Cultivating Botanicals - Crafting Natural Medicines and Skincare

Held in the beautiful sensory Victorian Walled Garden - a series that helps you revitalise and boost your health. Explore and learn the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of our native botanicals that are naturally available in the Irish landscape.

Featuring a strong seasonal biophilia experience, we will connect and craft with plants that are vitally present and beneficial for each season. Discover plant allies to support and empower you throughout all seasonal life chapters - to activate and tonify digestion, immunity, lymphatics, emotions and sense of beauty within and all around.

Co-Facilitators for the Series

Support and guidance will be offered by:

- Laura Holly, Founder of SugarLoaf Botanics

- Dr Sinead O’Connor, Head of Horticulture and Sustainability Services, Festina Lente Victorian Walled Gardens and President of the Association of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture Facilitators of Ireland.

Booking Options

• 1. Sign up for the entire series to receive a fully immersive experience
• 2. S elect individual sowing and making cycles as follows:

Sunday July 21 - Make your own herbal body oil and salve - working with plantain and St Johns wort

Sunday 25 August - Make your own summer elderberry elixir and syrup - immunity and inner beauty tonic!

Sunday 22 September - Make your own nettle seed gomasio and pesto condiments

Sunday 20 October - Make your own smudge stick - inspired by mugwort, yarrow, sage and rosemary

Sunday 24 November - Make your own wreath/ garland and restorative herbal bath salts/ teas - invigorated by the warmth and glow of selected dried flowers and herbs from the gardens and wild flowers from the woodlands

Refreshments,creative journaling resources and seasonal take away kits are provided

In each immersive workshops you will receive guidance and experience of the following:

Growing Your Own - medicinal/skin loving herbs – guidance on how to grow your own medicinal plants, with or without a garden- with a take away seed/ pot set to start up your own sow and grow medicinal practice in your apartment balcony or garden

Identifying - native medicinal plants in the hedgerow/fields

Make Your Own - medicinal seasonal products:

a. botanical infusions: infusing plants in oils/vinegar/alcohol to make body oils, oxymels, elixirs and tinctures

b. botanical salves: turning infused oils into salves, ointments and balms

c. botanical edibles: infusions to sip and activate benefits for specific organs in your digestive system e.g. liver, kidneys, stomach

Guided “plant whispering” - foraging techniques and mindful biophilia atunement with seasonal plants (life-giving properties): via mindful walks, body led energetic practice, and journal prompts

Take Aways - your own a. hand made products to boost and revitalize your life and health chapter for an entire nature cycle and b. sown potted medicinal herbs to start up your home grown "medicine cabinet"

For more information please email Heather - [email protected]

Host or Publisher Festina Lente