Herbal Medicine Making Series

Service Description

Over four weeks, we will dive into a wide range of herbal preparations that you can make at home. Beginning just as the first herbs of spring are ready to harvest, learn skills that you can use as the seasons progress, year-after-year, and be well on your way to having a stocked home apothecary by summer. This series is an excellent starting place for beginners and a great way to grow your skills as someone already working with herbs. Each session will include detailed instructions on a variety of preparations, demonstrations, hands-on crafting time with remedies to take home, materia medica - specific instructions and uses for common herbs, Q & A time, and an informational handout including methods, recipes, and resources. All supplies are included in the registration fee, along with hot tea, a light snack, and samples relating to the weekly topic. Classes will be at Bearfoot Botanicals Herb Shop in Hood River, OR. Pre-registration required. Session 1: Dried Herbs, Teas, and Syrups Wed. March 11, 2026 - 5-8PM +Best methods for harvesting, drying, and storing herbs for maximum potency and longevity +Which herbs and constituents are best extracted in water +Different methods for making water extracts and when to use them (tea, decoction, syrup) +When it is best to use water preparations Make: +Mineral-rich tea blend - perfect for spring nourishment +Lung and throat syrup - helpful for respiratory infections and smoke irritation during fire season Session 2: Tinctures and Glycerites Wed. March 25, 2026 - 5-8PM +What is a tincture and when is it best to use them +Which plants and constituents extract best in alcohol +Measuring strategies for potent tinctures +Alcohol-free tinctures/glycerites +Dual extraction process for medicinal mushrooms/lichens +How to take tinctures for maximum benefit Make: +2 tinctures TBA - 1 dry herb, 1 fresh herb +1 glycerite - alcohol-free Session 3: Vinegar Infusions Wed. April 15th, 2026 - 5-8PM +Benefits of using vinegar in herbal remedies +What plants and constituents extract well in vinegar +Different types of vinegar extracts and how to use them +Tips for making different types of vinegar preparations (infused vinegar, oxymel, shrub, and more) Make: +TBA herb-infused vinegar +Fire Cider +Fruit & Herb Shrub Session 4: Infused Oils & Salves Wed. April 29, 2026 - 5-8PM +How to make an infused oil with fresh and dry herbs +Storage and shelf life +Salve making Make: +2 infused oil - TBA - 1 fresh, 1 dry +1 Salve TBA