A Cup of Calm: Herbs for the Nervous System

Rosemary Gladstar

​Everyone these days seems to need a ‘cup of calm’.  In this class Rosemary will discuss her favorite herbs and natural remedies that help to calm and strengthen the nervous system and fortify us for those times when life just seems overwhelming. In their beautiful simple ways, plants remind us to slow down,  smell the flowers, and drink deeply of their essence.  In doing so, we can find a deep well of calm as the storm of life rage around us.

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Among the Wildflowers: Medicine of the Wild Ones

Leah Larabell, High Garden Tea​

​Herbal medicine meets native gardening in this class with Leah Larabell. Learn why and how to plant more native plants in your yard plus get to know the medicine of our wildflower and wild weed friends!

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Animalia Materia

Howl, Primal Provisions

​Mother Earth, the Natural World, and the other-than-human-kin which reside alongside us teem with abundance. They offer all their gifts and lessons. The Natural World provides us with five main modalities of healing to draw from 1) plants, 2) elements/minerals, 3) spirits, 4) vibrations/sound, and 5) animals. As herbalists, we tend to focus on our plant relatives and how they can assist in our wellbeing and health. Animals must not be overlooked -- their components have been used for healing since ancient times. It is important to remember that humans are animals. No matter how far society separates from nature, we are flesh and blood and bone. Often, the gifts our animal kin offer serve us more easily than other forms of medicine. In this workshop, we will discuss various traditional ways in which animals have aided healers across cultures with an emphasis on what can be added to our healing work localized to the Southeastern Woodlands of Turtle Island. Animal aspects to be discussed pertain to their spirits, flesh, skin, fluids, minerals, and bones. Participants will walk away with some animal-based medicine as a handout after seeing several examples in person.  

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Becoming a Local - A Bio-regional Animist's Approach

Howl, Primal Provisions

​​“Buy Local!”, you hear from the markets. Yet, in Birmingham, AL’s Sprouts Fresh Market the “local fresh” sign also says, “Grown in Texas”. “We’re a local company!”, we hear from a small brick and mortar that imports all their goods from across the globe. “I’m a local!”, says the hipster living in an apartment separated from their natural landscape, wearing clothes made in Bangladesh, eating Columbian bananas in January, who hasn’t bathed in the river of their watershed. So, what does LOCAL mean, anyway?

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Cannabis as Herbal Medicine

Lisa Ganora, Herbal Constituents

Cannabis has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for generations, historically valued by herbalists and physicians alike for its diverse therapeutic properties. Today, science confirms what traditional healers have long known: the plant’s medicinal effects come from the synergy of multiple constituents, including cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG and CBN; terpenes (the essential oil of the herb); and other constituents found in most herbs including flavonoids and carotenoids. In this class, we’ll explore how to find the right strain and herbal product for different conditions, as cannabinoid and terpene profiles can vary widely in their effects on pain, inflammation, mood, and sleep. We'll discuss extraction methods from an herbalist’s perspective—introducing teas, tinctures, and infused oils—to optimize medicinal benefits while maintaining a broad spectrum approach. Whether you’re new to medicinal Cannabis or looking to deepen your knowledge, this session will provide practical insight into working with this powerful herb both safely and effectively.

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Eco-Herbalism & Harmonious Habitats

Leah Larabell, High Garden Tea

Join Leah Larabell and learn the new, old way to practice herbalism...  to be an Eco-herbalist.  Somewhere along the way, Western Herbalism has lost its connection to those we should know best, the plants.  We've lost our relationship with the wild ones; the butterflies, bees, caterpillars, birds and more. Let’s learn to embody a true plant wisdom keeper who practices herbalism in a way of community and not consumerism.  Learn who else depends on the plants that we gather and when they need them the most. This is beyond ethical wildcrafting, its land stewardship and relationship.  Learn how to act as a part of nature and promote biodiversity through our practices.  We'll discuss native plant medicine, relationships in nature, and how we can be of most support in our herbal lifestyle to those who support us. Embrace the wild in and around you. 

 

For the Love of Wild Things

Multiple Presenters​​​

​We are bringing our conference theme (For the Love of Wild Things) to life with an evening of storytelling! Be sure to stick around afterwards for our community fire, herbal elixirs and drum circle.

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Marvelous Mycelium!

Gina Rivers,​ River ‘Seng MycoHerbalism

​She’s buried under our feet. She nurtures the trees and plants, nestled around root systems, caretaker of ecosystems, she is the mushrooms hidden body. What is Mycelium? Should more of us attempt to cultivate it? Why would we want to harness this metabolically active stage of a mushroom’s lifecycle for health and wellness reasons? Join me as we delve deep into the Mysteries of Mycelium. We’ll discuss why we may want to strengthen our connection with the mushroom organism’s Yin aspect. We’ll also cover why so much of the current mushroom research is focusing on the unique compounds generated by mycelial fermentation. We’ll uncover why this stage may be key in creating viable and potent medicines for humans and animals, and why cultivation of mycelium may be a promising step towards healing our Mother Earth.

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Mindful Microdosing: Safety, Science, and Ritual

Michelle Rigling​, PhD, The Cavewoman Way

​Join myco-therapist and psychedelic guide, Michelle Rigling, for deep dive into microdosing. We’ll cover a variety of topics including micro-dosage, safety and contraindications, neuroscience, the latest research data, legal risks, and marketing scams. Beyond these topics, we’ll dip our toes into the spiritual side of microdosing and discuss mindfulness and ritual practices. Michelle will share some client reports from her private practice as well as some personal experiences. This class is entirely dedicated to microdosing, so bring your questions and get ready to learn lots of new things!​

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Organoleptic Weed Walk: Wildcrafting with the Senses

Lisa Ganora, Herbal Constituents

Join us for an immersive Organoleptic Weed Walk, where we’ll engage our senses to explore plants in their living environment. Organoleptics—the practice of understanding herbal medicine through taste, aroma, touch, and even hearing—is an ancient skill that helps us understand the identity, potency, and qualities of our wild plants, herbs, and foods. We'll practice the Scratch, Snort, Savor & Spit Method, a hands-on way to engage with plants, inspired by the instincts of our wild herbalist relatives like Wolf and Bear. By crushing plant material to release its aromatic compounds, inhaling deeply, and carefully savoring, we develop a deep understanding of herbal energetics, medicine, and potential toxicity. This method sharpens our plant identification skills, enhances our ability to discern medicinal properties and constituents, and reconnects us with an intuitive way of knowing plants. Come ready to engage and experience the direct wisdom of the senses!​

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Preserving Wild Food & Medicine

Jesse Akozbek, The Feral Forager

​Join The Feral Forager for an exploration of how to process and preserve various kinds of wild herbs, from fruits to greens to bark, so you can use them year-round!

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Regenerating the Wild: Home Scale Earth Repair

Trevor Mann, Walden Farmacy

​​If the state of the ecology on earth has you a little on edge and you aren't quite sure what you can do, this class is for you! If you have a backyard or even a balcony (really if you are a human just alive on the earth right now) there is so much you can do! In this workshop we will look at how you can transform your space into a safe space for wild beings and do your part to create one haven in a network of Edens seeking to do their part one backyard at a time.

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Reishi!!! An Exploration of Ethnomycology, Current World Research, and Herbal Practices

Gina Rivers,​ River ‘Seng MycoHerbalism

​Why is Reishi referred to as The Mushroom of Immortality? Reishi is the only mushroom with over a 2000 year written clinical history in herbal practice, and this lecture will discuss both traditional and western herbal applications. Although the focus of the content will be primarily on Ganoderma lucidum, various species of Ganoderma will be introduced. We will begin with a brief explanation of the most current taxonomic classification, as well as the emerging theory surrounding new DNA research on this mushroom. We’ll discover Reishi mythology and ethnomycology, human clinical trials, published studies, and clinical applications will be presented and discussed. With a focus on herbal clinical applications, we will explore compound research, fascinating antimicrobial discoveries, and adaptogenic and immune balancing actions, as well as known contraindications. The objective of this class is for participants to become well versed with the subtle energies of the Mushroom of Immortality, to identify herbal allies that complement the Imperial Tonic in formulation, as well as become comfortable in incorporating Reishi’s adaptive influence into wellness protocols and individualized wellness plans.

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Rhythm of Mycelium & Elixir Bar

Michelle Rigling, Leah Larabell & Others

Bring your drum or shaker and join us for a community fire, drum circle, and time to connect and play together on Saturday night. Many vendors will be open during this time plus there will be a special herbal elixirs bar. 

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Sipping Tea and Hugging Trees: Forest Wisdom & Tree Medicine

Leah Larabell​, High Garden Tea​

Come along and find friendship in the forest! Trees offer us food, medicine, companionship, clean water and air and so much more. The more we know about them, the more we can become a friend of the forest. This workshop will teach tree medicine, highlighting tree teas, and also include trees as food, folklore, ecological roles, and benefits of being by their side. These ancient elders have so much to share and knowing how to work with them and help protect them is critical to ensuring they are around for generations to come.​

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"Simples" Plant Walk

Phyllis D. Light, MS, RH​​

​A “simple” is an herbal remedy consisting of only one plant (or mushroom). In this plant walk with Phyllis, we’ll discuss a variety of spring herbs, weeds, and trees that can be worked with individually and you’ll learn how to identify them. If you’ve never ventured out on a plant walk with Phyllis D. Light, this is a must do!

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Southern Folk Medicine

Phyllis D. Light, MS, RH​

​Explore Southern Folk Medicine with Phyllis D. Light as she shares herbal remedies, healing techniques, and ancestral wisdom—ideal for herbalists of all levels seeking holistic wellness. Participants will learn the foundations of Southern Folk Medicine, what makes it unique, and ways to keep these important traditions alive.

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Spring Tonic Plant Walk (and Demo)

CoreyPine Shane,​ RH

​Join CoreyPine Shane for a Spring Tonic Plant Walk, identifying wild medicines of spring that grow in the Southeast. After our plant walk, we’ll gather to learn how to make spring vinegar tonics – a folk remedy that anyone can make at home!

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The Generosity of Plants (Keynote)

Rosemary Gladstar

Plants are incredibly generous to human beings,  gifting us with food, medicine, shelter, clothing and the very air we breathe.  They also teach us about gratitude, reciprocity and reverence for the Earth.  What in return do we gift back? How do we foster a reciprocal relationship and create a ’ sacred partnership’ with plants so we can be better stewards and caretakers while here on this beautiful planet.  What role(s) do each of us play in this divine dance?  In this discussion Rosemary will share lessons learned from the plants through storytelling, poetry, and botanical musings.  Rest your minds, open your hearts, and join voices as we share stories about the Generosity of Plants.

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The Health Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms

Gina Rivers,​ River ‘Seng MycoHerbalism​

This beginner friendly class is designed to introduce the basics of medicinal mushrooms to the fungal uninitiated or novice practitioner. This broad-spectrum course explores the lifecycle of mushrooms, how mushrooms impact aspects of immune function, dispels common mycophobias, reviews the basics of mushroom cultivation and medicine making, and illuminates several key species and their affinities of activity for specific body systems.

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Traditional, Spiritual, and Native American Methods of Wildcrafting

Lisa Bedner, Pipsissewa Herbs

​​In this class we will discuss Spiritual aspects of wildcrafting, including when and how to gift back to the Earth Mother for harvested plants. Learn how the Old Ones identified plants before apps, websites, and photos. We’ll explore traditional Native ways to talk with and sing to the Plants to confirm I.D and Lisa will share Traditional laws to prevent over-harvesting, from a number of different cultures.

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Wild Worlds: Heart Connection & The Green Realms

Joanna Mann, Walden Farmacy​​​​​

Come sip on some tea formulated to move us into a space of heart coherence as we explore how to work with herbs for "healing" as opposed to "curing." The state of heart coherence allows for a positive feedback loop in which energy flows in and out of us, intermingling with our ecosystem, leading us and our community into a greater flow of life force. Joanna will move us into the heart space utilizing herbal allies, meditation, story medicine, and even a bit of brain-based knowledge.