All About Tree Care: Tree Tending 101 & Making Tree Medicine

On Saturday, May 30th Wild Potomac is joined by herbalist Emma Taylor from and arborist David Yake to lead a workshop about how we can tend to the trees around us, and be tended to by them ourselves.

In this hands-on workshop we will be working with a small section of trees in Cumberland, learning how to assess their health and what is needed to best support their growth. Participants will learn the foundations of tree care and be able to apply those skills to supporting the growth of young trees.

After we do some tending to the trees, we will share herbal tea brewed by Emma who will then be teaching us about common medicinal and historical uses of tree medicine, the most effective preparations, best times to harvest, and more. Emma is even creating a tree medicine zine that you'll be able to take home with you afterwards!

Join this workshop to learn how to assess tree health, perform tree care on small trees, and make medicines from certain species. All ages are welcome. Instructions, tools and samples of tree teas will be provided. We hope to see you there!

About Emma Taylor

Emma Taylor is a community herbalist based in Bull Run, WV. She is the founder of High Bridge Herbs, a mutual aid herbal project and apothecary that directs all proceeds toward providing free herbal products to West Virginians with limited access to care. She is passionate about reconnecting Appalachians with their traditional folk medicineways and exploring how these practices can support our modern challenges. Emma is a 2024 graduate of the Terra Sylva School of Botanical Medicine and a current clinical student at the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine.

About David Yake

David Yake (he/they) has been in the tree care industry in Appalachia for the last ten years. Their love of trees began as a child on a farm in Pennsylvania and transitioned to caring for trees in Pittsburgh before moving to the mountains of West Virginia. They currently operate a tree care company in West Virginia and steward the forest around them. David is passionate about getting folks to enjoy and care for the trees around them.

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This is one of a series of events Wild Potomac is organizing this year in Cumberland - all dedicated to learning about, planting, caring for, and harvesting food from native trees and shrubs!

Join these events to get more connected to your local ecosystem and share widely with anyone who may want to come, of any age! All events are free and will have snacks and tools provided.

Stay tuned for the next events on Facebook and Eventbrite.

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Department of Agriculture – Forestry Service under assistance agreement 23-DG-11094200-379 to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Chesapeake Bay Trust

Maryland Forest Service

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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