Press release from Living Web Farms:
Americans are currently suffering from a “nature deficit.” We are disconnected from the natural world and all that it has to offer us spiritually, psychologically, and physically. On Tuesday, May 9 from 5 PM to 7:30 PM, Living Web Farms will host a Spring Plant Walk and Wild Foods Preservation workshop focused on identifying wild edibles, how to harvest sustainably, and how to prepare your harvest.
Abby Artemisia, founder of The Wander School, moved to western North Carolina because of its biodiversity. As a botanist and herbalist, she recognized all that the area’s natural world has to offer. Not just from a physical perspective, but also from a spiritual point of view. The mission of Artemisia’s Wander School, which stands for Wild Artemisia Nature Discovery and Empowerment Reconnection, is “inspiring a reconnection with nature to empower a healthier world with many stewards.” Artemisia sees the beauty and power of connecting with people while connecting with nature.
Artemisia’s nature walks are about awareness, building a connection with the natural world, developing a sense of stewardship, and recognizing the “free, super vital medicine” from the plants all around us. She seeks to “take away fear and empower people to take time for time in nature” and sites that she aims to bring people “into a space of awe and wonder so they want to do it again”. In addition to being able to identify edible and medicinal plants, participants of the May 9 workshop will learn how to harvest in a sustainable way and discuss ethics related to foraging. This consciousness goes hand-in-hand with the responsibility of being stewards of the land. Artemisia references the “20% rule” of taking no more than 20% of what you find. Eating invasive species, using twigs rather than tree bark to make tea, and considering the time of year that you’re harvesting are all things to consider when hunting for wild foods.
The cooking and preservation component of Artemisia’s workshop will cover methods such as cooking, dehydration, canning, fermentation, pesto making, and preserving flowers in honey, which can be medicinal. She will discuss leaf teas versus twig teas and provide samples of some of her wild food creations. Artemisia will also cover how to process harvested wild foods in the field.
To register for Spring Plant Walk and Wild Foods Preservation with Abby Artemisia, visit: avl.mx/3ne. The majority of the workshop will be outside.
To learn more about Abby Artemisia and The Wander School, visit: www.thewanderschool.com.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.