21March: on the spring equinox, start the first day of spring learning about herbs.
to start the day,We will sow seeds of medicinal plants, drink tea made from the same plants and discuss their actions, properties. We can often experience the qualities of plants through tasting them, and spending time with them. Getting familiar with plants through growing them from seed, through to maturity, flowering and harvest is a great way to learn about medicinal plants. You will come away with a seed tray of a selection of plants.
In the European tradition of 4 element herbal medicine, spring is the season of childhood and youth, the personality type of Sanguine. So we will focus on herbs to help the sanguine; roman chamomile, valerian, nettle and hawthorn.
We will also make a simple home remedy to take home, using one or more of the herbs we have sown and tasted.
Venue is my home in rodmell where i have my herbal dispensary and where we are building an innovative permaculture garden and forest garden with stunning views of the Ouse valley, lewes and the sea.
Bring a note book and a packed lunch.
11-3pm £35 booking essential
*24 March- Herb Walk
Meet at the Linklater pavilion to explore the medicinal plants growing on the railway Land nature reserve.
The railway land is a fascinating nature reserve as it contains a number of different habitats, right on the edge of town. As you enter there is the post industrial ex railway sidings. The river Winterbourne ends here too pouring its clear light blue waters into the muddy ouse. There are pristine water meadows, and swampy woodland, and we can see it all in the two hours.
Come find garlic mustard, cleavers, nettle, and many other herbs bursting forth with the spring energy.
3-5pm £15
1May Planting and harvesting medicinal plants, making remedies.
Use this day to follow on from the first experiential day in March, equally suitable for beginners too.
Explore the Rodmell food and herb forest, one of the most stunning locations you will find for a garden in Sussex. We will taste, explore and make remedies from a small number of plants, sowing seeds and harvesting.
Spring will be in full flow and the first of May (Beltaine) is a magical time in the calender, and i thought a great day for connecting to the land and learning about herbs.
11-3pm £35 Booking essential
5 May - Herb Walk
Downland medicinal plants, on some of my favourite foraging sites.
The area leading up from the prison up to the old route of the race course, and on towards black cap, is a wonderful area with massive diversity of plants. Partly because it is grazed, and because it is ungrazed and wild. We'll see hypericum, mayflower, vervain, deadly nightshade, and burdock and many others.
Bring a small bag for collecting samples, and a notebook if you want to take notes.
meet at spital Rd by the prison
3-5pm £15
