Midwest Herb Fest 2009

Sponsored in part by,
Laughing Lady Bug Botanicals

2010 Midwest Herb Fest 4
August 20-22, Fri. - Sun.
at Our Haven, near Frenchlick, IN

2010 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS & BIOGRAPHIES

KC

CLASS - Herbal Alchemy

This class will lift the shroud from the meanings of such terms as: sulphur, mercury, and salt. We will discuss the basic theories of the ancient herbal alchemists. You'll learn the difference between making crude tinctures and creating alchemical spagyric tinctures. An overview of useful equipment, and the importance of astrology in the laboratory will be included. Please bring writing materials if you wish to take notes. A distillation, calcination, and cohobation, of the herb harvested at last year's Conference is planned during this event.

Presenter: KC, from Gaia Circle

KC first studied Herbal Alchemy at Paracelsus College in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1984. Since then he has endeavored to continuously refine his herbal alchemical artistry. He is a member of the International Alchemy Guild and a teacher at the IAG conference in Las Vegas. He is co-founder of Laughing Lady Bug Botanicals.

Hetty

CLASS - Hands On Botany

In this workshop we will learn how to identify the plant that's in front of you. How do you know it's in the mint family? (square stems). What is a tap root? You mean this plant is pubescent? Basic questions and hands on answers to help identify what's out there.

Presenter: Hetty Mayer-MacDowell

Hetty lives in Lake County, Illinois, where she works her amazing 1/3 acre plot of land, converting it into a mini green oasis. She has worked with plants and herbs since the late 70's. Hetty has taken this knowledge of plants and herbs and combined it with her other passion for volunteering by working as a Master Gardner at the Lake County Extension Office of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also got involved in her daughter's class project of installing a garden and then naturally gravitated from growing plants and herbs on to edible flowers.

When she is not in the garden she works as a massage therapist, wife and mother. Hetty's myspace.

Hetty's 2008 class provided an overview of everyday edible flowers and herbs found in our gardens. Also included were some of her favorite recipes, books and folklore. The class also discussed how to grow, harvest and the safe purchase and use of these edible flowers and herbs.

Cricket

CLASS - Weed Walk

Come be introduced to some of your local plant neighbors. We will share historical medicinal and traditional lore, seasonal harvesting practices, recipe ideas, and cooking techniques, about these vitamin-filled wild ones.

Presenter: Cricket, from Gaia Circle

Teri Heinichen Owens, RN, began her training as a critical care nurse in Chicago in 1983. She has studied herbal healing arts since 1995 and has completed her master's-equivalent degree in herbal and Chinese medicine. She has taught a variety of herb classes to all ages at area grammar schools and in the field. She is the founder of Eco Kids, a children's learning program focusing on herbal facts and lore, medicine making and Earth ecology. She is co-founder of Laughing Lady Bug Botanicals.

Mimi

CLASS -
Herbs & Prescription Drug Interactions /
Herbs for Massage

Mimi is an herbal educator whose courses balance traditional reverence with scientific understanding and intuitive awareness. She is the director of The One World Healing Arts Institute in Asheville, NC, the President of the NC Herb Association, and a Professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. Mimi received her Masters of Science degree in Herbal Medicine from the Tai Sophia Institute. She also draws upon her rich Latino background & the Granny healers in her life. Mimi was born and raised in Indiana and as a budding herbalist spent a summer apprenticing with the Amish. More information can be found at: owhai.com.

Presenter: Mimi Hernandez, MS, RH (AHG)

Herb and Prescription Drug Interactions: More than ever, practitioners and consumers should be informed about the compatibilities of herbs with prescription medications and their possible adverse interactions. With some general insights in pharmacology, we can foresee possible interactions and thus take precautions to avoid incompatibilities. Come learn the latest information in this discussion of the most common drug-herb interactions.

Herbs for Massage; Topical Applications of Herbs: Learn about the use of topical herbs to support circulatory stimulation, lymphatic movement, muscle relaxation, nerve restoration, and antiinflammatory pain mediation. Cayenne, Boswellia, Poke, Chamomile, and St. John's Wort will be among the favorite herbs discussed for massage therapists.

Mary

CLASS -
Plant Spirit Journey: Plants and Trees

Some believe plants and trees have a way to connect with people. One needs only to open themselves to the experience. This workshop is a practice in doing just that. After a walk in the woods, we will share our thoughts and feelings, and chat about this grand scheme of communicating.

Presenter: Mary Thomas

Mary is a co-founder to Our Haven Sanctuary LLC. She has a background in Teaching. One of her strongest abilities, is seeing a project through to its finish. Within her 27 years of teaching she was able to experience many new "State of the Arts" techniques. Through experience she learned to apply them to teaching the Young Children and their Families.

Rhiannon

CIRCLES - Opening, Welcoming & Closing:

Facilitated by: Rev. Rhiannon Winslade

Rhiannon Winslade: Rhiannon is a neopagan minister from the north side of Chicago who has been running ritual and leading a community of eclectic magicians for many years. Her magickal lineage includes much self study of varied Paths and formal Initiations into two different orders: one a Hermetic/Pagan hybrid, and the other a strictly old-school Golden Dawn order. (She'd tell you more about it, but it's a second path secret, you know.) Her personal faith is one she describes as "generic tree-huggin' hippie nature based spirituality."

Bill

CLASS - Herbal Mead Workshop

"Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure"
Bill and Ed (Za'El) bring their classes together! Details to follow soon.
Last year Bill taught:
Herbs and alcohol, each has their own subtle combination in drawing out the qualities of each other. Join Bill as he takes some of the herbs harvested during the Weed Walk and turns them into a wonderful elixir to be enjoyed at the Herb Conference in 2010.

Presenter: Bill Schook, from Earth Circle Creations.

Bill is an ordained minister, a Reiki Master/Teacher and a member of the Dinshah Health Society. He has studied holistic health and education since 2001, through the years, Bill has seen the body heal from sickness, disease and ailments. And sometimes, the body needs a nudge in the right direction to remember how to heal. He loves seeing the results of his endeavors in having people leaving him in better condition that when they came to him. Bill uses ear candles, essential oils, stones, herbs, energy work and many other tools to allow the body to heal on its own. Please visit Bill?s Online Store at EarthCircleCreations.com where he sells herbs, herbal tinctures, ear candles and is also a provider of far-infrared Amethyst BioMats and water purification systems.

Za'El

CLASS - Herbal Alchemy in Home Brewing

"Bill & Ed's Excellent Adventure"
Bill and Ed (Za'El) bring their classes together! Details to follow soon.
Last year Ed taught:
How to make mead, the ingredients I use
in the mead I make, and why.
The herbs I add are not necessarily for flavor!

Presenter: Za'El, (Ed) from Dragon Circle

I have been making mead for about 6 yrs and have learned some tips and tricks from some very long-time brewers. I have been working with herbs in one form or another for over 15 yrs. One thing I have learned is the more I learn about herbs, the more I realize there is a lot more to learn. Even the same herbs I have used from the begining are still teaching me new things.

Dr. Marianne

Healthful Alternatives, P.C.
Marianne W. Schaefer, D.D.S.
4801 W. Peterson Avenue
Suite 502
Chicago, IL 60646
773.777.8300

CLASS - Healthcare is Self-care:
Better oral health through understanding.

Essential techniques and methods centered on preventive homecare intended to keep dental visits limited to cleaning only, which include:
·  Oral hygiene techniques- past and present
·  Etiology of disease
·  Oral hygiene instruments
·  Herbal medicinal
·  Target foods
·  Target supplements
·  "the kiss factor" . . .
    . . . including the increase of HPV viral cancer found within the oral cavity

Members should bring their own pens and pads for note taking. Some distribution of written material will likely be available. Members will be asked to be comfortable to do a self examination, which will be highly educational, but can create some discomfort if they find less than acceptable oral conditions. Dental mirrors and dental hygiene items will be distributed. However, I may be limited to fifty - sixty of each item. Participants should bring their hand mirrors.

Presenter: Dr. Marianne W. Schaefer, D.D.S.

Dr. Marianne W. Schaefer is a general dentist who practices in the Chicago land area. Her area of specialty practices includes integrative/holistic medicine as well as forensic medicine. In addition to her B.A., B.S. and D.D.S. she has received certification in her areas of specialty from the Health Sciences Center in San Antonio TX , the Armed Institute of Pathology in Pathesta, the Institute for Natural Resources of California and Gene Rose Master Herbalist of the Bay City area in California. In her spare time she enjoys entertaining friends and follows a Wiccan path.