Gradey Proctor, through his Medicine Garden, is offering this series as a hands-on, deep dive into understanding and tending place during the winter months. Participants will learn the secrets to identifying plants throughout the year and recognizing ecological features that tell the narrative of place. With these basics in mind, students will engage in activities together to tend the landscape while also creating and gathering food and medicine. We will see that we can provide for our needs while also improving the landscape around us!
Class will be held at the beautiful Mahonia Land Trust just outside Oregon City, with carpools available from Portland. Folks will take home a bounty of what the land has to offer: medicinal preparations, a mushroom log, plant starts, and the know-how to better serve the landscape around us. At lunch, a dish using plants grown on the land trust will be shared with participants.
What students will learn:
Winter twig ID
Understanding the ecology of a place
Finding microclimates and planting native plants in ideal spots for them to thrive
Winter tree pruning basics
How to safely fell a tree
Planting mushrooms into a landscape for food and habitat
Harvesting winter plant medicine
Botany of the flower
How to harvest late winter/early spring edibles
Making herbal preparations
Discussing herbal medicine for the winter months
Class will meet on four Saturdays from 10am to 4pm:
January 25th, February 8th, February 22nd and March 15th.
Class will mostly be held outdoors, with an indoor space for lunch. Participants should be ready for a hands-on day outside in winter weather. Class will be taught by Gradey Proctor, with guest instructors Missy Rohs and Mark Bassik.
Class cost: $650, including materials. Early bird discount: $575 if registered and paid by December 15th. Register directly through the Medicine Garden.