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Want to know more about growing and using herbs?
In 2010, Christina will be tutoring a series of workshops on various aspects of herb cultivation, and modern and historical uses of herbs. For further details or to book a place, telephone 01249 821087 or email
  
Sowing the Seeds of Good Health   Thursday 25th March
Tutor: Christina Stapley BSc Phyt MCPP     Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Venue: Calne, Wilts   Cost: £30 (Lunch not included)
The day will be about planning a source of fresh herbs for your harvest to suit your lifestyle. Discover herbs for salads and teas, from growing in windowsill pots to sowing and planting a small herb garden to delight you all year round. We will be looking at tasty seeds to eat and trying new recipes. There will be a special emphasis on herbs offering useful herb seeds; this includes how to gain the most from them in food and home medicine. Fennel, sunflower, pumpkin, aniseed, milk thistle and more plus a planting plan for the 12 most helpful herbs for your garden and information on their uses.
     
Georgian Herbs in Peace and War   Saturday 29th May
Venue: 23 Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset   Time: 10.15 am - 4.15 pm
Tutor Christina Stapley BSc Phyt MCPP  &
Ruth Mannion-Daniels BSc Hons Biol, BSc Phyt MNIMH
  Cost: £40
(Lunch not included but may be taken in nearby Assembly Rooms)
Within the Georgian period 1714-1830 great changes took place, yet herbs were used to save lives throughout that time in very different circumstances. The herbal secrets of the ladies’ stillroom medicines, cosmetics and preserves in the early years will be opened in the perfect setting.
Ruth, a specialist in the work of naval surgeons at the end of the period, will reveal which herbs were essential to the work of naval surgeons at the Battle of Trafalgar as they worked to try to save limbs and lives.
An understanding of the treatments will be given alongside practical experience making authentic recipes from household books and herbals. A fragrant day is promised with distilled aromatic waters, herb sugars, dried herbs and gum resins amongst the ingredients of recipes for everyday problems and serious illnesses alike
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A Medicine Chest from Garden and Hedgerow   Saturday 28th August
Tutor Christina Stapley BSc Phyt MCPP     10 am - 4 pm
Venue: Calne, Wilts   Cost: £30 (Lunch not included)
Beginning by thinking about looking after your herbs as autumn approaches, we then explore the most useful first-aid herbs to grow or be aware of when on country walks. These include treatments for bites and stings, sunburn, sprains, stomach upsets, stress etc. There will be experience in making herbal oils, teas, herbal syrup, poultices and compresses.
You will learn about commonly grown herbs and their uses for everyday problems, their preparation, dosage and contraindications. Rules for safe home medicine will be given alongside some hands on experience. Fruits and berries feature, contrasting with soothing leaves such as houseleek and ribwort plantain. From peppermint to Calendula there will be plenty of interest.
       
How Well Are You Aging?
A series of workshops intended to inform in a fun way with a mix of facts, recipes and activities - both gently physical and mental. The workshops are suitable for anyone over 30 years of age. The sooner you begin understanding and looking after your body the better; however, there are always helpful changes you can make . . .
The workshops all take place in Calne, and can be booked singly or as a block. Each session is complete in itself yet forms part of the whole understanding. For further details of the workshops, click on the title below
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1. Brain & Nerves Wednesday April 28th
2. Heart & Circulation Wednesday 26th May
3. Digestion & Breathing Wednesday June 23rd
4. Kidneys, Skin & Hair Tuesday 21st September
5. Immune System Tuesday 19th October
6. Muscles and Joints Tuesday 9th November
     
Meeting Herb Families 1: Primulaceae and Rubiaceae   Saturday 20th March
Venue: 23 Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset   Time: 10.15 am - 4.15 pm
Tutor Christina Stapley BSc Phyt MCPP  &
Ruth Mannion-Daniels BSc Hons Biol, BSc Phyt MNIMH
  Cost: £40
(Lunch not included but may be taken in nearby Assembly Rooms))

In addition to learning about the familiar and less well-known members of these two interesting families of plants, this workshop offers the opportunity to take home the skill of making your own herbarium. Learn about making a record of pressed plant specimens to which you can refer for certain identification of the herbs around you.
Although containing many species, the Primulaceae family includes just a few herbs, the most familiar and commonly used over the centuries being primroses and cowslips. Cyclamen, yellow and scarlet pimpernels and moneywort belong with them and have seen a much greater familiarity and use in the past.
This family is teamed with Rubiaceae for a double introduction to noting botanical similarities and differences. This will prove useful when meeting other larger herb groups in later sessions. The few herbs in Rubiaceae are remarkably wide ranging in their effects, uses and importance. This includes herbs to treat the lymphatic system, as well as those used in cookery and dyes for wool and silk. Alongside the home hedgerow bedstraws we discover coffee and ipecacuanha.
Recipes and activities on the day will include herbal wines, teas, candied flowers, syrups, dyeing silk and leaf printing. 
     
Meeting Herb Families 2: Labiatae Family   Saturday 24th July
Venue: 23 Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset   Time: 10.15 am - 4.15 pm
Tutor Christina Stapley BSc Phyt MCPP  &
Ruth Mannion-Daniels BSc Hons Biol, BSc Phyt MNIMH
  Cost: £40
(Lunch not included but may be taken in nearby Assembly Rooms)
The day begins with a brief look at the botany of this important family containing mints, thyme, rosemary, sage, betony and many other useful herbs. Many, but not all the herbs looked at are Mediterranean in origin and we compare these with our own native family members. From combating infections to aiding digestion, and memory we can take care of our whole body with Labiatae herbs. A very practical, “hands-on” opportunity will follow, getting to know the herbs and their properties. We will be making fragrant recipes, including an aromatic water, and make blends for teas, a cream and washes to suit holiday needs. These will include those both to protect against and to treat insect bites, while others combat infections and aid digestion of unfamiliar food.
     
Meeting Herb Families 3: Umbelliferae   Saturday 18th September
Venue: 23 Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset   Time: 10.15 am - 4.15 pm
Tutor Christina Stapley BSc Phyt MCPP  &
Ruth Mannion-Daniels BSc Hons Biol, BSc Phyt MNIMH
  Cost: £40
(Lunch not included but may be taken in nearby Assembly Rooms)

A day spent getting to know this important group of plants. You will learn how to identify which herbs are family members and what they have to offer in health support and treatments, both chronic and acute, for your own family. Herbal medicine for the very young to the very old will be covered. Enjoy practical experience of making recipes such as teas, syrups, aromatic waters, ointments etc. The family of Umbelliferae includes some of the most useful herbs such as the Fennel, Anise, sweet Cicely, Angelica and many more. It is an important family to know for it also contains poisonous members such as hemlock. Learn to distinguish friendly from the dangerous.

     
Meeting Herb Families 4: Rosaceae Family   Saturday 9th October
Venue: 23 Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset   Time: 10.15 am - 4.15 pm
Tutor Christina Stapley BSc Phyt MCPP  &
Ruth Mannion-Daniels BSc Hons Biol, BSc Phyt MNIMH
  Cost: £40
(Lunch not included but may be taken in nearby Assembly Rooms)
An introduction to the botany of this family reveals the often little-known relationship of the rose with so many familiar fruits, such as raspberry, blackberry, plum and quince. Equally unsuspected may be the inclusion of lady’s mantle, salad burnet and meadowsweet. A practical day with many delicious recipes.
The glories of the Apothecary’s rose may have passed with the summer, but the rose will still be very much present in dried form, preserves and delicious aromatic water. Other members of the Rose family are at their best providing fruits and berries for our winter health – sloes, crab apples, rowan berries, hips and haws are very much part of our traditional autumn harvest. A harvest to fill winter store-cupboards with remedies and treats. We also look at harvesting roots with the meadowsweet, as well as making health-giving teas with agrimony, raspberry leaf, rosehip and hawthorn..
     
Herbal Christmas Gifts and Decorations   Saturday 12th December
Venue: 23 Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset   Time: 10.15 am - 4.15 pm
Tutor Christina Stapley BSc Phyt MCPP   Cost: £30 + cost of materials (Lunch not included but may be taken in nearby Assembly Rooms)
Seven items to make. Complete up to five on a day filled with fragrance, colour and the spice of Christmas in a Georgian house. Choose from
1. A cinnamon sled with sacks of frankincense, myrrh and spices, pulled by reindeer.
2. A leaf printed scarf or herb-filled sachet.
3. A candle decorated with pressed flowers.
4. Small wreath of kitchen spices, seasonings and herbs.
5. Afternoon Tea Collection – a selection of nicely presented winter herbal tea blends and herb jellies to spread on bread or scones.
6. Novelty Scented Tree Decorations, Lavender angels or hanging stars and balls covered with spices.
7. Arabic Myrrh Tree, using gum Arabic and myrrh crystals to decorate tiny branches stood in a decorative pot for the festive tablee
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For further details, or to book a place on any of the workshops, email or telephone 01249 821087

Vouchers are available for these courses and make welcome special occasion gifts.

For a full list of Christina Stapley’s lectures and herb workshops taking place at various museums and other centres, go to www.heartsease-herb-books.com

 
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