Rhizome Summer School
Five Wednesday evenings in July, from 5th July to the 2nd August 6.30pm to 9pm. Now taking bookings (scroll to the bottom of the page).
This course will use basic botany and intuitive methods that engage our senses to identify and connect with medicinal plants. Part of each class will be spent outside exploring a different community garden and discussing the herbs we find.
Each week you will also look at a particular plant family. This will expand your understanding of how plants are organised, enable you to recognise patterns among related plants and their medicinal uses.
In each class you will also make a fresh herbal medicine that you can take home.
We will discuss the practice of compiling plant information in a herbarium. Herbaria are collections of dried/preserved samples that document the identity of plants and fungi; they can be beautiful handmade artefacts, or large important databases, for example, the herbarium at Kew houses seven million specimens. You can experiment with preparing your own herbarium samples from some of the local herbs you encounter over the five weeks.
Classes will be held at different community gardens in Bristol:
You do not need to have been on any previous courses to join us.
Last years schedule (this year will be almost identical, but we may visit the gardens in a different order):
This course will use basic botany and intuitive methods that engage our senses to identify and connect with medicinal plants. Part of each class will be spent outside exploring a different community garden and discussing the herbs we find.
Each week you will also look at a particular plant family. This will expand your understanding of how plants are organised, enable you to recognise patterns among related plants and their medicinal uses.
In each class you will also make a fresh herbal medicine that you can take home.
We will discuss the practice of compiling plant information in a herbarium. Herbaria are collections of dried/preserved samples that document the identity of plants and fungi; they can be beautiful handmade artefacts, or large important databases, for example, the herbarium at Kew houses seven million specimens. You can experiment with preparing your own herbarium samples from some of the local herbs you encounter over the five weeks.
Classes will be held at different community gardens in Bristol:
- St Werburghs City Farm
- Feed Bristol (Avon Wildlife Trust)
- Trinity Community Garden
- Easton Community Garden
- Windmill Hill City Farm
You do not need to have been on any previous courses to join us.
Last years schedule (this year will be almost identical, but we may visit the gardens in a different order):
|
Theory
|
Practical
|
|
Week 1
Easton Community Garden |
Basic plant identification, looking at different plant parts, learning botanical terms and using a hand lens.
An introduction to grouping plants into families and the common characteristics of some of these families. Introduction to 4 important herbs: St Johns Wort, Marshmallow, and Comfrey. |
Making an infused oil from fresh herbs
|
|
Week 2
Feed Bristol |
Introduction to the Mint Family and how to identify its members. Important herbs: Lemon Balm, Lavender and Sage.
|
Make a fresh herbal tincture.
|
|
Week 3
Trinity Community Gardens |
Introduction to the Sunflower Family and a close look at the anatomy of its flowers. Important herbs: Elecampane, Daisy and Calendula.
|
Herbal teas and decoctions.
|
|
Week 4
Feed Bristol |
Introduction to the trees and flowers of the diverse Rose Family. Important herbs of this family: Hawthorn, Agrimony and Meadowsweet.
|
An aromatic distillate.
|
|
Week 5
Windmill Hill |
Introduction to parsley family, it’s delights and dangers, its tasty and toxic family members. Important herbs: Angelica, Fennel and Celery.
|
An ointment, using the infused oil from the first class.
|
Cost
£150 full
£130 concession
A deposit of £50 is required to secure your place and then full payment is due a week before the course starts.
£150 full
£130 concession
A deposit of £50 is required to secure your place and then full payment is due a week before the course starts.
Cancellation Policy: The deposit is only refundable if you cancel your place no later than two weeks before the course is due to start. The full balance is payable a week before the start of the course.
