Our Abundant Ecology a series of classes to embody the biome of the Southern Appalachian Foothills
Autumn
Until September 16th at 10pm, register for ALL seven classes in Autumn for a low sliding scale fee of $100-$200!
To REGISTER for any of the classes below, please complete this ONLINE FORM.
To REGISTER for any of the classes below, please complete this ONLINE FORM.
The Food & Medicine of Trees on September 18
We will be taking a stroll through the forests and fields at Ardea as we look at many different species of trees that live in the Piedmont. Discussion will focus on traditional and modern uses of these trees as food, medicine, and more. Unique and less common foods such as broths and syrups of the inner bark of some trees will be discussed, as will spices. Medicinal teas and other medicinal applications, as well as identification of tree species, will also be covered. This class also serves as a primer to some classes in the Autumn season of the Our Abundant Ecology series, such as Autumn Foraging and Making Medicinal Syrups.
Spoon & Utensil Carving on September 25 with Becky Beyer of Blood and Spicebush
We'll carve a spoon, spatula, bowl, or wand using traditional, low-tech hand tools. Tools like gauges, axes, hatchets, adzes, and draw knives will help us to create something you can treasure forever with proper care. Sharpening and wooden utensil maintenance will be covered.
Making Medicinal Meads on October 2 with Marissa Percoco of Wilderlandia
In this class Marissa Percoco will lead the group through the simple process of making mead. The focus will be on crafting a nourishing mead that is enhanced by the medicinal qualities of locally found wild plants and easily accessible herbs. Before being walked through the process of mead making, participants will be led on a plant walk to forage ingredients to be used. Plant ID and medicinal uses of local plants will be covered.
Autumn Foraging I: Roots & 'simmons on October 9
Now that Autumns has set in, the time to dig roots has arrived. We will discuss many native plants whose roots can provide a source of starch for the forager. Persimmons are usually ripening toward the end of September in our area, and we hope to have a crop processed and serve a dish of persimmon pudding to the group.
Propagating At-Risk Woodland Plants on October 16
As mature woodlands are increasingly under the pressure of timber harvesting and development, the plants that live in this habitats are under pressure also. There are also the effects of over-harvesting and over-browsing by deer to consider where populations do exist. This class will inform participants of this dilemma and introduce ways we can help. A tour through the botanical sanctuary and woodland nursery at Ardea will showcase the preferred habitat of these plants. Propagation of many woodland medicinal plants by division and seed will also be covered. Participants will take home a Black Cohosh rhizome cutting.
Autumn Foraging II: Wild Nuts on October 23
One of our favorite activities of the Autumn is the harvesting of wild nuts. In this class we will discuss the harvesting of many wild nuts that we can find in our area and how to process them. The harvesting and processing of acorns into a nourishing flour will be covered in detail. Treats such as hickory nut milk, acorn flour cookies, and roasted chestnuts will be shared with the group.
Making Medicinal Syrups on October 30
Syrups. We all love to sweeten our (acorn) pancakes. What if our cravings for sweetness could also provide us with anti-viral constituents, loads of anti-oxidants, antitussive effects, or significant amounts of magnesium? We will discuss how to make a simple syrup with local honey and a decoction of certain plant parts, such as elderberries, wild cherry bark, and shagbark hickory bark. Participants will leave with some medicinal syrup to take home.
We will be taking a stroll through the forests and fields at Ardea as we look at many different species of trees that live in the Piedmont. Discussion will focus on traditional and modern uses of these trees as food, medicine, and more. Unique and less common foods such as broths and syrups of the inner bark of some trees will be discussed, as will spices. Medicinal teas and other medicinal applications, as well as identification of tree species, will also be covered. This class also serves as a primer to some classes in the Autumn season of the Our Abundant Ecology series, such as Autumn Foraging and Making Medicinal Syrups.
Spoon & Utensil Carving on September 25 with Becky Beyer of Blood and Spicebush
We'll carve a spoon, spatula, bowl, or wand using traditional, low-tech hand tools. Tools like gauges, axes, hatchets, adzes, and draw knives will help us to create something you can treasure forever with proper care. Sharpening and wooden utensil maintenance will be covered.
Making Medicinal Meads on October 2 with Marissa Percoco of Wilderlandia
In this class Marissa Percoco will lead the group through the simple process of making mead. The focus will be on crafting a nourishing mead that is enhanced by the medicinal qualities of locally found wild plants and easily accessible herbs. Before being walked through the process of mead making, participants will be led on a plant walk to forage ingredients to be used. Plant ID and medicinal uses of local plants will be covered.
Autumn Foraging I: Roots & 'simmons on October 9
Now that Autumns has set in, the time to dig roots has arrived. We will discuss many native plants whose roots can provide a source of starch for the forager. Persimmons are usually ripening toward the end of September in our area, and we hope to have a crop processed and serve a dish of persimmon pudding to the group.
Propagating At-Risk Woodland Plants on October 16
As mature woodlands are increasingly under the pressure of timber harvesting and development, the plants that live in this habitats are under pressure also. There are also the effects of over-harvesting and over-browsing by deer to consider where populations do exist. This class will inform participants of this dilemma and introduce ways we can help. A tour through the botanical sanctuary and woodland nursery at Ardea will showcase the preferred habitat of these plants. Propagation of many woodland medicinal plants by division and seed will also be covered. Participants will take home a Black Cohosh rhizome cutting.
Autumn Foraging II: Wild Nuts on October 23
One of our favorite activities of the Autumn is the harvesting of wild nuts. In this class we will discuss the harvesting of many wild nuts that we can find in our area and how to process them. The harvesting and processing of acorns into a nourishing flour will be covered in detail. Treats such as hickory nut milk, acorn flour cookies, and roasted chestnuts will be shared with the group.
Making Medicinal Syrups on October 30
Syrups. We all love to sweeten our (acorn) pancakes. What if our cravings for sweetness could also provide us with anti-viral constituents, loads of anti-oxidants, antitussive effects, or significant amounts of magnesium? We will discuss how to make a simple syrup with local honey and a decoction of certain plant parts, such as elderberries, wild cherry bark, and shagbark hickory bark. Participants will leave with some medicinal syrup to take home.