Nature’s Harvest: The Art of Wildcrafting

Embrace the nature of our cycles and seasons while discovering the art of creating wild, locally harvested tea for beverage and medicinal purposes. Identify familiar, local plants traditionally used for various teas, infusions, and decoctions. Learn the essence of the wildcrafter’s promise and code—emphasizing the principles of ethical and sustainable wildcrafting, vital to perpetuating the continued proliferation of healing plants into the future—an act of kindness, honor, gratitude, and respect to our plant families.

Learn the difference between lunar- and solar-infused teas. Unlock the secrets of wild herbs, medicine, and culinary accents used by wise healers centuries ago—traditional Indigenous healing practices and local folk remedies. Go underground and tap into ancient roots.

Wrapped within the stability of the fertile fields and woods around us, wildcrafting is a pathway to self-care. As the plants ripen and flowers boast their fragrant blossoms, awaken to the possibilities that lead to re-wilding: awareness and self-maturation, merging today’s energies with the ancient past. Reclaim a place in it.

We discuss activities in the field—preparation, drying, storing, crushing, when to use fresh or dry, and how these are accomplished. Know tools, guides, and apps for identification. Familiarity with plants is imperative to avoid dangerous look-a-likes. We will learn about endangered, threatened, or sensitive plants.

PRESENTER’S BIO
Author and Historian Mj Pettengill focuses on cultural narratives and traditions, historical and intergenerational trauma integration, ancestral healing, and social welfare development. Aligned with ancient healing customs, Mj practices the art of gathering wild plants for food and medicine on her farm in the mountains of New Hampshire. She has an MFA in creative writing and undergraduate studies in history, theology, music, and psychology. She penned the Etched in Granite historical fiction series.

IMAGE: Katrin Hauf via Unsplash