Herb School 2020

North Fork Valley, Western Colorado, 2020

Herb School

The Learning Council, Valley Organic Growers Association and Slow Food Western Slope united in 2020 to create Herb School – an offering to the community. Herb School met once a month from March through November. Topics discussed included many aspects of herbal wisdom: propagating herbs, medicine making, herbs as food, wild food foraging, herb craft, and more.

Classes took place on local farms, facilitatied by local farmers and herbalists. Each class offered the opportunityfor all students to work with and learn about herbs in practical applications. The group enaged in lively discussions, learning from the wisom of the facilitators and of eachother. A locally sourced lunch was served at each class.

Pat Frazier, Alicia Michelsen and Emily Hartnett guided these classes with a diverse range of experiences with health and healing through the green nations.

May Videos

Kori Stanton recorded sessions presented by Pat Frazier (composting), Alicia Michelesen (talking to plants) and Wind Clearwater (cultivating herbs).

Pat Frazier

Alicia Michelsen

Wind Clearwater

June & July Videos

Brook LeVan and Stephanie Syson

Emily Hartnett and Caren von Gontard

Alicia Michelsen and Pat Frazier

August Videos

Katrina Blair: Edible and medicinal plants

Katrina Blair: Herbal body care products

September Video

Lisa Ganora: Elderberry’s

Herb School Syllabus

Nourishing Herbs

March 4

Location: Trading Post, 15495 Black Bridge Rd, Paonia
Speaker: Alicia Michelsen

Our first session will begin at the Old River Road Trading Post. Alicia will discuss the benefits of nourishing herbal infusions and the infusion herbs including nettle leaf, comfrey leaf, linden flower, red clover blossoms, and oat straw. We will learn how to make infusions and the many wonderful ways that infusions can be used to enhance any stage of life. After lunch we will go to Zephyros Farm (11466 3725 Rd, Paonia) and learn about dividing and propagating perennial herbs.

Preparation Plants

April 1

Location: Peace and Plenty Farm, 29581 Redlands Mesa Rd, Hotchkiss
Speaker: Pat Frazier

We will meet at Peace and Plenty Farm to learn about the biodynamic preparation plants, how they are used in agriculture practices and how they benefit our health. We will gather fresh prep herbs and make medicine. Pat Frazier is a long time biodynamic farmer and in service to the largest prep making organization in the United States, the Josaphine Porter Institute.

Magical Mints

May 6

Location: Thistle Whistle Farm, 10872 3500 Rd, Hotchkiss
Speaker: Mark Waltermire

Mark Waltermire will guide us on a tour of his many magical mints and Alicia will speak of the many benefits of the mint family and we will use mints to make medicine and food.

Wild Foods Feast

June 3

Location: Trading Post, 15495 Black Bridge Rd, Paonia
Speaker: Katrina Blair

We will prepare a Wild Foods Feast at the Old River Road Trading Post with herbalist and author Katrina Blair. We will gather the bounties of nature in early summer and delight in the many flavors of our local terroir. Katrina will share with us the wisdom of the wild edibles.

St John’s Wort and Herbs as a Business

July 1

Location: Sustainable Settings, 6107 HWY 133, Carbondale
Speakers: Steph Sisson, Brook LeVan and Marjory Wildcraft

We will travel to Sustainable Settings in Carbondale to visit their beautiful herb gardens and meet with herbalist Steph Sisson of Biodynamic Botanicals. We will tour the ranch with Brook LeVan and learn about herb businesses with Marjory Wildcraft. Our keynote herb this month will be St. John’s Wort – hypericum perforatum. Please plan to leave Paonia at 9:00am for this class.

Herbs for Animals and Herbal Pastures

August 5

Location: Rancho del Gallo, 41725 O Rd, Paonia
Speakers: Caren von Gontard and Emily Hartnett

Caren von Gontard will host us at Rancho del Gallo in Paonia for this informative class on Animals and Herbs. Emily and Caren will share about herbs for animals and herbal pastures. Alicia will discuss how herbal pastures heal not only animals but humans and the soil as well.

Poke and Low Dose Herbs

September 2

Location: Elderberry’s, 1978 Harding Rd, Paonia
Speaker: Lisa Ganora

We will be at Elderberry’s in September with Lisa Ganora talking about Poke and low dose herbs. Often when an herb is well indicated a low dose will do wonders. Homeopathy and the magic of the spirit of the plant are effective and conservative ways to utilize herbal remedies.

Roots and Berries

October 7

Locations: Peace and Plenty Farm and Elevation Mountain Grown Herbal Tea Farm, 34691 Jacobs Rd, Hotchkiss

We will meet at Peace and Plenty Farm 29581 Redlands Mesa Rd, Hotchkiss. We will harvest roots, berries, seeds, and prepare perennial herb beds for winter.

In the afternoon, we will visit Elevation Mountain Grown Herbal Tea where we will be discussing the benefits of teas. We will learn about the tea business and what type of quantities to plant for market.

Winter Roots and Preparing for Winter

November 4

Location: Trading Post, 15495 Black Bridge Rd, Paonia

We will return to the Trading Post to dig winter roots and prepare our medicine bundles so that we are prepared for the winter season. Each participant will complete herb class with an array of medicinal herbal preparations and the skills to boost the health of our families and community through our connection to nature.