Saturday, September 11th, 2027
10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Bentonville, Virginia

Spend the day with me here at The Honeystead learning how to build a practical herbal first aid kit using medicinal herbs and simple preparations you can make right at home.

One of the things I love most about having a home apothecary is knowing that I have a collection of familiar herbs and preparations ready for those little everyday moments when we need them.

Whether it's a bug bite after working in the garden, a minor scrape, irritated skin, or tired muscles after a long day, there are so many wonderful herbs that have traditionally been used for everyday first aid needs.

This hands-on workshop is all about getting to know those herbs, understanding how to work with them, and learning how to create a useful herbal first aid kit for your home.

We'll begin our day exploring the medicinal herb gardens here at The Honeystead, identifying some of my favorite first aid herbs, discussing their traditional uses, and learning when and how to harvest them.

Then we'll head into the apothecary, where we'll turn those herbs into practical preparations you can keep close at hand.

From herbal salves and infused oils to soothing compresses, washes, and other simple preparations, we'll explore how to put together a first aid collection that feels approachable and useful.

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 for common first aid needs
• How to identify and harvest useful first aid herbs from the garden
• Understanding the traditional properties of herbs such as calendula, plantain, yarrow, chamomile, and others
• How to choose herbs for different types of preparations
• Working with fresh versus dried herbs
• How to prepare herbal-infused oils and salves
• Making simple herbal compresses and washes
• Understanding when and how to use different herbal preparations
• Properly preparing, labeling, and storing your herbal remedies
• What I like to keep in my own herbal first aid kit
• Other important first aid supplies worth keeping alongside your herbs
• Recognizing when an injury or symptom requires conventional medical care

And most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to work with medicinal herbs, create several practical herbal preparations, and begin putting together your own herbal first aid kit to take home.

My hope is that you leave feeling more comfortable with the herbs around you and knowing how to prepare them for those everyday moments when a little extra care is needed.

From the Garden to Your First Aid Kit

There is something special about walking into the garden, recognizing a plant growing right in front of you, and understanding how it has traditionally been used.

Some of my favorite first aid herbs are plants that many people already have growing around their homes.

Plantain might be growing along a garden path. Calendula may be blooming in the herb garden. Yarrow might be tucked along the edges of a field.

And once you begin learning about these plants, you start to see them a little differently.

We'll spend part of our day exploring the gardens here at The Honeystead, getting familiar with these herbs while they're growing, and discussing how to identify and responsibly harvest them.

We'll talk about which parts of the plants are traditionally used, when they're best gathered, and how to properly preserve them for future preparations.

I want you to experience the connection between the living plant and the finished preparation sitting on your apothecary shelf.

Because understanding the plant itself is just as important as knowing how to follow a recipe.

Creating Your Own Herbal First Aid Preparations

Once we've explored the gardens, we'll head into the apothecary to begin creating.

This is where we'll take what we've learned and put it into practice.

We'll explore different ways to work with first aid herbs, from infused oils and salves to herbal washes, compresses, and other simple preparations.

We'll discuss why certain herbs are traditionally chosen for particular purposes, how different preparation methods work, and why understanding the condition you're addressing is important.

You'll have the opportunity to work with a variety of herbs and create several preparations to bring home.

We'll also discuss safe storage, shelf life, proper labeling, and important precautions, including allergies, wound hygiene, and when herbal preparations should not be used.

My goal is for you to leave understanding the process well enough that you can continue making useful herbal preparations in your own kitchen.

Building a Practical Home First Aid Kit

One of the biggest things I hope to share during this workshop is that a useful herbal first aid kit doesn't have to be complicated.

You don't need dozens of preparations or shelves filled with unfamiliar ingredients.

Sometimes it's simply about having a handful of herbs and preparations that you know well and feel comfortable working with.

We'll talk about what I personally like to keep on hand here at The Honeystead, how I organize my supplies, and why I believe herbal preparations should complement—not replace—the essential items in a conventional first aid kit.

We'll explore practical supplies such as sterile dressings, bandages, gloves, and other important items, alongside the herbal preparations we're making.

And we'll discuss how to recognize the difference between a minor everyday concern and something that needs professional medical attention.

I want you to leave with a better understanding of how to build a first aid kit that makes sense for your home and family.

This Workshop Is For You If...

You've wanted to learn how to make your own herbal first aid preparations but haven't known where to begin.

Maybe you already have a few herbs growing in your garden and want to understand how to use them.

Or perhaps you've started building a home apothecary and would love to feel more confident preparing salves, oils, and other practical herbal creations.

You do not need to be an herbalist.

You do not need a large medicinal herb garden.

You do not need any previous experience.

Whether you're just beginning or looking to expand your knowledge, this workshop is designed to help you feel more comfortable working with medicinal herbs for everyday first aid needs.

Come as you are.

Workshop Details

Date: Saturday, September 11th, 2027
Time: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: The Honeystead — Bentonville, Virginia

This is a hands-on workshop, and we'll spend part of our day outdoors exploring the medicinal herb gardens before heading inside to the apothec