Saturday, October 16th, 2027
10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Bentonville, Virginia

Spend the day with me here at The Honeystead exploring the wonderful world of medicinal herbs as we prepare our home apothecaries for the cooler months ahead.

There is something about fall that makes me want to spend a little more time in the apothecary. The gardens are beginning to slow down, the mornings are cooler, and I'm thinking about the herbs I want to have tucked away on my shelves for the winter season.

It's a time for gathering, preserving, and putting to use so much of what we've grown throughout the year.

This hands-on workshop is all about learning how to work with medicinal herbs to create nourishing herbal teas and traditional tinctures, with a special focus on herbs and preparations I love having on hand during the fall and winter months.

We'll spend time exploring the gardens here at The Honeystead, discussing the herbs that are still growing, what we can harvest as the seasons change, and how to preserve those plants for future use.

Then we'll head into the apothecary, where you'll have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of medicinal herbs, blend your own seasonal teas, and prepare several herbal tinctures to take home.

No experience is needed. Just come curious and ready to learn!

What We'll Spend the Day Learning

During the workshop, we'll talk about:

• Medicinal herbs traditionally used during the fall and winter months
• Understanding the traditional properties and uses of different herbs
• How to harvest and preserve herbs as the growing season comes to an end
• The differences between herbal teas, infusions, decoctions, and tinctures
• How to create flavorful, purposeful herbal tea blends
• Working with roots, berries, leaves, flowers, and other plant parts
• Understanding different tincture-making methods
• Choosing appropriate solvents, including alcohol and vinegar
• Herbal extraction ratios and why they matter
• How to properly prepare, label, and store herbal tinctures
• Building a seasonal home apothecary with herbs you know and understand
• How to incorporate herbal preparations into your everyday routines

And most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to blend your own fall-inspired herbal teas and prepare several tinctures to take home and add to your apothecary.

My hope is that you leave feeling more confident working with medicinal herbs and inspired to create a collection of preparations that you can continue using and learning from throughout the seasons.

Gathering Herbs for the Cooler Months

One of my favorite things about fall is watching the garden transition from a season of growth into a season of gathering and preserving.

By October, many of our summer herbs have already been harvested, but there is still so much happening in the garden.

Some plants are producing seeds, others are settling into their roots, and many of us are beginning to think about what we want to have stored away before winter arrives.

We'll spend time exploring the medicinal herb gardens here at The Honeystead, talking about the plants that are still growing and how the changing seasons influence what we harvest.

We'll discuss working with different parts of the plant, including roots, berries, leaves, and flowers, and why understanding the plant's growing cycle can help us decide when and how to gather it.

We'll also explore ways to properly dry and preserve herbs so that the work we've put into our gardens can continue serving us long after the growing season has ended.

Because a home apothecary doesn't stop being useful when the garden goes dormant.

Blending Teas for Fall & Winter

There is something so comforting about a warm cup of herbal tea on a cool morning.

And one of the beautiful things about learning to blend your own teas is that you can begin creating combinations based on the herbs you enjoy and the traditional properties you're hoping to incorporate.

During our time in the apothecary, we'll explore a variety of herbs that are wonderful additions to fall and winter tea blends.

We'll talk about warming herbs such as ginger and cinnamon, aromatic herbs like thyme and sage, and other seasonal favorites, including elderberry, rosehips, and nourishing herbal ingredients.

You'll learn how to balance flavors, understand the differences between infusions and decoctions, and create blends that are both enjoyable and purposeful.

We'll also discuss why certain herbs require different preparation methods and how to get the most from the plants you're working with.

Then you'll have the opportunity to experiment with different combinations and create several tea blends of your own.

I want you to leave understanding not only how to follow a tea recipe, but how to begin blending herbs with confidence and intention.

The Art of Tincture Making

Tinctures are one of my favorite ways to preserve medicinal herbs and create preparations that can remain on our apothecary shelves well beyond the growing season.

During this portion of our workshop, we'll explore the traditional methods of tincture making, including the folk method and more measured approaches using herbal extraction ratios.

We'll talk about how to choose the appropriate solvent for different herbs, why alcohol percentages matter, and when vinegar may be a suitable alternative.

We'll also discuss the differences between working with fresh and dried herbs and how those differences influence the preparation process.

You'll have the opportunity to select herbs, prepare your ingredients, and create several tinctures to take home.

Because tinctures require time to extract, you'll leave with your preparations ready to continue macerating at home, along with the knowledge to properly strain, bottle, label, and store them once they're finished.

My goal is for you to feel comfortable enough with the process that you can continue making tinctures in your own kitchen using herbs you've grown, gathered, or purchased.

Preparing Your Home Apothecary for Winter

One of the things I enjoy most about herbalism is how naturally it follows the seasons.

Spring brings new growth, summer gives us an abundance of herbs to harvest, and fall becomes a time to gather what we've grown and prepare for the quieter months ahead.

We'll talk about how I approach stocking my own apothecary for the fall and winter seasons, which herbs I like to keep close, and how I decide what preparations are worth making.

We'll also discuss how to begin building a seasonal collection without feeling like you need hundreds of herbs or every preparation imaginable.

Sometimes a few familiar herbs, a handful of thoughtful tea blends, and several well-prepared tinctures are a wonderful place to begin.

It's not about having the most jars on your shelves.

It's about understanding the plants you're working with and knowing how to use them well.

This Workshop Is For You If...

You've wanted to learn how to make your own herbal teas and tinctures but haven't known where to begin.

Maybe you already have dried herbs tucked away in your pantry and want to feel more confident using them.

Or perhaps you've been growing medicinal herbs and would love to learn how to preserve your harvests and create preparations for the cooler months.

You do not need to be an herbalist.

You do not need a fully stocked apothecary.

You do not need any previous experience.

Whether you're just beginning or hoping to expand your knowledge, this workshop is designed to help you feel more comfortable working with medicinal herbs and creating your own seasonal preparations.

Come as you are.

Workshop Details

Date: Saturday, October 16th, 2027
Time: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: The Honeystead — Bentonville, Virginia

This is a hands-on workshop, and we'll spend our day exploring medicinal herbs, blending seasonal teas, and preparing tinctures.

Weather permitting, we'll also spend some time outdoors exploring the herb gardens and discussing the plants that are ready to harvest as the season changes.

Full workshop details, including the exact location, what to bring, and any additional supplies needed for the day, will be sent by email after registration.

If you register and do not receive your workshop information, please email kaylee@thehoneystead.com with the subject line COURSE DETAILS.

A Day at The Honeystead

These workshops are intentionally kept small, hands-on, and personal.

My hope is that you leave with more than a few jars of tinctures and bags of tea.

I want you to leave understanding the herbs a little better, knowing how to work with them, and feeling inspired to continue building your own home apothecary as the seasons change.

There is something special about gathering herbs in the fall, filling our shelves with preparations we've made ourselves, and knowing that the work we put into our gardens can continue long after the last harvest.

Come spend the day with me here at The Honeystead.

We'll explore the gardens, blend beautiful herbal teas, make tinctures, ask plenty of questions, and enjoy a day learning together.

And hopefully, you'll leave with a few new favorites to add to your apothecary shelves before winter arrives.

Reserve Your Spot

Cancellation Policy: Because workshop space is limited and supplies are prepared in advance, cancellations made within 14 days of the workshop are non-refundable. Full workshop details and cancellation information will be sent by email after registration.