No in-person events are scheduled this year.

Watch video recordings of some of our past presentations below!

CREATING A SANCTUARY OF AT-RISK HERBS

With Penny Beaudrow, founder of The Ginkgo Tree.

As herbal medicine move into mainstream and the demand for wild medicinal herbs soars, we are putting unprecedented strain on our supply of these plants. This, along with habitat destruction, is causing shortages of some of our most treasured medicinal species. In Ontario, for example, ginseng and goldenseal have virtually disappeared from our forests. To help in the fight to protect these herbs, Penny created a medicinal plant sanctuary on her farm as part of a network of sanctuaries fostered by United Plant Savers. Penny shows how you too can join the fight by growing threatened and endangered herbs in your own personal sanctuary – at home or on your farm. (March 8, 2020) View the Recorded Presentation (Download the handout, Download the United Plant Savers magazine)

HERBAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES AND ANALGESICS

With Tiffany Wyse, naturopath and registered herbalist at Viriditas Herbal Products.

Overreliance on common over-the-counter drugs to control chronic pain and inflammation can cause serious health effects over time. For example, acetaminophen can cause liver damage and ibuprofen can cause heart attacks and stroke. Herbs offer another option, and more and more people are choosing them as they learn more what harm drugs are doing to them. Tiffany shared her homecare advice on using herbs and diet to relieve aches, pains and inflammatory conditions. (March 1, 2020) View the Recorded Presentation (Download the handout)

HEALING SALVES

With Diane Tait, Registered Herbalist and Owner of Greenwood Botanicals

Salves, ointments and balms help soothe scrapes, burns, itches, stings, bruises, etc. Diane Tait discusses how to make these healing salves using herbs from the garden. She covers what oils to use and how to use beeswax to turn the oils into salves. Diane is a registered herbalist operating a practice on her farm in Pickering, Ontario, under the banner of Greenwood Botanicals. She teaches a beginner course in herbal remedies, a hands on seven day course taught on her farm. She studied at Dominion Herbal College and is a professional member of the Ontario Herbalists Association. (March 5, 2017)
View the Recorded Presentation

WOMEN, HERBS, AND HEALTH

With Herbalist Carmen Lynde of Vervain Skincare Products

Women have been using herbs as food and medicine since the dawn of time. One of the very first documented female healers and teachers was Trotula of Solerno, Italy who treated women’s gynecological health issues in the 11th century. She was an early advocate of a healthy diet, regular exercise and stress reduction in order to achieve optimal health. Today, plant medicine and a plant-based diet can be used to promote fertility, balance hormones naturally while providing nourishment and vitality. Carmen covers common issues including infertility, urinary tract infections, hormone imbalance, uterine fibroids and much more. Herbs such as vervain, agrimony, holy basil, and motherwort are a few of the herbs that can be used for health. Learn how to grow your own medicine and how to apply to it your health. Carmen Lynde graduated as Medical Herbalist upon completion of a five-year clinical program at Dominion Herbal College, an affiliate of the School of Phytotherapy in the United Kingdom. Carmen is a professional member of the Ontario Herbalist Association. Besides running a busy practice, Carmen is creator of Vervain, an organic plant-based skincare line made by hand in small batches. She also serves as Richters online medical herbs expert and teaches various workshops throughout the City of Toronto. (April 17, 2016))
View the Recorded Presentation

POTAGER GARDENING

With Marjorie Mason, Author, and Garden Expert

Potager is a French term for an ornamental kitchen garden that goes back to the French Renaissance and the Baroque. Flowers, both edible and not, and herbs are cleverly planted among the vegetable plants. The result is an edible garden that is as decorative as it is delicious! Learn the best plants to use, and how to create a garden for beauty and food. Marjorie Mason is an expert gardener who enjoys sharing her ideas with others. In 1987 she founded a retail plant centre and display garden south of Uxbridge which is known as Mason House Gardens. Marjorie is host of Let’s Get Growing on CKDO radio in Oshawa, Ontario. Marjorie is a much in demand speaker on annuals. Author of Amazing Annuals and is a frequent contributor to home and garden magazines such as Canadian Living, Canadian Gardening, Harrowsmith, Canadian Wildlife Federation and Landscape Ontario. (April 10, 2016)
View the Recorded Presentation (Download the Handout)

SEABUCKTHORN – AN ANCIENT PLANT REDISCOVERED

With Andrew Wingrove of Bee By The Sea Natural Products

Prized for centuries in both Asia and Europe for its highly nutritious and medicinal properties, seabuckthorn is growing in popularity throughout North America. Seabuckthorn combats dry skin, fades age spots, and helps prevent and treat wrinkles. Many call the orange berries a "superfood." This adaptable fruit is now grown all over the world including Canada. Andrew discusses the history, uses, nutritional value, and health benefits of this amazing plant. Andrew Wingrove founded Bee By The Sea in 2008 in Barrie, Ontario with the launch of his first seabuckthorn product. He makes the majority of products to ensure quality and regularly promotes them at numerous trade shows and events across Canada and the US. (April 3, 2016))
View the Recorded Presentation

FOREST GARDENING IN AN URBAN SETTING

With Travis Philp of River City Farms

Learn how to bring a little of the forest to the city and grow yourself an abundance of food, fuel, fibre, and farm-aceuticals. By creating a forest garden in your own backyard and using the structure and layers of a natural forest, you can combine a vegetable plot with a herb garden, a textile plantation, an orchard, and timber stand, all in one glorious space! Travis outlines what a forest garden is, why it is beneficial, how to make one, and show examples of existing urban forest gardens. Travis Philp is an accredited environmental and ecosystems management technician,  a partner of an intentional community outside of Lindsay, Ontario called Greenshire Eco Farms, and owner and operator of River City Farms, which produces vegetables, herbs, and fruit in both urban and rural forest gardens in Peterborough County. (March 20, 2016)
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HOW TO PLAN AND PLANT YOUR HERB GARDEN

With Koidu Sulev of Richters Herbs

Adding herbs in your garden space can be both soothing and inspiring. Richters’ herb expert, Koidu Sulev, shows you how to make a beautiful garden a reality. Whatever your level of gardening expertise, Koidu covers such topics as site preparation and soil conditions, planting techniques, and plant maintenance, with a focus on the popular culinary, medicinal and aromatic herbs. Koidu grew up in Sweden where her interest in herbs started when she was a young child. She studied pharmaceutical training at the Royal Pharmaceutical Institute in Stockholm, where she gained extensive knowledge of the use of herbs for medical preparations. Koidu has been featured in newspapers, on the radio and TV. She tends her large garden north of Uxbridge, Ontario where she grows many common and not so common herbs and plants. (March 13, 2016)
View the Recorded Presentation

HOT HERBS FOR YOUR PERENNIAL GARDEN

With Jeff Mason of Mason House Gardens

Echinacea, bee balm, lavender, nepetella and sage are just some of the attractive herbs you can grow in a perennial garden – as much for their beauty as for their usefulness as herbs. Horticulturist Jeff Mason discusses these and many more hot herbs, and how to design and plant the garden of your dreams with perennial herbs. Jeff is a speaker and writer on a wide range of gardening and horticultural topics. He operates Mason House Gardens, an independent garden centre near Uxbridge, Ontario, specializing in hardy perennials and xeriscaping plants. (March 6, 2016)
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BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH HERBS

With John Redden of Viriditas Herbal Products

Herbalist John Redden explores the modern conception of the immune system.  He discusses the intricate web of relationships between the immune system with our endocrine system, nervous system, our mental and emotional state and our diet. Simple home herbal remedies as well as complex compound formulas are presented to help navigate effectively the flu season, Lymes, West Nile, and a host of other infections.  Prevention and treatments are also discussed. John Redden was a highly respected Medical Herbalist with over thirty years of experience growing and wild crafting herbs in addition to manufacturing herbal medicines. He was an active member of the Ontario Herbalists Association (OHA), and co-founded the A Celebration of Herbs annual festival that ran for many years in Toronto. He also served as the editor of The Canadian Journal of Herbalism. His studies in the U.S., Scotland, and Canada culminated in the founding of Viriditas Herbal Products. (February 28, 2016)
View the Recorded Presentation (Download the Handout)