Saturday, June 12th, 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 and learning how to turn the plants growing around us into useful preparations for our home apothecaries.

One of the things I love most about herbalism is that our apothecaries don't have to begin with shelves filled with jars of dried herbs. They can begin right outside our own back doors, with the plants we grow, nurture, harvest, and learn to work with throughout the seasons.

This hands-on workshop is all about bringing your home apothecary to life.

We'll begin our day exploring the medicinal herb gardens here at The Honeystead, getting to know the plants while they're growing, discussing their traditional uses, and learning how to recognize when they're ready to harvest.

We'll spend time gathering herbs from the garden, talking about the different parts of the plants we can use, and understanding how to properly harvest and preserve them.

Then we'll head into the apothecary, where we'll take what we've gathered and begin turning those herbs into practical preparations you can make and use at home.

From fresh herbal infusions and tinctures to infused oils, salves, and other traditional preparations, we'll explore the many ways a single plant can become part of our everyday lives.

No experience is needed. Just come curious and ready to get your hands into the herbs!

What We'll Spend the Day Learning

During the workshop, we'll talk about:

• How to identify and become familiar with medicinal herbs growing in the garden
• Understanding the traditional uses and properties of different plants
• When and how to harvest leaves, flowers, roots, and other plant parts
• The differences between working with fresh and dried herbs
• How to properly dry, preserve, and store your harvests
• Different methods of preparing medicinal herbs for your home apothecary
• How to make herbal infusions, tinctures, infused oils, salves, and other preparations
• Choosing the right preparation for the plant you're working with
• How to create useful herbal remedies using herbs you've grown yourself
• Building a practical home apothecary that grows and changes with the seasons

And most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to harvest medicinal herbs straight from the garden and turn them into your own herbal preparations to take home.

My hope is that you leave with a better understanding of the plants growing around you and the confidence to begin using them in your own home apothecary.

Getting to Know the Plants

There is something completely different about learning an herb while it's growing right in front of you.

You begin to notice the shape of its leaves, the texture of its stems, the way it smells when you brush against it, and the little details that make each plant unique.

And the more familiar you become with those plants, the more comfortable you begin to feel working with them.

We'll spend part of our day walking through the medicinal herb gardens, exploring the plants that are growing here at The Honeystead.

We'll talk about what makes each herb special, how it has traditionally been used, and which parts of the plant we might want to harvest.

We'll also discuss how to recognize the right time to gather herbs, why timing matters, and how to harvest in a way that encourages healthy plants and future growth.

I want you to experience herbalism beyond simply opening a jar of dried herbs.

I want you to see where those herbs begin.

From the Garden to the Apothecary

Once we've spent time exploring and gathering herbs, we'll head inside to the apothecary to begin working with our harvests.

This is where everything starts coming together.

We'll explore how different herbs lend themselves to different preparations and why understanding the plant is just as important as knowing the recipe.

Some herbs are wonderful when prepared as teas or infusions. Others may be better suited for infused oils, tinctures, or salves, depending on the plant and what we're hoping to prepare.

We'll discuss how to choose appropriate methods, work with fresh versus dried herbs, and properly prepare our ingredients.

Then we'll get to work creating!

You'll have the opportunity to make several herbal preparations, learn the steps behind each method, and understand how to finish, store, and use your creations at home.

We'll also talk about the importance of labeling your preparations, understanding their shelf life, and knowing when an herb or preparation may not be appropriate for everyone.

My goal is for you to leave feeling comfortable enough to continue experimenting with the herbs growing in your own garden.

Building a Living Home Apothecary

One of the beautiful things about a home apothecary is that it doesn't have to look the same throughout the year.

In the spring, we may be gathering tender leaves and early flowers.

By summer, our gardens are often overflowing with medicinal herbs ready to harvest.

As fall approaches, we begin thinking about roots, seeds, and preserving what we've grown for the colder months ahead.

A living apothecary is one that grows and changes with the seasons.

And it doesn't require acres of land or an elaborate garden.

Even a handful of medicinal herbs growing in pots can become the beginning of something wonderful.

During our time together, we'll talk about how to make the most of what you're growing, how to preserve herbs for future use, and how to build a collection of preparations that are practical for your home and family.

I want you to understand that herbalism isn't about having every herb imaginable.

It's about getting to know the plants you have and learning how to work with them well.

This Workshop Is For You If...

You've been growing medicinal herbs but aren't quite sure what to do with them once they're ready to harvest.

Maybe you've started building a home apothecary and want to feel more confident preparing your own herbal remedies.

Or perhaps you're completely new to herbalism and want to experience the entire process, from harvesting a plant to creating something useful with it.

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 hoping to expand your herbal knowledge, this workshop is designed to help you feel more comfortable growing, harvesting, and preparing medicinal herbs.

Come as you are.

Workshop Details

Date: Saturday, June 12th, 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 and harvesting from the medicinal herb gardens before heading inside to the apothecary.

Please come prepared for time in the garden with comfortable, closed-toe shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

Because we'll be working with living plants, the exact herbs we harvest and preparations we create will depend on what is growing and ready to gather at the time of our workshop.

Full workshop details, including the exact location, what to bring, and any additional information 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 herbal preparations and recipes written in a notebook.

I want you to leave understanding the plants a little better, knowing when and how to harvest them, and feeling confident enough to begin creating your own herbal preparations at home.

There is something incredibly rewarding about walking into your garden, gathering a handful of herbs, and knowing exactly what you can do with them.

And that's really what I hope to share with you.

Come spend the day with me here at The Honeystead.

We'll wander through the gardens, harvest medicinal herbs, explore the apothecary, make herbal preparations, and ask plenty of questions along the way.

And hopefully, you'll leave inspired to begin growing your own living apothecary, one plant at a time.

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.