Workshop 1: Learning Plant Families: Botanical & Phytochemical Characteristics:

Michael will review the systematics of botanical classification, focusing on the trends that are seen among related plants within a family, or of related groups of families known as orders. We will investigate botanically common attributes of such plants including physical apprearance, chemistry, growth habit, and medicinal uses.

Workshop 2: Botany from the Ground Up (a weed/wild plant walk)

Michael will lead you on a walk to discover local plants, their families and their uses.

Michael S. Ford is the owner of Apollo Herbs, the herbal company that he founded in 1991 after training with master herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar. He has been teaching herb programs that blend scientific training with western herbal traditions, nutrition, and environmental awareness since 1993.

Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany, Bachelor of Arts degrees in Classics and Biology, a Master of Science degree in Pharmacognosy/Natural Product Chemistry, and a Master of Arts degree in Education, all from the University of Rhode Island. Michael also studied Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. He brings over twenty years of experience and professional training to his work.

Workshop 1: Five Spirits, Five Emotions, Five Organs

Chris Marano offers an introduction to the elegant, profound and subtle teachings of Chinese Medicine that speak to the interrelationship and mutual influence of the Awareness/Spirit Body, the Emotion Body, and the Physical Body. This class seems especially timely these days when so many health disharmonies find their root in the deeper waters of emotion and old traumas that shape the way we navigate our daily lives. We will talk about what balance and imbalance look like in each of these five domains, and how we can identify and tend to and nurture the weaker areas -- with herbs, nutrition and lifestyle -- so that we may live more wholly, healthy and embodied.

Workshop 2: Unsung Local Heroes: A Look at Lesser Known Local Medicinal Plants

The Northeast is lush and green and offers a wide variety of plant medicines, many more than the super star herbs that most of know and grow in our gardens. Outside our windows, in fields, forest, wetlands and edges is a veritable medicine chest, holding deep healing for the full range human health issues. So, for the time being, step aside dandelion, nettles, lemon balm and lavender, and let your less famous relatives get a chance to shine in the spotlight, as Chris Marano showcases local unsung heroes, some native, some introduced, some invasive. There will be show and tell and taste tests as well.

Chris Marano, RH (AHG), MA, BS is a clinical herbalist with a health-care practice in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. His practice and teachings take him throughout the U.S. and Canada. He is founder/director of Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine, dedicated to the teaching of holistic health, herbalism, and Earth-based wisdom; and Clearpath Herbals, offering health consultations and high-quality, custom-blended herbal preparations. His experience includes Chinese, Native American and Western therapies. He is president of Northeast herbal Association (NEHA), a registered herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild (AHG), a veteran teacher, author, meditation instructor, and has degrees in pre-medicine, Chinese philosophy and science education from Columbia University, a graduate degree from The Herbal Therapeutics School of Botanic Medicine, Zen and Chinese philosophy training from the Institute of Chung-hwa Chinese and Buddhist Culture, and years of training with medicine elders of the Cherokee and Anishnaabe tradition. For more information regarding Chris's practice, classes and products, visit www.clearpathherbals.com.

Workshop 1: Cherokee Medicine

Jody Noé, ND will take the learner through the paradigm of Cherokee Medicine, its applications both spiritually as well as medicinally. We will learn the clinical applications of some of the botanicals used in Cherokee medicine. The botanical applications taught in this class will be as used in the indigenous application of the Cherokee use of the herbals.

Workshops 2: Naturopathic Integrative Cancer Treatment Best Practices.

The class will overview cancer cell biology and integraitive strategies at different steps in the abberrant cancer cell growth. In this class Dr. Noé will overview some of Naturopathic Intergartive cancer therapies to used with specific cancers and chemospecific recommendations. Scientific evidence will be provided for each therapeuptic recomendation as well dosing and treatment strategies.

Dr. Jody Noé, MS, ND is a licensed naturopathic physician in practice for over 17 years. She is currently a full time academic and clinical faculty at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, and published natural medicine researcher. Dr. Noé has currently authored the “Textbook of Naturopathic Integrative Oncology” by CCNM Press, published 2012. Dr. Jody E. Noé is a specialist in Endocrine/Chronic disease, Integrative Naturopathic Oncology and Medical Herbalism.

Workshop 1: Teaching from the Plants

Growers, producers and educators working with the plants for the last 30 years, Andrea & Matthias Reisen of Healing Spirits Herb Farm will talk about some of their favorite plants, harvesting techniques and their unique drying system. Join them for an informative and fun look at the healing spirits of the plants.

Workshop 2: Walking with your Plant Allies (a wild plant/weed walk)

Join Matthias and Andrea on a journey through the fields and forest to meet and greet some of their favorite friends. Learn how they communicate with the plants, the personalities of the plants and some of the ceremonies they do with the plants. Bring your songs and ceremonies to share with the plants.

Andrea and Matthias Reisen have been community herbalists for over 20 years, they co-founded Healing Spirits Herb Farm and Education Center located in the Finger Lakes region of western New York. Healing Spirits Herb Farm and have been producing high quality certified organic medicinal herbs both fresh and dry for shipment throughout the United States and some foreign countries. They have created their our line of valued added products under the Healing Spirits label and also produce Rosemary Gladstar's line of quality valued added products on the farm. They are former Peace Corp volunteers in the Philippines. Matthias has consulted overseas in Belarus, Nepal and Jamaica regarding medicinal and aromatic plants. Andrea has studied numerous body therapies and is certified as a Zero Balancing Therapist. Together they have raised five children, there are three generations living on the farm. Their goal is to lived and worked in a balance and harmony with mother nature and humankind.

Wild Edibles and Wonderful Weeds

On this walk we will discover the many wonderful edible and medicinal weeds growing on the Rowe grounds. We will explore the nutritional and medicinal benefits of these plants and how to use them as food and medicine. We will discuss the benefits of "growing weeds" and eating wild foods and challenge assumptions of what makes a plant purposeful and of use.

Brittany Wood Nickerson is a practicing community herbalist, health educator and cook. She brings extensive knowledge of nutrition, cooking and using food as medicine to her training in Western, Ayurveda and Chinese herbal medicine. Her treatment and teaching approach emphasizes health and healing as a personally empowered relationship with your body and the earth. She runs Thyme Herbal in Amherst Massachusetts where she teaches The Art of Home Herbalism and Foundations in Herbal Medicine as well as courses in herbal cooking and homesteading. Brittany teaches women's health at the University of Massachusetts and is co-organizer of the Northampton/Amherst Herbal Meet-up group. She is the cook at Partner Earth Education Center in Danby, VT.

Fermenting Wellness

Join us as we explore healthy digestion by sampling some traditional condiments, beverages and other live cultures to enhance digestion and overall well-being. In this workshop we’ll discuss lacto-fermented foods throughout history, their place in modern society and how to prepare your favorites at home to help correct a wide range of health conditions.

Alicia North is Vice President of the North East Herbal Association, an active member of United Plant Savers, a community herbal practitioner, local food activist, herbal educator and editor of the Journal of the North East Herbal Association. Having trained with many world-renowned herbalists & healers, Alicia holds certifications in Herbalism and Iridology. She is past instructor for Northwestern Connecticut Community College’s Center for Holistic Studies and it’s “Foundations in Herbal Medicine” certification course based on the work of Dr. Tieraona Low Dog. Alicia offers herbal consultations, workshops, courses, local plant walks and lectures for clients and special interest groups wanting a better understanding of herbs and how to use them to enhance well being. As a life-learner, she continues to learn from the plants both wild and tame as well as herbal conferences, workshops and the two and four - legged clients she counsels. The proprietor of North Star Botanicals, Alicia is passionate about empowering others, preserving the tradition of herbalism and the native flora upon which it relies.