Foundational Herbcraft

Our weekend will be an exploration of the foundational principles that support traditional western herbalism. What are the actions by which herbs work? How do plants communicate their virtues to us through our senses, and how can we learn to take in and apply this information in a practical and meaningful way?

We’ll look more deeply at bitters, astringents, demulcents, relaxants and other primary actions to discover how they reveal the deeper virtues of herbs, and tell us far more of their nature than terms like “anti-inflammatory” or “antibacterial” could ever convey.

Understanding herbs through flavors, scents, traditional herbal properties, and the manner in which they simply live and grow will be covered through a blend of story, experience, humor and lore.

Friday 7:00-9:30 pm at Bethany Lutheran Church
Saturday 10:00 am-5:00 pm & Sunday 10:00 am-4:00 pm at Garden Farme

jim mcdonald has been practicing the art of herbcraft for over fifteen years, and offers a knowledge of herbalism that blends western folk and indigenous views of healing with the Vitalist traditions of 19th century western herbalism. He has taught classes and workshops throughout Michigan and the U.S., hosts the website herbcraft.org and is currently writing “A Great Lakes Herbal.”

jim is a community herbalist, a manic wildcrafter and medicine maker, and has been an ardent student of the most learned teachers of herbcraft… the plants themselves.