Resource person: nikki@earthpath.ca

Description:

Magnificent Medicine of Trees and Shrubs

Is there anything on Earth more generous than the standing tree nation, which provides oxygen, shade, shelter, food, medicine, and good vibes to every other life form? In this workshop, we will explore the vast medicinal gifts of woody plants—many of which are available year-round. Some tree medicines, however, are unique to this season, such as balsam poplar buds and birch sap, both of which have been used for thousands of years and are rich in history and lore.

Beyond their complex biochemistry, which can help us and our loved ones maintain health, trees also offer medicine in a broader sense—their personality and essence. Ancient wisdom reflects this, from sayings like "Wise as an oak" to the Haudenosaunee tradition of the White Pine as the "Tree of Peace." At this time of year, willow stands out as a true emblem of early spring—moist, flexible, wispy, and full of life. Simply spending time with trees can be powerful medicine!

We’ll take a beautiful stroll through the fields and forests of Just Food, getting to know various trees and shrubs while practicing ethical and respectful harvesting. After lunch, we’ll dive into hands-on medicine-making—scraping bark, crafting teas, tinctures, ointments, and syrups, and sampling birch sap and tree teas. You'll take home samples of everything we make, along with emailed recipes and resources.

Schedule:

• Welcome & Introduction – Expressing gratitude to the trees, the land tenders, and the knowledge keepers and sharers

• Tree & Shrub Walk – Exploring the Just Food forests

• Lunch/Break

• Mad Scientist Tree Medicine-Making Party! – Hands-on experience with bark scraping, tea blending, tincture and salve making, and more! Take home:

  • The world-renowned balsam poplar salve (“Balm of Gilead”)

  • Custom tree tea blends (Women’s Tea or Immunity & Cold Tea)

  • Cough & sore throat syrup or tincture

  • A sample of the ultimate secret first-aid ointment for wounds, burns, and rashes

• Debrief & Closing – Sharing insights, questions, and "aha" moments before saying our goodbyes

Topics Covered:

• Tree identification

• Ethical harvesting (species-specific)

• First aid remedies

• Coughs, colds, flu, aches, and immunity

• Women’s medicine

• Arthritis salves & skin care

• Digestive health & mood-boosting remedies

Notes and recipes will be sent electronically.

Price: $60.00 Taxes waived

Required age: Over 18 years old on the day of the activity

Notes: A welcome email with all the information you need will be sent 2 days before the workshop.

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