SUMMER/FALL 2025–Beverly Farmers Market–3 FREE Demos
with Iris Weaver and Ania Gruca

At the Beverly, MA, Farmers Market at Veterans Memorial Park downtown, across from the train station.

Oxymels: Tasty Food and Medicine! Oxymels are a mix of vinegar and honey infused with herbs. They are easy to make, infinitely variable, and can be used for medicine, to make delicious drinks, as salad dressings, and more. See a demo of how easy it is to make an oxymel, using honey and herbs from the Beverly Farmers Market. You’ll be inspired to make your own for personal use and as holiday gifts! August 11, 6:00 PM

Making a Ginger Tincture, and Making Ginger Tea Ginger is a warming, spicy herb that not only enhances cooked and baked dishes, but also provides tasty medicine, helping digestion, and
colds and flus. Learn how to make a ginger tincture to have on hand anytime, and
how to make fresh ginger tea. The demo will be featuring locally-grown ginger from Living Soil Gardens! Sept. 8, 6:00 PM

Fire Cider Vinegar Fire cider vinegar is a really popular, inexpensive, and delicious way to help prevent or treat colds and flus. You can easily make your own with herbs and ingredients from the farmers market, plus a few from the grocery store. We will demo and explain how to make fire cider vinegar and offer a couple of different recipes for making your own, as well as ways to customize your fire cider. It’s never too early to get ahead of the cold and flu season! Oct. 6, 6:00 PM

SUMMER INTO FALL 2025–Walks, Classes, and Workshops

Foraging for Food, Medicine, Connection with Local Plants
Forage local plants safely and sustainably! While walking around the Food Project Farm we’ll meet wild weeds and cultivated plants, learning their uses for food and/or medicine. Foraging is an ancient tradition that brings you into close, intimate connection with the foods you eat and every day plant medicine. We will discuss uses, resources, safety, identification, and methods of harvest and preparation. If you are interested in ways to take better care of your health naturally and sustainably, this is a walk you won’t want to miss! Bring a notebook, camera/phone, and a friend. A handout with some recipes is included. $35.00
Saturday, July 26, 3:00 to 4:30 PM
Sunday, August 17, 3:00-4:30 PM
Location: The Food Project at Reynolds Farm, 78 Larch Row, Wenham, MA 01984 (turn in at the Food Project sign). To register, click here.

Herbal Sipping Vinegars and Shrubs to Cool Your Thirst
Herbal sipping vinegars and shrubs and have been used for thirst-quenching, tasty drinks for centuries. While shrubs are fruit and vegetable-based, sweetened with sugar or honey, the addition of herbs adds to their flavor and health-enhancing benefits. Vinegar-based drinks are marvelous for thirsty adults and kids, and easy to make. Learn about making your own shrubs and herbal vinegars you can use for mocktails, cocktails, mixed drinks, vinegarade, and more! We will learn about herbs, ingredients, and how to make them, and you will go home with 2 oz. of a delicious shrub to strain out at home! Handout and recipes included.  $40.00
Sunday Aug. 24  1:00-3:30 PM
Milky Way Apothecary, 31 Lexington Ave., Magnolia, MA. To register, click here.

Preserving the Herbal Bounty—Drying, Mixes, Vinegars, Syrups, and More
You’ve grown a few, or a lot of herbs, or you couldn’t resist them at the farmer’s market. But what do you DO with them so that they last a while and are usable for cooking and/or health care? This workshop will cover some easy methods of drying, storing, and preserving your herbs and some of the things you can make with them: flavorful herb mixes, infused vinegars, syrups, flavored sugars and salts. All excellent for home use or to give as gifts. We will make an infused vinegar in class; you will take home your own small bottle that you strain out at home. Instructions and handouts included. $35.00
Thurs. Aug. 28  6:30-8:00 PM    Saturday, Sept. 27 10:00-11:30  AM
Milky Way Apothecary, 31 Lexington Ave., Magnolia, MA. To register, click here.

Make a Small Fall Wreath with Local Plants and Other Materials
Make a beautiful wreath for fall into winter that you can hang on your door or use as a centerpiece on your table (a small hanger on the back lets you do either!). Using foraged dried plant stalks, pine cones, nuts, acorns and more, you’ll create a unique 6” to 8” wreath. This wreath is a lovely way to bring the energy of the season into your home. Bring a glue gun (preferably one with a trigger), plenty of glue sticks, and a box to carry home your creation. All other materials are provided. This is a fun, creative way to connect with the plant energies of the season and bring them into your living space! $50.00
Saturday Oct. 18
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Milky Way Apothecary, 31 Lexington Ave., Magnolia, MA. To register, click here.

Urban Foraging Ramble at Herbstalk
I’ll be leading a plant walk in Somerville around/near the Armory at Herbstalk the weekend of June 7 and 8. It will be Saturday, June 7 at 2:00. Here is the website: Herbstalk. All regular classes and walks are included n the price of the event. I can’t wait!
Saturday, June 7, 2:00 PM

NORTH SHORE HERBAL NETWORK PLANT STUDY GROUP:
June 9, 2025 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Join our Herbal Study Group to learn about herbs and connect with other people who love the plants!
This month we are meeting and learning about serviceberry (Amelanchier species) and rose. Two wonderfully useful and delightful plants that are in the same plant family.

Bimonthly/Seasonal meetings include:
MEDITATION // SHAMANIC JOURNEYING
DISCUSSION // BOOK LEARNING
TEAS // TINCTURES // OILS // FLOWER ESSENCES
HANDS-ON MEDICINE MAKING + CRAFTS
*ALL LEVELS WELCOME*
MONDAY April 7, 2025 7:00 to 8:30PM
$15 (SLIDING SCALE available) Registration required
Downtown Beverly, MA  (address sent on registration)
To register, email Iris Weaver info@irisweaver.com or call 617-773-5809
(if you are running late, please call)

Growing Culinary Herbs in Your Garden
Most culinary herbs are easy and inexpensive to grow in your garden or in pots. They taste so much better than anything from the store! And using freshly dried herbs in winter is a revelation. Learn about 10 herbs to grow in your garden, or in pots—how to grow them, when and how to harvest, and how to dry them. Leave feeling confident about your ability to grow your favorite herbs. Handout included. $30
Wednesday, June 25, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Beverly Recreation, Camp Paradise, 44 Cole St., Beverly, MA 01915$30
For more info, click here

Foraging for Food, Medicine, Connection with Local Plants
Forage local plants safely and sustainably! While walking at Camp Paradise we’ll meet a variety of plants, learning their uses for food and/or medicine. Foraging is an ancient tradition that brings you into close, intimate connection with the foods you eat and every day plant medicine. We will discuss uses, resources, safety, identification, and methods of harvest and preparation. If you are interested in ways to take better care of your health naturally and sustainably, this is a walk you won’t want to miss! Bring a notebook, camera/phone, and a friend. A handout with some recipes is included. $30
Saturday, July 12, 10:00 to 11:30 AM
Location: Beverly Recreation, Camp Paradise, 44 Cole St., Beverly, MA 01915
For more info, click here

Spring to Summer 2025–Walks, Classes, and Workshops

Make Your Own Herbal Tea Blend!
Making an herbal tea for yourself can be both fun and intimidating! What herbs and how much to use? We’ll help demystify the process and teach you how to come up with a delicious, healthful blend that is to your taste! Learn about 10 herbs for teas and guidelines for blending, as well as the health benefits of each of them. We will make and sip a blend in class. You will go home with a small bag (up to an ounce) of a blend you have made for yourself, a handout with information, and the confidence to keep doing this for yourself, your family, and friends.
Saturday, March 29, 2025 1:00-2:30 PM
$50.00
Location: Milky Way Apothecary/Lucky 7s, 31 Lexington Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930
To register, click here

NORTH SHORE HERBAL NETWORK PLANT STUDY GROUP:
April 7, 2025
Join our Herbal Study Group to learn about herbs and connect with other people who love the plants! This month we are studying 2 spring ephemerals in the mint family–dead nettle (find out why it’s called that!) and henbit.

Bimonthly/Seasonal meetings include:
MEDITATION // SHAMANIC JOURNEYING
DISCUSSION // BOOK LEARNING
TEAS // TINCTURES // OILS // FLOWER ESSENCES
HANDS-ON MEDICINE MAKING + CRAFTS
*ALL LEVELS WELCOME*
MONDAY April 7, 2025 7:00 to 8:30PM
$10-$15 (SLIDING SCALE) Registration required
Downtown Beverly, MA  (address sent on registration)
To register, email Iris Weaver info@irisweaver.com or call 617-773-5809

Spring Foraging: Roots, Shoots, and Blooms
Springtime bursts with delicious, nutritious roots, shoots, and blossoms of weeds that are easy to forage! There are ephemeral plants that only come out now—henbit and dead nettle/lamium among them—and this is when dandelion shines! Come learn about foraging while walking in the fields of the Reynolds Farm in Wenham, home of several organic farms. There we’ll meet wild weeds and cultivated plants, learning their uses for food and/or medicine. Foraging is an ancient tradition that brings you into close, intimate connection with the foods you eat and every day plant medicine. We will discuss resources, safety, identification, and methods of harvest and preparation. If you are interested in ways to take better care of your health naturally and sustainably, this is a walk you won’t want to miss! Bring a notebook, camera/phone, and a friend. A handout with some recipes is included.
Saturday, April 12, 2:00 to 3:30 PM   Sunday, April 27, 2:00 to 3:30 PM
$35
Location: Food Project Farm 78 Larch Row, Wenham, MA 01984
To register for either of these dates, click here

Make a Luscious Lotion for Your Mom, You, or a Friend
Nothing beats the feel of a creamy lotion on your skin, and you can make one that not only feels good but is good for your skin and leaves out the harmful chemicals! Herbs, plant-based oils, and a couple other ingredients are the basis for an easy herbal lotion. Not only are lotions great for moisturizing skin from head to toe, but they are also good to use for applying insect repellants, sun-burn care, and treating other skin issues. Come learn about making the herbally-infused oils that are used in herbal lotions, herbs for your skin, and how to make a simple herbal lotion that you can adapt to what you or a loved one needs. You’ll take home a small jar that you have scented with your choice of essential oils, or leave it plain with a slight rose scent. A comprehensive handout is included, so you can make your own lotions at home. All materials included.
Sunday, May 4, 1:00 to 2:30 PM
$45.00
East Regiment Beer Company, 30 Church St., Salem, MA 01970
To register, click here

Fall 2024

Salve Making Workshop

Bring the energy of the season into your home or onto your door with our Fall Wreath Workshop, partnered with bioregional herbalist and foraging instructor, Iris Weaver. In this hands-on workshop, create a 8” to 12” unique wreath using foraged dried plant stalks, pine cones, nuts, acorns, and more! Bring a glue gun (preferably one with a trigger), plenty of glue sticks, and a box to carry home your creation All other materials will be provided.

Sunday, November 10 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM
$32.00/TToR members, $40.00/nonmembers
Location: Education Building, Long Hill, 576 Essex St, Beverly, MA 01915
To register: https://thetrustees.org/event/423498/

Summer 2024

Foraging for Food, Medicine, Connection with Local Plants
Come learn about foraging while walking in the fields of the Wenham Food Project Farm. There we’ll meet wild weeds and cultivated plants, learning their uses for food and/or medicine. Foraging is an ancient tradition that brings you into close, intimate connection with the foods you eat and every day plant medicine. We will discuss resources, safety, identification, and methods of harvest and preparation. If you are interested in ways to take better care of your health naturally and sustainably, this is a walk you won’t want to miss! Bring a notebook, camera/phone, and a friend. A handout with some recipes is included.

Thursday, July 18 and Thursday, August 29   6:00 to 7:30 PM
Sunday, July 28 1:00 to 2:30 PM   Saturday, August 17 1:00 to 2:30 PM
$35
Location: Food Project Farm 78 Larch Row, Wenham, MA 01984
To register for any of these dates: https://www.hoamsy.com/experiences/detail/GBcRl8dpfiZ9WxxxMno4

Farmers Market Pestos
Pesto simply means “paste” and delicious pestos can be made many different ways—with various herbs and vegetables, with or without cheese, and with or without nuts. See a demo of a pesto made with herbs and veggies available at the Beverly Farmers Market, and get some ideas for making your own flavorful pestos that never get boring, in this informative 15-minute presentation by Ania Gruca and Iris Weaver.
FREE Monday, July 22, at 6:00 PM.

Ania Gruca is a local herbalist who grows her own herbs and draws on her cultural ancestry to inform her work.
Iris Weaver is a local herbalist and foraging instructor who has been eating the weeds her whole life.

 

Herbal Shrubs and Vinegars to Cool Your Thirst
Herbal shrubs and vinegars have been used for thirst-quenching, tasty drinks for centuries. While shrubs are fruit and vegetable-based, the addition of herbs adds to their flavor and health-enhancing benefits. Vinegar-based drinks are marvelous for thirsty adults and kids, and easy to make. Learn about making your own shrubs and herbal vinegars you can use for mocktails, cocktails, mixed drinks, vinegarade, and more! We will learn about herbs, ingredients, and methods, and you will go home with 4 oz. of a delicious shrub! Handout and recipes included.

Saturday, July 27, 1:00 to 2:30 PM
$40.00
East Regiment Beer Company, 30 Church St., Salem, MA 01970
To register: https://www.hoamsy.com/experiences/detail/JVSb6O9ba0SdTjeWsE7L

Preserve Your Herbs—Drying, Vinegars, Syrups, and More
It’s summer and you have all these great herbs from your garden or the farmers market. What do you do with them? How do you keep them vibrant and tasty and ready to use throughout the coming holidays and winter? Learn how to properly dry herbs, and what you can make with them that will enhance your cooking or make great gifts. We will discuss herbal teas, vinegars, syrups, herb blends, infused honeys, and more. Handout and recipes included.

Wednesday, August 14 7:00 to 8:00
$20.00
East Regiment Beer Company, 30 Church St., Salem, MA 01970

Useful Plants of Pioneer Village – Food, Medicine, and More
An amazing number of the plants at Pioneer Village are nutritious food, or good medicine, and/or useful in other ways. Some are native and were already here when the settlers came, others were introduced. During this walk you will learn about these wonderful plants and some of their uses, whether they are wild and weedy or cultivated and tame. Appreciating the useful plants around us helps us to treat plants and the environment with care and respect, so they are here for future generations.
Meet at the wooden footbridge to Pioneer Village.

Sunday, September 29, 2024 2:00 to 3:00 PM
FREE! Reservation required
https://trailsandsails.org/events/useful-plants-of-pioneer-village-food-medicine-and-more-2/
Pioneer Village,  98 West Avenue, Salem, MA 01970

NORTH SHORE HERBAL NETWORK PLANT STUDY GROUP:
EARLY FALL
Join our Herbal Study Group to learn about herbs and connect with other people who love the plants!
This month we are studying liver-supporting roots: ginger, burdock, and dandelion.

Bimonthly/Seasonal meetings include:
MEDITATION // SHAMANIC JOURNEYING
DISCUSSION // BOOK LEARNING
TEAS // TINCTURES // OILS // FLOWER ESSENCES
HANDS-ON MEDICINE MAKING + CRAFTS

*ALL LEVELS WELCOME*

MONDAY September 30, 2024 7:00 to 8:30PM
$5-10 (SLIDING SCALE) Registration required
Downtown Beverly, MA  (address sent on registration)

To register, email Iris Weaver info@irisweaver.com