The Mushroom Foray – October 29th : Possible projects include hops tincture (sleep aid), dandelion tonic or edible greens, lambs quarters greens, and the antioxidant-rich immunity booster, elderberry syrup. If we are lucky, wild maitake (hen of the woods) or chicken of the woods mushrooms will be available to make a soup or stir-fry. (we will do one or two of these). Ethical, forest-friendly harvesting methods will be discussed.
Come prepared for a fun walk in the woods to observe and forage for wild edible plants and possibly mushrooms, depending on what is available and in season. We will prepare a shared dish or two featuring wild edibles and possibly a tincture made of wild-forged herbs.
This class is good for a newbie, but if you have them, bring your favorite manuals and books so that we can share our knowledge, experience, and favorite wild-foraged foods and medicines. Bug spray, layered, protective clothing, and shoes or boots suitable for walking through the woods are recommended.
Facilitator:
Marie Erb-Crow has gathered and prepared wild edible plants and herbs since childhood. For seven years she ran a landscape design company specializing in eco-friendly design and woodland property preservation.
A firm believer that food is medicine, she makes her own sleep aids and tonic tinctures and she harvests and prepares wild mushrooms and edible plants for her family.
Kristen Dorsey, shamanic herbalist and owner of Divine Journeys, will lead participants in a useful plant walk. Wild harvesting tools, techniques, safety and ethics will be discussed. Edible, medicinal and poisonous plants will be identified, and some medicinal plants will be harvested. In August, we may find medicinals to harvest such as Burdock root, Yellow/Curly Dock root, Echinacea Root, Elder Berries, Alliums, Wild Bee Balm, Yarrow, Boneset, Gravel Root, Pleurisy Root, Motherwort, Mugwort, St. John’s Wort and many more. Following the harvest, we will prepare medicine from our finds. Medicine preparation may include infusions, decoctions, oil extractions, tinctures and glycerinates.
Facilitator
Kristen Dorsey has been studying shamanism and plant medicine since the 1980s. Kristen has been a full-time practicing shamanic herbalist since 2004. She makes her own medicines and has an herbal apothecary of over 200 herbs, tinctures and oils. She wild harvests many of the herbs herself each year.
Kristen has attended over 120 hours of core and advanced shamanism training programs with Michael Harner’s Foundation for Shamanic Studies (FSS) and is a graduate of the 126 hour Advanced Shamanic Training Program “Next Steps” offered by FSS staff Dana & Shana Robinson. She continues her study of shamanism by working with her own Guides and by working directly with Peruvian shamans several times per year.
Kristen is a graduate of the Green Comfort School of Herbal Medicine and holds certificates in medicinal herbalism and herbal apothecary. She continues her herbalism training by studying under many of the great herbalists of the day. Kristen has also completed a 2 yr aromatherapy course of study with the American College of Healthcare Sciences. She is a member of the American Herbalists Guild.
Quantum Touch energy healing and EFT blend well with shamanic healing practices. She has completed Quantum Touch & EFT training and has hundreds of hours of hands-on energy healing experience.
Beth Burrous, Biochemist and USBG Volunteer Docent
Many important medicines are derived from plants, but too much of a good thing can be dangerous. During a walking tour of the Conservatory, Beth Burrous will feature poisonous and medicinal plants growing at the USBG. She will talk about famous, interesting, and sometimes fatal cases of poisoning by plants. You will also see and learn about plants used to make lifesaving medicines.
– See more at: https://www.usbg.gov/events/2016/05/19/tour-medicinal-poisonous-plants-usbg#sthash.HC8U0slo.dpuf
Some of the most common weeds are our best medicines, and they’re almost always available for free at our doorsteps. Herbalist Holly Poole-Kavana will lead a walk to explore the medicine inside the plants we take for granted, with attention to plant identification, harvest considerations, and preparation. After the walk we will gather for a hands-on demonstration of processing some of the plants we have found. Students will leave having experienced the entire process of finding and making medicine from local weeds.
About the facilitator: Holly Poole-Kavana is a botanist and herbalist practicing in Washington, DC. She is a lifelong plant enthusiast and has a bachelor’s degree in botany. In 2005 she shifted her focus to herbal medicine and studied with a series of experienced herbalists in the classroom, clinic, and outdoors. Since 2010 she has operated Little Red Bird Botanicals, a small business that provides individual herbal consultations, an herbal CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), locally-grown herbal products, and education. Holly also works as a birth assistant and labor doula.
Sunday, June 5th from 9am to 11am
$20
Michael Weese leads a mushroom foray and walking class over Fox Haven land.
What will we find on this mushroom foray? Who knows! Mushrooms fill different niches in different areas and arrive as fruit at different times of the year. Every foray is a treasure hunt! Experienced forager and grower Michael Weese will lead this foray to discover the species that are present on June 5th at Fox Haven Learning Center. For each species found on this foray Michael will give a thorough discussion on its life cycle, ecological niche, and culinary, medicinal and ethnobotanical uses. Join the hunt!
Michael will be vending his own mushroom merchandise after the class!
Register with Lacey at lacey[at]foxhavenfarm[dot]org
Many of the weeds we pull from our gardens are medicinal and/or edible, and many of the plants we grow for food also have medicinal uses. Explore the possibilities on this walk through. We will focus on uses of common weeds and garden plants.
This walk will take place at Wangari Gardens on the corner of 14th and Taylor NW.
Teacher Bio: Holly Poole-Kavana is an herbalist practicing in Washington DC. In 2010 she founded Little Red Bird Botanicals, offering herbal consultations, an herbal medicine CSA, and workshops on growing and using medicinal herbs. She also works as a health educator and birth assistant.
