June 19/20 - Herb Weekend These classes are directed towards the beginner, to help round out recognition and other early skills. Held on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in the informal and relaxing gardens of Edible Landscapes. Take one class or take them all. Good learning, good networking, good fun. Some camping available ($7 a night).

Saturday, June 19

10:00 – 12:00 Herb Walkabout with Robin Wheeler
This is an introduction to many of the herbs used in folk medicine. We will observe, smell and taste dozens of plants, and participants can take leaf samples and photographs for their records. We will learn about some highlights and cultivation issues. $25

12:00 – 1:00 brown bag or order $4 snack lunch with beverage

1:00 – 3.00 – Introduction to Herbal Medicine with Robin Wheeler
Poultices, salves, tinctures and oils – what are they made of, how are they used, and why are choices made in this way? We will also learn about solvents and learn why understanding solvents is key to knowing how to free medicinal constituents for our use. $25

3:15 – 4: 30 Herbal First Aid Kit with Julie Starsage and Robin Wheeler
Learn to quickly recognize the plants around you that will slow bleeding, draw out foreign bodies and protect from infection. Learn what can be dried and packaged for quick use when the plants are dormant. $20

Sunday, June 20
10 – 12.00 - 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). $25

12:00 to 1:00 – bag lunch or $4 snack lunch and beverage.

2:15 – 3:45 Eastern Classification of herbs based on Observation with Julie Starsage
Learn the general patterns of plant use from a Chinese and Ayurvedic perspective through colour, taste, smell, parts used, and the season grown and harvested.. Examples are yellow coloured roots for digestive issues, summer flowers for fevers and infections, arial parts for the upper part of the body. $25

4:00 – 5:15 - Herb Harvesting and Storage with Robin Wheeler
Original placement of plants, exact day and time of harvest – these important points lead to a powerful herb that keeps its medicine intact for a long time. Learn proper techniques for berries, flowers, leaves, roots and seeds. $20

Biographies:
Julie Starsage completed a course in Professional Herbalism through East West School of Herbology in 99 and in West Coast Wildcrafting in 2000 through Douglas College. She has a diploma of Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine which included 1,445 hours of Chinese Herbalism from Oshio College. She is owner of Sage Mountain TCM in Wilson Creek, practicing as a Registered Acupuncturist as well as spending time in the garden and raising two small children.

Cymba (Robert Vincent) spent several years living and learning his lore with a First Nations group on Vancouver Island. He is proficient at wildcrafting and also teaches native technology classes. He has led many guided walks and educational tours in the lower mainland. He is also a carver.

I’ve had many opportunities to collaborate with garliq, herbalist and passionate teacher of wildcrafting and medicine making through my work with the Sustainable Living Arts School. He now runs a full course menu of herbal teachings through his own Urban Herb School. Email garliq to get on the list  for his regular hands-on, half-day intensives. LivingMedicine@riseup.net

Each session includes Plant Identification, Gathering and Medicine Making. These 3 simple pieces are the tools required to know how, when and which plants can be gathered from gardens, parks and lawns to become food and medicines to keep our families and friends healthy.

The next offering is the Cedar & Salmonberry Sensation session offered this upcoming weekend:

Saturday  June 12th

2 Sessions Available:   9am-1pm  or  2-6pm at the UBC Forest

cost: $40

Register by email - LivingMedicine@riseup.net  **to make it easy, please include the Date & Time of the workshop you want to attend in the subject please .  Thanks.

Information specific to the event location will be forwarded to registrants.

**This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your kids. They’re much more likely to take the medicines that they help gather and make.

–

Posted by Robin Wheeler

May 8/9 - Roberts Creek - just 20 minutes from the Langdale ferry terminal, accessible by city bus.

Hone your outdoor skills in a relaxing and supportive environment. Take any number of classes, camp on site ($5) or stay with friends.

Register? Questions? : Connect with info@ediblelandscapes.ca or call Robin at 604-885-4505

Saturday, May 8 – Edible Landscapes site – 1732 Pell Road, Roberts Creek

9:30 – 11:00 Introduction to Wild Edibles with Annette Clarke

Easy to identify plants that do not need any complicated cooking methods are the topic of this course. An emphasis is placed on respectful collection and proper identification of the food plants. Different plants are growing and ripening with each season. Topics change slightly depending on the time of the year. We will cover berries, wild weeds and edible trees. $25

11:15 – 1:30 pm Wild Containers with Annette Clarke (bring brown bag or order $4 snack lunch to eat during this class)
We may find ourselves in the bush, wanting to carry berries, mushrooms or other precious finds. Annette will show us samples of various containers made from bark, leaves and vines that will last for years. Container materials will be: Grass, Leaves, Sedges and Rushes, Cattail and Birch bark. We won’t make all the different container types, but I will bring them all for showing the options and then pick one simple version (Leaf or Grass) and a Cattail container to make ourselves. $25

2:00 pm – two events occurring at two locations –

Option 1: 2:00 - 5:00 - Into the Wild with Peter Light (off site – 2692 Highway 101 - Carpooling can be arranged, camping available at Peter’s.)

Covers most of the resources one can find close to our doorsteps in our west coast woods. Learn how to recognize the principal trees in our forest; spot useful old, moss-covered logs for multiple uses; process cedar poles and beams for all your building needs; split cedar shakes for roofs and walls – in short, how to go into the woods and harvest all you need for a FREE house, barn, shed, bench, fence, gate, handle, etc., etc., as well as a FREE supply of fuel to heat your home and cook your food. Learn, too, of more unsuspected wealth that lurks among the trees! Includes an introduction to the hand tools you will need to harvest these resources. $30 - $45 sliding scale

5:30 to 7:00 - Cook-out around Peter’s doorstep firecircle. Instructor will contribute hearty soup and bread for all.

7:00 onward - Firecircle hang-out. Some beer, wine and smoke provided for all. Sleep over optional. Please register. A prerequisite for this course is to read the segment of the instructor’s autobiographical sketch to be found at http://slas.ca/peter-light/

Option 2: 2:00 – 4:00 WILD PIGMENTS - Colouring with plants and minerals with Annette Clarke (or: how to make the best out of a berry stain)
Colours made from charcoal and clay earth pigments such as red and yellow ochre have been used worldwide since prehistoric times. In this course we will make red, orange, yellow, white and black oil paint from minerals and pollen and purple and red water paints. All materials used are local, easy to find and lots of fun to work with.
The course also includes the making of your own brush from a small branch or twig, as well as handouts and all materials needed. $25.

Sunday, May 9 (Edible Landscapes site – 1732 Pell Road)

10 – noon Native Plant Technology with Cymba
The workshop will consist of a walk around the area to identify plants that were (are) commonly used in various technological ways (providing materials for cordage, adhesives, shelters, clothing, tools etc. Samples of important materials from off-site will also be provided for discussion. In a hands-on component we will play with simple tool construction (includes binding and gluing). * The exact nature of these workshops will vary according to interaction between participants. We will attempt to cover all materials and the instructor is willing to spend more time if participants feel a need. $25

1: 00 – 2:30 Wild Medicines and Wildcrafting Skills with Robin Wheeler

Beginner class for harvesting wild medicines. We will learn some recognition techniques, identify common wild medicines, take samples, and learn some uses. We’ll learn sustainable and respectful wildcrafting techniques, plus how to dry and store berries, leaves, roots and flowers for highest quality results. We’ll drink teas and apply poultices. $25

3:00 – onwards Fire! with Kim Wilkinson
Rekindle your relationship with fire in this 1.5 hour course for beginners on fire-making in a wilderness living or survival situation. We’ll start with basic concepts tinder and spark with modern methods and materials. Then we’ll try our hands at ancestral techniques including flint & steel and finally bow & drill friction fire with natural materials. We’ll discuss respectful gathering of tinder, cordage, and wood materials, and how fire interacts with other survival priorities including water, shelter, food, and emotional health. Be aware that when we work with ancestral skills we are not guaranteed to “make” a fire—fire is a gift that comes from a relationship. Bring a sense of gratitude and join us to experience the wonder of fire! $25

5:00 onwards Dinner at the fire pit. We will enjoy our wild edibles, harvested teas, bannock, fish and homemade wine. $3.00 per person or contribution to above.

You are warmly invited to a hands-on Sustainable Living Arts School Learning Party….

The Nutritious Nettle Learning Party!

….with nettle-gatherer and home medicine-maker Keira McPhee

Wednesday, April 7^th, 1-2:30 pm

I love plants, but I don’t know my nettles very well. They like to live in sunny, wet places, and the sun can be scarce in Lynn Valley. It’s time for a trek over into the wilds of Burnaby to learn about and harvest some nettles! I’m eager to collect and learn about the uses of these delicious and nutritious plants. We will share our tips and tricks for harvesting and preparing nettles. Tricia

Children are welcome!

Our guide for the day: Keira McPhee

“I am a non-denominational kitchen witch kind of herbalist who is most devoted to my nourishing weeds- those plants that provide abundant food and medicine right outside my door.  These past couple of years I’ve grown and prepared enough teas to last me throughout the year from my urban garden and from foraging. My son and I drink a LOT of tea. (My partner less so but he digs the herbal ice teas in summer.)

I learn first and foremost from the plants that grow abundantly about me, in my garden, in my neighbourhood and in the forests close to the city, as well as from the  herbalists and plant freaks I encounter through learning parties.  But nettles first  came to me in a book I’ve been rereading and consulting for 15 years,  Susun Weed’s “Healing Wise” (google her, she’s got a mammoth and very helpful shaggy garden of a website.)   Nettles called, and I started buying them in bulk. Nettle and raspberry leaf tea was my everyday drink while I was pregnant and nursing.  Now I forage for nettles every spring and because I am an insane gardener, even grow them in my backyard. They are my favourite all-round spring nourishing food/medicine and I look forward to sharing them with you.”

Location: Near Burnaby Lake. Address will be emailed to registered participants 3 days before the learning party.

Cost: $10. 

Register: http://nettlelearningparty.eventbrite.com/

Tuesday, Sept  29th

Concepts in Year Round Gardening 9:45-11:45 am
Grandview Woodland (near Nanaimo and 1st)
The Whys and Wherefores of food cycles - why we want them, how to get them. We will plan round the calendar food supplies, both in the larder and stored in the garden.

Introduction to Medicine Making 1:30-4:30 pm
Main St./Little Mountain (near Cambie and King Ed)
There are so many plants that are safe, easy to recognize and locate, and effective. We will learn some recognition techniques, and then how to make teas, poultices, tinctures and infused oils. We’ll learn about solvents, supplies and storage.

Apartment and Container Gardening 6:30-8 pm
Potluck @ 5:30 for folks who would like to share a meal together
Downtown (near Davie and Seymour)
How to get more food from your balcony or patio. Space and weight are big problems for apartment dwellers. We will decide how to choose plants, discuss containers, soils, feeding and watering, succession planting and more in this workshop for small spaces.

Wednesday, Sept 30

Seed Saving Primer 9-10:30 am
Kits Point Village (near Cornwall and Arbutus) co-sponsored by Kits Point neighbourhood Village
Seed saving is the missing link in food security. In our current political climate of seed patenting and ownership, it is increasingly important that a critical mass of a population have a good understanding of seed saving techniques. This will make it possible to create networks for seed abundance and resilience in many communities. This workshop will provide a deeper understanding of seed saving basics as well as provide time to discuss the implications of forming our relationships soon and well.
Your donation includes a copy of The Five Levels of Seed Saving by Terry Klokeid.

Shapes in Sharing 10:45-11:45 am
Kits Point Village  (near Cornwall and Arbutus) co-sponsored by Kits Point neighbourhood Village
Ideas for sharing land, food, space and time with a workshop component. We’ll do a study of our own assets and shortfalls and figure out how to equalize these on both a large and small scale.

Intensive Urban Microfarming 1:30-4:30 pm
Potluck @12:30 for folks who would like to share a meal together
Cedar Cottage (near Victoria Dr., south of Trout Lake/John Hendry Park)  For folks who are ready to refine and to deepen their knowledge of urban microfarming, Robin invites you to participate in a 3 hour gathering that will examine as many of the following topics as time allows:
· Increasing backyard food production
· Succession planting
· Shade growing
· Extending the growing season through your choice of plants, Water Wisdom, Plant Calendar Mapping and Microclimating.

Apartment and Container Gardening 7-8:30 pm
Potluck @ 6 for folks who would like to share a meal together
Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver (near Lonsdale & 1st & Lonsdale Quay)
How to get more food from your balcony or patio. Space and weight are big problems for  apartment dwellers. We will decide how to choose plants, discuss containers soils, feeding and watering, succession planting and more, in this workshop for small spaces.

All workshops are offered on a pay what you can basis. A one hour workshop usually costs around $10 to $15; a 1 1/2 hour workshop around $15 to $20; a two hour workshop around $25 to $30, a 2 1/2 hour workshop around $30 to $35. and a three hour workshop around $40. Our contributions to these workshops make it possible for teachers like Robin to expand and to deepen the scope of the important educational and social change work that they are involved in, particularly in these uncertain times. Enrolment is limited to 20 people for each workshop. (15 for Apartment workshops.)

To register:
(or to find out more about hosting a future workshop), please contact Ross at rmoster@flash.net.

The Sustainable Living Arts School and the Living Medicine Project  introduce the Living Medicine Series…

…monthly Learning Parties dedicated to the study and art of herbal medicine.

These hands-on, half-day intensives will include Plant Identification, Gathering and Medicine Making. These 3 simple pieces are the tools required to know how, when and which plants can be gathered from gardens, parks and lawns to become food and medicines to keep our families and friends healthy.

Join us for the 3^rd in this Series…

Cool Comfort of Comfrey

Sunday June 21^st (Summer Solstice)

9am-1pm

Commercial Drive Area

**This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your kids. They’re much more likely to take the medicines that they help make.

suggested donation: $40 Pay as you feel http://slas.ca/learning-party/pay-as-you-feel/

Donations will be split between SLAS, LMP and the facilitator(s)

Space is limited, Register here! http://comfrey.eventbrite.com/

Information specific to the event will be forwarded to registrants on June 19th.

BIO http://slas.ca/teachers/garliq/

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.

The Sustainable Living Arts School and the Living Medicine Project introduce the Living Medicine Series…

monthly Learning Parties dedicated to the study and art of herbal medicine.

These hands-on, half-day intensives will include Plant Identification, Gathering and Medicine Making.  These 3 simple pieces are the tools required to know how, when and which plants can be gathered from gardens, parks and lawns to become food and medicines to keep our families and friends healthy.

Join us for the 2nd in this Series…

Dandelion Delight

Monday May 18th (Victoria Day)

11am-3pm

Commercial Drive Area  (carpooling will be coordinated where possible)

Register here! http://www.eventbrite.com/event/343913655

Suggested donation: $40 Pay As You Feel. Donations will be split between SLAS, LMP and the teachers. Donations to SLAS go to a slush fund to pay teachers, web costs and a tithe to our rural partner SLAS, Robert’s Creek.

Address and other info will be sent to registrants on May 15.

**This is a family friendly event.  Feel free to bring your kids. They’re much more likely to take the medicines that they help make.

Read more about our teacher, Garliq. Questions? Contact Garliq  LivingMedicine@riseup.net

The Sustainable Living Art School and the Living Medicine Project introduce the Living Medicine Series…

Monthly learning parties dedicated to the study and art of herbal medicine.

These hands-on, half-day intensives will include Plant Identification, Gathering and Medicine Making. These 3 simple pieces are the tools required to know how, when and which plants can be gathered from gardens, parks and lawns to become food and medicines to keep our families and friends healthy.

Join us for the 1st in this series…

Healing with Spring Herbs:   Nettles, Noxious or Nutritious??

Sunday April 5th

11am-2pm

Burnaby Lake Area  (carpooling will be coordinated where possible)

Read more about our teacher, Garliq.

**This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your kids. They’re much more likely to take the medicines that they help make.

Suggested donation: $40 (Pay As You  Feel).

Space is limited, please contact Garliq early to register… LivingMedicine@riseup.net

Details will be emailed to registrants by April 3rd, 2009

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.