Please pass around where appropriate!

Two days of herb nerds! What could be better? We’ll learn recognition skills, making basic medicines, native herbs, harvest and storage techniques and more $25 per class.- take one or take all. You can either pay by Visa or Mastercard  via Paypal right away or mail her a cheque. 80% of student fees go directly to the teachers, with another 10% for preparing for classes and promotion.  Attending these workshops is a direct way to support folks who live on the land and keep the skills and traditions of the sustainable living arts alive.

If you are part of a family or group of friends who would like to learn and practice together, get in touch with Robin to arrange group pricing. Edible Landscapes is a place to come to reconnect, learn, relax and get inspired on how we can increase our self-sufficiency…together. You can camp on the land, hike to the ocean, walk in the woods, wander the gardens, browse in the edible and medicinal plant nursery and medicine emporium.

To register, contact Robin at (604) 885-4505, or email (and she will invoice you via Paypal) – see details on other programs at slas.ca or ediblelandscapes.ca.

June 13

10:00 – 11:30    Herb Recognition and growing methods with Robin Wheeler
Seeing a plant bursting with vigour and swaying under the weight of the bees, instead of just in powdered form or tincture, is a great reminder that we are working with an integrated, energetic being when we make medicine. See, smell and taste some of the over 150 varieties of plants here so that you will more easily recognize them in the future. Take photos or leaf samples as that can help as well. We will discuss growing methods for those wishing to grow herbs at home.

11:45 – 1:00   Intro to Botany for Herbalists with Garliq

This class is designed to navigate the world of Green, to know why a plant is what it is and not a ‘look alike.’ We’ll learn to answer a few basic questions about flower and leaf structures that will enable us to be sure we’re working with the medicine we think we are. Please bring samples from Robin’s plant walk to help apply this learning directly.

1:00 – 1:45   Lunch – brown bag or order $6 snack lunch.

1:45 – 3:15   TBA – hopefully Infused oils and lotions with Barb Cotgrave of Halfmoon Herbals.

3:30 – 4:45  - Harvesting and Storage Techniques with Robin Wheeler
We will go outside and harvest leaves, stems and flowers, then go in and prepare them for drying. When we store herbs for any length of time, we want to use the best practices possible, know the problems that can occur and how to bypass them to retain high active levels in our medicine and culinary plants.

5:00 onwards – shared/potluck dinner.

7:00 – 8:30     Homeopathy and Herbs with Marlow Purves
Herbs and plants are a major remedy source in the homoeopathic pharmacopeia.  The herbs that have been used traditionally for thousands of years find new and different application when potentised.  Marlow will share some of the revelations of the remedies made from common herbs as a means of enhancing our knowledge, respect for and awe of our healing companions. We will likely try to potentize a herb for ourselves!

June 14

10:00 – 11:30    Introduction to Chinese herbs with Sarah Gilbert and Julie Starsage
Ancient Chinese systems are based on far different diagnostic criteria than we are used to, and the forms their medicines take, in terms of preparation and ingestion, are also new to us. Sarah will introduce us to herbs and formulas that have been appreciated for centuries, and give us a better idea of how they are used in modern times.

11:45 – 12:45    Wildcrafting Basics with Lyrae Emerson
An examination of the methods of ethically harvesting wild and indigenous plants in a manner that minimizes impact on the population while maximizing their medicinal potential. We will look at tools, time of year to harvest roots, barks, stems and other plant parts, as well as look at how the practice of wildcrafting in itself can be a healing experience. Comes with take home instruction sheet on wildcrafting and harvesting guidelines.

12:45 – 1:30    Lunch – brown bag or order the $6 snack lunch.

1:30 – 3:30 – Making Plant Medicine with Lyrae Emerson
Learn how to turn your raw or dried plant matter into finished medicines. Lyrae will discuss and show preparation of infusions, pills, teas and tinctures, show and share samples, discuss alternate procedures, and basically give a solid background so that people new to the field can go home and follow recipes with confidence.

3:45 – 5:00     Native Use of Herbs with Cymba
Consisting of in-the-field plant identification, discussing traditional and contemporary uses of these plants.  Food, medicinal and ceremonial uses will be covered as well as ecologically sustainable harvesting techniques.  A hands-on component will include topical salves making (everyone will leave with a traditional medicine).

Shared potluck dinner to follow for all who want to continue exchanging thoughts.

Register with Robin Wheeler info@ediblelandscapes.ca 604-885-4505

Saturday, September 20 - 

9:30 until afternoon - Distillation workshop – “Make Your Own – from fuel to medicine” with Bernard Wera, David Scott and Kathleen Thacker (on site – 1732 Pell Road)

This is a full day workshop on the art of distillation. We will begin by looking at homemade stills and talk about safe use and potential problems. We will watch a still be put through its paces and will learn about essential oils, hydrosols, fuels and other byproducts of this process. The facilitators will talk about their experiences in home distillation. ($70)

12:30 – 2:00 – Garden Walk with Randie Ridgewell (off site – 1187 Crowe Road)

For those wanting to visit a proper, full cycle food garden, Randie’s ex-herb farm of fame is a great space for learning. She will describe her excellent fertilizing mixture and show her great techniques for good food production. Recommended by Edible Landscapes as a good beginner’s learning tool. ($25)

2:15 – 3:45 Basic Canning with Randie Ridgewell (off site – 1187 Crowe Road)

Just starting your learning curve and want an experienced mentor? Randie will take you into the kitchen to can up a batch of winter food. For those who learn best by seeing and doing, this will help push your confidence along so that you can do this at home. ($25)

Sunday, September 21 - 1732 Pell Road

9:30 – 11:00 Timely Actions in the Garden with Robin Wheeler

For new gardeners, fall brings new questions. Robin will show how to put gardens “to bed” for best spring results, what to do about late immature veggies, how to save the last of the seed and harvest the last of the herbs. We’ll discuss winter mulch and fall planting of garlic and potatoes. ($20)

11:15 – 12:30 Hand Treating Wool Fleece – with Debbie Osler

For those who already knit or weave and want to add a new skill level without buying equipment, Deb will show you how to wash a fleece and then how to hand spin it into a usable wool product. Feel different fleece and learn about quality and problems that can arise. Deb has many years of managing her own fleece and you will get hands-on experience. ($25)

1:30 – 3:00 – Using a Steamer/Juicer with Robin Wheeler

Toss in your apples unpeeled and full of seeds, and turn out wonderful juice and apple butter – just like on TV! We will run through a single 40 minute steaming, bottle the juice and further prepare the pulp into apple butter. Many other products can be made. Take some product home with you and feel more confident using this great piece of equipment on your own. ($25)

3:30 – 5:00 – Tool Maintenance and Repair with Cymba

Our hand tools are great assets and we should treat them right so they’ll last for years. Cymba will show some good tool care, and then will show how to put new handles into many types of tool, and lacking a store-bought handle, how to make a quick one from wood around you. ($25)

6 pm onwards – group dinner.