STANDARD WORKSHOPS

Included in Conference Registration

More Coming Soon! 

 

As the Resin Flows

Presenter: Howl

In this unique class we’ll explore the historical and modern uses for resins such as frankincense, myrrh, pine, spruce and many more. Stories, personal experiences, and fascinating lore will be weaved into discussions about how to work with the resins of the land, spiritual practices, and resin medicines for the body.

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Double Double Toil and Trouble, Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Presenter: Ruth Shelton

The stories around herbal brews stretch across the mythos into folklore, fiction and non-fiction alike. The Empirical Herbalist will share legends and the truths along with a few blended drink options as we look into the worlds of brews and potent potables. There will be plenty of samples and recipes to take home!

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Earth's Melody: The Magic + Medicine of Plant Song

Presenter: Jane Mayer

This gathering invites us to receive, remember, and channel the songs of the plants all around us. For thousands of years, shamans, green witches and oracles have safeguarded the power of plants—for our personal and collective healing. Many of us, even now, are well-versed in their medicinal uses, but have forgotten the majesty and mystery of their songs. For almost a decade, Jane has studied with the indigenous elders in Peru, whose skill at channeling icaro (plant song) in medicine ceremonies, has been passed down to her, and woven with her own soul’s gift of song. In this workshop, we will explore the history and context of plant song, practice opening our ears and hearts to the melodies and harmonies of our local plants, and remember how to channel their songs for joy, healing and awakening. Together, we will allow the plants’ songs to bring our bodies, hearts and voices fully alive! 

 

Edible Forest Gardening

Presenter: Trevor Mann

Once upon a time, most of the Americas were intensely managed forest gardens.  Forest gardening is an indigenous agricultural technique adopted by permaculture. Forest gardening is mimicking the structure, function and evolution of natural forest ecosystems to yield food, fiber, fodder, habitat, farmaceuticals, fuel, fertilizer and fun. In this class, we will talk about the history, art and science of edible forest gardening. We will demystify the subject and go through the practical steps that one can take to design and plant their own edible forest garden. Forest gardens age like a fine wine; with time, they become less labor intensive, take less input and produce more and more!​

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Fireside Storytelling

Presenter: Howl

Join Howl by the fire for demonstrations of ancestral fire making & fire tending followed by one of the oldest vocations -- storytelling. Howl will share stories and open the floor for other to share personal or mythic stories. Our time together will conclude with a "feeding the story” practice and we’ll discuss how spoken stories are sitting within our bodies and minds. Come experience the magic of fireside storytelling!

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Folk Medicine Woman: Reclaiming the Role of the Southern Healer

Presenter: Yolanda Hatch

Before credentials and clinics, there was the folk medicine woman - often a mother, midwife, rootworker or wise elder - who carried the knowledge of plants, prayers, poultices and practical care. This workshop is a journey into the heart of folk healing traditions rooted in Southern culture, spirituality and resilience. We'll explore:

• Past and present roles of a folk medicine practitioner

• The legacy of Black, Indigenous and Southern Appalachian folk healers

• Remedies born from gardens, kitchens and front porches

• How folk medicine centers the community, the spirit and the land

• The difference between folk medicine, clinical herbalism and spiritual healing - and how they intersect

• Steps to reclaim your role as a community healer

Yolanda will also share one or two traditional folk remedies such as a cleansing tea, a poultice or a spiritual bath, and discuss how to practice with respect for lineage, land and lived experience.

 

Myths of Wild Herb Toxicity (and how to Debunk Them)

Presenter: Jesse Akozbek

Every day wild food and herbs that have been used for thousands of years are villainized as being dangerous or toxic. Where do these myths come from? Why are they here? And, more importantly, how can we sift through the noise to separate fact from fiction? In this class, we'll do exactly that by investigating some notoriously "dangerous" plants that are perfectly safe to use. Together, we'll build a toolkit for discovering the truth about these wild species that we can take with us wherever our foraging journey goes! We'll explore historical accounts, modern medical studies, and phytochemistry - giving you the skills to evaluate any plant's safety profile on your own.

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Once Upon a Weed: A Mythic Materia Medica

Presenter: Joanna Mann & Trevor MannWhen plant medicine has so thoroughly woven itself into the fabric of your life that your stories become one, then you have begun to tap into the depth of what these beings have to offer. Some classes may tell you dandelion is  cooling and drying; an alterative, bitter, cholagogue, digestive tonic, diuretic, and hepatoprotective. And maybe you will walk away feeling like you have some knowledge of dandelion. But in this class, I will share how dandelion is a harbinger of hope that appeared to me at my grandmother's passing to fill my heart with lightness. Or about how violet befriended me as a child, offering me solace in my first major loss. Or how plantain teaches us what relationships are poison to our spirits and need drawn out and which relationships could use mending. Because weeds aren't just items to be used in a quest for physical wellness, but archetypes and powerful spirits that have coevolved with us and are ready to bring us back into wellness- mind, body, and spirit.​​

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Southern Roots, Southern Remedies: Herbal Medicine Practices for the Health of the South

Presenter: Yolanda Hatch

From muggy summers to fried food traditions, from high rates of chronic illness to the rich legacy of Black, Indigenous, and Appalachian healing—Southern health has a unique rhythm. This workshop explores herbal medicine practices that speak directly to the physical, emotional, and cultural needs of Southern communities. We’ll cover:

• How climate, soil, and foodways shape health in the South

• Common Southern health issues (diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, liver/gallbladder imbalances, respiratory issues, heat-related stress)

• Traditional Southern herbs like poke, sassafras, mullein, passionflower, yellowroot, and wild cherry bark Culturally relevant healing practices from Southern Black, Indigenous, and Granny Herbalist traditions

• Herbal preparations: infusions, vinegars, poultices, or community foot soaks

Participants will leave with recipes, plant knowledge, and a deeper understanding of how to reclaim herbal healing rooted in Southern soil and soul.

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Stories as Teachers

Presenter: Lisa Bedner, RH (AHG), Tihanama Nation Medicine Woman

Traditional cultures around the world tell Stories to teach children and adults. This includes songs, legends, poems, dances and more. These traditions began before the common use of writing and the invention of paper and continue through the first printing presses and the Gutenberg Bible, and the creation of the Cherokee alphabet and the first Native American texts. In this class, we’ll connect with the art of storytelling and learn ways to keep this teaching tradition alive.

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Stories, Legends and Tales of the Native Americans

Presenter: Lisa Bedner, RH (AHG), Tihanama Nation Medicine Woman​

Did you know that every plant, every herb, every mushroom, and every food has its own story? Traditional cultures tell stories to teach children and adults alike. In this class, Lisa will share some of these stories as well as take requests for stories of your favorite plants!​​

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The Talented Turkey Tail

Presenter: Gina Rivers

This sexy saprobe is found throughout the country, reportedly found in all 50 states. But just because it’s common, doesn’t mean it’s simple. This deep dive into the talented turkey tail will be an exploration of potential! We’ll discuss how to identify true turkey tail, it’s possibilities in mycoremediation and land management, and explore the unique compounds found in this complex species. We will discuss clinical applications of this versatile mushroom, as well as cover common preparations of extraction. Attendees will leave with the knowledge of how to easily identify true turkey tail and prepare their own turkey tail extract.

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Wild Yoga

Teacher: Christy Miu

Take time to connect with the wild within and around you during this special yoga class. This class is open to all levels, including first timers. Please bring a yoga mat or blanket if you have one.

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MORE WORKSHOPS COMING SOON

from Leah Larabell, Ruth Shelton, Phyllis D. Light, Trevor Mann, Michelle Rigling and more!

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