Upcoming Classes
Building Immunity with Herbal Folk Recipes
Saturday January 11th from 1-4 pm $60
Does it feel like you catch a cold every time you leave the house? Or maybe your kiddos bring illness after illness home from school?
Join Mel Kasting, RH (AHG), clinical herbalist and free clinic director, for this 3-hour hands-on workshop to take charge of your immunity!
Class will cover basic immune physiology, common causes of lowered immunity, as well as herbal and nutritional strategies to strengthen the immune system. We are also going to make fire cider and a lesser known but equally potent herbal preparation know as Composition powder.
You will leave this workshop with a custom fire cider or composition powder, along with the knowledge to protect you and your loved ones from illness by strengthening your immune system BEFORE illness hits.
Work/Trade Available for low income folks!
Building Breath with Herbs for Respiratory Support
Saturday January 25th from 1-4 pm $60
Are your sinuses and throat dry from heaters? Lingering coughs that won’t seem to go away?
Join Mel Kasting, RH (AHG), clinical herbalist and free clinic director, for this 3-hour, hands on workshop to keep those coughs and dry tissues at bay!
We will cover basic respiratory system physiology, common respiratory issues, as well as the herbal and nutritional interventions for these issues. We will focus on colds, coughs, sinus infections, asthma, and chronic winter dryness, learning how to choose the correct herbs for each condition using the 6-tissue state model of hot/cold, tense/lax, and dry/damp.
You will leave this workshop with a custom respiratory glycerite, along with the knowledge to assess the respiratory system to choose the best herbs in the moment.
Work/Trade Available for low income folks!
Building Nervous System Resiliency with Calming Herbs and Sensory Experiencing
Saturday February 8th from 11-4 pm $100
Join Mel Kasting, RH (AHG), clinical herbalist and free clinic director for this 4-hour, hands on workshop.
We will cover basic nervous system physiology, the human stress response, and then dive deep into a discussion about herbs and nutrients for acute and chronic stress, anxiety, and sleep. We will also explore the role that sensory experiencing intersects herbal medicine to create deep healing anchors in stressful situations.
We will be tasting herbs throughout class, and it will culminate in a somatic formulation exercise leaning deeply into the wisdom of our bodies to create a calming formula using blind sensory experiencing. This technique was learned from herbalist Larken Bunce.
You will leave this workshop with a custom blended calming formula, along with the knowledge to support yourself in stressful situations AND build resiliency to normal life stressors.
Folks will have the chance to blend and purchase larger amounts of their formulas at a discounted rate.
Work/Trade Available for low income folks!
Building Digestion with Herbs for GI Support
Join Mel Kasting, RH (AHG), clinical herbalist and free clinic director, for this 4-hour, hands on workshop.
We will cover basic digestive system physiology, common digestive system issues, and the herbal and nutritional strategies to strengthen digestion as well as the assimilation of nutrients. We will focus on gas, bloating, acid reflux, constipation, and the most common causes of diarrhea, learning how to choose the correct herbs for each condition using the 6-tissue state model of hot/cold, tense/lax, and dry/damp.
You will leave this workshop with a custom GI formula, as well as the knowledge to assess GI constitutions to choose the correct herbs for the most common digestive issues.
Work/Trade Available for low income folks!
Forage and Feast Intensive
Join herbalist and free clinic director Mel Kasting, RH (AHG) for an afternoon of foraging, followed by a delicious 5 Course “Forest to Table” feast!
During this hands-on workshop, we will explore native and introduced plants growing around Chantilly Farms. We will learn how to identify these plants by their family characteristics, as well as their edible, medicinal, and poisonous properties, giving reverence to indigenous use.
Throughout our day, we will harvest edible plants to later prepare a beautiful 5 course meal together.
The meal will be rounded out with organic foods donated from local farms, as well as plants locally harvested and preserved by Mel and Laura Quesinberry. As we dine, there will be a guided discussion of how different flavors affect the digestion and assimilation of nutrients in the foods we eat.
5 Course Meal will vary slightly depending on what we forage, but here is a sample Menu:
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Nonalcoholic herbal cocktails with Gluten-free Dandelion Tempura. Served with fermented radish and creamed ramps
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Arugula and violet chevre salad with pickled redbud dressing
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Wild Mushroom soup
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Spring Greens Pesto pasta with peas and black walnuts
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Caramelized spicebush and wild rose custard with warm herbal tea
You will leave this event satiated in mind and body, armed with plant connection and the knowledge to create a “Forest to Table” meal of your own! Please wear comfortable walking attire and bring a basket or bag to carry your harvest. Meal will be vegetarian, with vegan and gluten free options for an additional fee. Preregistration required. Limited spots available.
Work/Trade Available for low income folks!
