonald
Herbalism is an art, and behind the rationale and reason herbalists use in choosing which herbs to give what people, there's a lot of creativity, and a lot of personality. We'll look into jim's repertory and share insights and stories about some of his most important medicines.
Intermediate
Medical Herbal Strategies for Integrative Cancer Therapies
Dr. Jody E. Noe, MS, ND
Cancer is not a single disease. It is a group of many diseases all characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. For cancer to occur it takes several mutations to happen to a single cell before it can become a cancer cell. In this class we will study the aberrant cell and how individual herbal therapies can target these cells. We will also discuss integrative strategies that include herbal formulas to treat as well as reduce side effects of conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapeutics currently used in cancer treatment.
Intermediate/Advanced
Blessed Bitters
Jim McDonald
While often times diet is assessed via adequate intake of vitamin, minerals and other nutrients, in traditional systems of medicine throughout the world great importance was placed upon the representation of flavors in one's diet. In our culture, no flavor suffers omission as much as bitterness. Far beyond most people not eating bitters, bitterness itself is often correlated with "bad". But in fact, there is probably no more important flavor to include in the diet; one could even make a case that the omission of bitters hinders healthy digestion and metabolism. Herbalist jim mcdonald will discuss the various types of plant bitters, their action upon the body, and why those taste buds at the back of your tongue need a good workout.
Beginner/Intermediate
Barks, Nuts, Leaves, Roots and Fungi: Great Lakes Tree Medicines
Lisa Rose
The trees of the Great Lakes offer so many medicines - from acorns to root barks to leaves to fungi. Join herbalist Lisa Rose in this hands-on, medicine making class to learn new ways to incorporate the gifts of the trees into your apothecary.
Intermediate
Delivery: Styles, Types, Ups n’ Downs
Leslie Alexander
Well, yes, I’d like to suggest a particular herb … but how? And why? This workshop will very likely evolve into a discussion/round table with a focus on sharing experience with the many and varied types of delivery systems available to us as herbalists. We’ll discuss modes of delivery, their application, strengths, possible limitations and personal preparation methods. If you fancy bringing a favored example of your own, if portable, please do.
Beginner/Intermediate
Introduction to West African Herbalism
Aku Dunyo Richter
In West Africa traditional village herbalism is practiced in two forms. One is much like how herbalism is practiced elsewhere, with herbs prescribed based on the symptoms presented by the patient; the other is a spiritual form that is guided by diagnoses provided by psychic specialists. Both forms play important roles in the health of villagers, and in this presentation we will explore the benefits and differences of each. We will also discuss some of the common herbs used in both forms of herbalism and the importance of treating plants with respect before harvesting and using them for healing purposes.
Beginner
Brain Boosting Herbs
Maria Groves
Feeling foggy lately? Learn about some amazing, safe herbs that enhance brain circulation, reduce the effects of stress, energize, and have proven memory-enhancing effects. We'll also discuss helpful foods and lifestyle techniques to keep your brain running top-notch whether you're a student, a busy parent, or approaching old age and are concerned about mental decline. Maria will also share recipes for brain-boosting teas, chickpea snacks, and bonbons.
Beginner/Intermediate
Bringing Balance the Endocrine System: Herbs that Create a Symphony, Not a Shouting Match
Maria Groves
So much of our health and wellbeing lies at the mercy of our endocrine system. Maria will discuss the interconnection between seemingly unrelated imbalances in mood and brain function, stress, reproductive health, metabolism/weight, and blood sugar balance. Get a better understanding of your endocrine glands - including the pituitary, adrenals, ovaries/testicles, thyroid, and pancreas - and how they work together to keep you healthy... or make you feel like crap... depending on how well you tend to them. We’ll discuss some of our most valuable tonics for bringing various aspects of your endocrine system into harmony.
Intermediate/Advanced
Caring for Drinkers: Reducing Harm with Plant Medicine
Cali Janae
I work with a lot of people who drink a lot of alcohol. The focus of this class will be to share the strategies I have found useful in dealing with heavy drinking and alcohol dependence. Focus will be on building an herbal toolkit for supporting people who drink and limiting the damage that drinking can cause. We will look at useful plants and their practical applications to the everyday lives of drinkers.
Beginner
The Season of Babies, Herbs for Conception to Post-Partum
Beth Barbeau
The nourishment of our friendly herbal friends have long been known to enhance fertility, build strong babies, support healthy & timely labors, nurture smooth post-partums, and bring in a generous milk supply. Join us for a solid introduction to the essential herbs you can’t be without, herbs for common health challenges in the childbearing year, and which herbs to avoid.
Chinese Herbology: First Aide and Other Topical Applications of Herbs
Joel Robbins
Joel will present an overview of the topical application of herbs in Chinese medicine (liniments, washes, pastes) and the application of heat through herbal soaks and moxibustion techniques. We will gain hands on experience applying techniques, and in the process will explore some common Chinese herbs.
Intermediate
Organic Farming with Herbalists
Jane Hawley Stevens
This class covers plant propagation techniques, soil building, cultivation of various herb types, including which are hot in the marketplace, and information on harvesting and drying herbs. Information will be geared toward organic growing standard techniques. The information is based mainly on my 34 years growing herbs, not so much on my degree in horticulture.
Beginner
Return to Wholeness
Ombassa Sophera
Returning to our source of wellness comes from merging the heart and mind with nature to create meals that build your family's immunity - mentally, emotionally spiritually and physically to where there is no opportunity of infiltration of toxins that will deteriorate them on any level.
Returning to Wholeness in nature’s wellness center, our kitchen.
In the solace and power of this space, is a new creation where we can begin to hear each other's thoughts, fears, hopes and talk through these inner workings around table to create a peaceful idea of living life more abundantly. It is here that we can retrain ourselves and our loved ones, to relish the sacredness of mealtime. In this dining bliss, we all make the choice to feed our bodies, minds and spirits with thoughts and foods specifically designed with lots of love to fit our nutritional needs.
Recreating the kitchen into a healing center is what the world needs now, if we are to really Return to Wholeness.
Workshop Outcomes:
- Tools and ideas for recreating a new kitchen environment for the family
- Meal creation for healthy minds, bodies and spirits
- Herbal recipes the heal and sustain life
Learning Herbal Constituesnts: Breaking it Down
Lorinda Sorinson
This presentation will break down the constituents of plants, comparing them first to components of foods, then breaking down each group (carbohydrates, proteins and alkaloids, lipids, including volatile oils and terterpenoids, then saponins and glycosides. A very brief discussion of flavonoids will be included. Each group should have an herbal example that can be included with taste, smell or consistency.
Beginner to Advanced
The Herbal Treatment of Auto-Immune Diseases
Althea Northage Orr
With new auto-immune diseases appearing almost yearly, what strategies can we craft as herbalists? This class will focus on herbal and nutritional strategies for dealing with diseases such as lupus, ulcerative colitis and other common auto-immune diseases. We will discuss some of the mainstream treatments and their advantages and disadvantages, and how as practitioners we can work both adjunctively or solely in their treatment.
Beginner/Intermediate
Demystifying Medicine Making
Jessie Belden
Oftentimes when I am asked the difficult to summarize question “What exactly does an herbalist DO, anyways?” I will answer with the decidedly flippant “well, basically I put plants in jars and cover them in various liquids.” While the work of an herbalist is most certainly SO much more than this, making herbal medicine essentially DOES break down to that important first step: putting plants in jars and covering them with something! In this class, Jessie will demystify the practice of crafting herbal medicines. For this hour and a half we will cover infusions, decoctions, syrups, herb-infused oils, salves, tinctures, elixirs, and honeys. This is a hands on class that will leave you feeling fully equipped to concoct your very own personal herbal medicine for your home apothecary.
Beginner
Kids Classes
The Native American Medicine Wheel, Its Journey With The Circle Of Life
Victoria Voges
The Native American Medicine Wheel is a teaching tool of indigenous origin. Here in Michigan it is used in Tribal Schools to teach youth and adults alike, the Sacred Cycle of the “ Circle of LIfe”. It has herbs, plants and even tree’s in one of its 7 layers it its teachings in the 7 directions, yes seven. This offering will show the children how the human being is linked to and a part of, the Natural World in a very special way. They will take with them a Medicine Wheel and make a small bracelet that reminds them of this sacred responsibility we have on planet Mother Earth.
Let’s Help the Honey Bees
Liz Timmerman
I will present First Aid about bee stings, the difference between honey bees and other insects that sting, I’ll show the pieces of a bee hive and the equipment that I use, talk about the life cycle of the honey bee and the different roles they play in the hive, as well as talk about all of the products we can obtain from the hive and finally, how important honey bees are to humans. We will finish by making seed bombs that the kids can take home with them to help the honey bees. If time allows I would love to do a honey taste sampling with the kids.
Let’s Meddle with Nettles!
Kristine Brown
Sound like a crazy idea? Why would anyone want to purposely handle nettles, let alone eat it or use it for medicine? This class will leave your kids singing the praises of nettles, stings and all! We will take a walk to the nettle patch to view it first hand, maybe sketch it and then go back to the kids area to talk about nettles’ uses as well as learn the medicinal properties through story, song and play.
Shelter Building for Kids (and Adults)
Rowena Conahan
Participants will help to construct a shelter framed with saplings and covered with plants, flowers, pinecones, and other treasures from nature. This year, we’ll also weave some plants onto the shelter. Together we will honor the land and plants with a brief ceremony appreciating their support of our shelter project, set up the shelter’s frame, cover it with plants, decorate it, and go inside to play!
Wisdom of the Elders
Tina and Daniel Stone and Trica Bellew
Take a journey to the edge of the clearing to visit the village herbalist. She has magickal potions and healing remedies to share with you. Gather around as she teaches you about Elderberry Syrup with a song, hike, woodcraft, and medicine making. Come along with us on the journey of awe and respect of our Elders!
Plant Whisperers and the Magic Yes/No Meter Inside Your Body
Stacey Quade
Have you ever heard plants singing?! Did you know you have a magic yes/no meter built inside your body?Learn how to use it to help you listen to the plants whisper to you in the language of energy, and to use it to make healthy choices for yourself in your life. Come listen to the plants sing and practice talking and listening to them.
Healing Animals with a Holistic Approach
Angela McElroy
Most Animals are pray animals. This needs to be taken into consideration before approaching a animal in need of help. This class is structured for children to have an hands on approach with different herbs to use on injured animals, but also focuses on how to approach a hurt animal. Using my horse Tut, and some other farm animals and a tortoise, children will learn how to pick the right herbs for different injuries, correctly approach the animal and a dress wounds with herbs they chose.
“Is There a Better Way to Carry my Backpack”? And Other Tips for Staying Strong and Flexible as You Grow Up
Joseph Quade
School giving you a “heavy load”? Muscles sore after soccer practice? Or skiing or other activities? Do you know what plants can help soothe your body and keep you flexible so you can keep having fun? Do you know how to stretch and move your body to help it grow strong and limber? Lets learn and practice together.
Fun With Herbs Using all of Your Senses
Janice Marsh-Prelesnik
In this class we explore five fresh herbs. First we usually observe the plants closely. Then smell the plants. Next the kids are blindfolded and try to guess which plant they are holding. Finally, they taste the herb and guess which one it is. To end the class we draw the plants and write the uses of each.
Plant Walks
Interactive Herb Walk: Walking in Communion with our Elders the Plants
Dr. Jody Noe
Herb Walk
These common plants both native and non native to our local, are under our feet and over our heads and by our sides at all times. During this interactive walk we will examine the important medicinal and physical characteristics of the plants we will meet along our walk-a-about the conference grounds. We will discuss plant families and their particular characteristics as well as use and preparation of each ally we meet along the way. It is often possible to extrapulate whether a plant is edible, medicinal, or poisonous by these characteristics, and this will reinforce each participants identification skills and ability to use this resource of medicine as the "store outside your door".
Botanical Treasures of the Midwest: Great Lakes & Midwestern Plants Not to be Taken for Granted.
Heather Irvine
Herb Walk
One of the Midwest’s greatest treasures is in its richness of medicinal plants, many of which seem common to its residents. Having grown up in a Great Lakes state, the outdoorsy tomboy of a naturalist forester who pointed out everything I might have taken it all for granted had I not come to herbalism. Now that I live a little farther east in Vermont I miss being able to find plants that were common to me before and there are many I wish I could grow that do well in Ohio to Michigan climates and south. In this class we will go over basic recognition (except for those that need no introduction) and uses of plants that are endemic to the Great Lakes region or at least far more common there than in most other regions. Participants will be encouraged to contribute their observations, knowledge and uses and if desired make connections with other participants with the possibility of swapping regional plant medicines after we have all returned home. If there is interest the class leader will compile participant contacts for the purpose of participants staying connected for this purpose after the event.
Jim McDonald
Herb Walk
Join herbalist Jim McDonald in a walk 'round the woods and fields to discover the myriad plants (and their myriad virtues) that grow all around us. We'll explore their history, actions and use through a blend of common sense, humor and practical experience.
Botany for Budding Herbalists
Herb Walk
Elizbeth Heck
Understanding basic botanical characteristics is fundamental for learning how to positively identify plants. We will wander the grounds of Cedar Lake Outdoor Center looking closely at plant details, introducing basic botanical terminology. En route, we will discuss plant classification while teaching about the use of plant keys.
A Dental Herb Walk
Herb Walk
Leslie Alexander
Why not? Let’s walk and talk about herbs for the mouth and focus on identification, use and preparation ... sketchbooks are certainly welcome, watercolors too.
Ecology Walk
Herb Walk
Matt Dennon
Learn the native and non native species of the different micro ecosystems of the Waterloo Recreation area that boasts everything from Pitcher Plants, Coptis and Lady's Slipper in and near the bog to the White Pines that tower above in their both in size and beauty.