2024 Herb Meetings and Events

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Medicinal Herbs and Herbal Preparations for Coping with Winter Colds and Flu  

Kate McFeeley

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

via Zoom

Kate will discuss medicinal herbs and herbal preparations for coping with winter colds and flu. She will tell us about infused teas, tinctures, syrups, and honey using such herbs as ginger, garlic, boneset, horehound, hyssop, and more. Kate also plans to demonstrate the process for making salves. 

She’s very interested in an interactive presentation and welcomes and encourages questions from all, so please think about questions you may have!

Kate McFeeley owns Prairie Pearls Greenhouse in Fitchburg. She has studied the history and medicinal qualities of plants for many years. Kate started her business in 2005 and specializes in growing medicinal herbs and native plants. 

She been a long time vendor for the Madison Herb Society Herb Fair and a member of the Southern Wisconsin Chapter of the American Herbalist Guild, Herbalists without Borders, and United Plants Savers. Kate was a presenter at the 2019 Herb Society of America Educational Conference in Madison.

Download recipes.
 

Herbal Skin Care & Essential Oils

Julie Busche of Magic Moon Productions

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

via Zoom

Ever wonder what goes into making natural skincare & body products? Are you looking for more natural ways to reduce fine lines or improve the texture of your skin? 

We’ll take you behind the scenes to answer 

these questions. We’ll share:

• What goes into the process of creating a new product and the science behind it.
• The top essential oils and best carrier oils for natural skincare
• Why organic and natural skincare products are so important to your overall health and body balance
• How to achieve softer, smoother, more hydrated skin overnight
• How to add the benefits of aromatherapy to your daily skincare and hygiene regimen

We’ll also share a few of our favorite recipes that you can make at home.

Julie Busche and Mandy Martin founded Magic Moon Productions in 2017. Their organic body care products include sugar and salt scrubs, therapeutic bath salts, herbal smudge and clearing sprays, and even paw-care products for doggies!

Designing Your Herb Garden

Aurora Adlebush

Aurora's Apothecary

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

via Zoom

Aurora Adlebush has been growing herbs for more than 25 years. She will talk about varied garden designs for herbs and inspire us to get ready for the growing season. She will also share her enthusiasm for some of her favorite unusual herbs that she grows in her own garden. Aurora makes more than 300 products from her garden plants in her state-certified laboratory.

Aurora Adlebush is president of the Fox Valley Herb Society and the owner of Aurora’s Apothecary, which has retail outlets in Green Bay, Appleton, and Fish Creek in Door County.

Watch your email for the Zoom link.

 Tea: Types of Tea, Herbs, and Blending 

Erin Ulrich of Telsaan Tea 

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

via Zoom

 Tea is a world of flavor that is blended from many cultures and climates, history, agriculture, and trade. It delights the senses, featuring flavors that vary from region to region as well as renowned health benefits. We'll talk about the types of tea, where they originate, and how you can get started exploring the flavors of this wide and wonderful world.

Once your exploration has begun you may find that your creativity has been sparked. Can you blend your own tea? Of course! We'll teach you the first steps to take in making your own creations. 

Erin Ulrich, proprietor of the Telsaan Tea shop in Mount Horeb, WI, will speak to us about teas, herbal tisanes, and tea blends. 

Erin started Telsaan Tea six years ago. "Way before that I walked into a tea shop with a friend. We spent half an hour smelling every flavor in the store! I got a little bit of tea to try, and I was hooked. Tea has been part of my life ever since.” 

Erin is a new member of the Madison Herb Society, as well!  Learn more about her shop at www.telsaan.com

Watch your MHS email for details and the Zoom link.

Pastries, Paris, and Herbs

A chat with Susan Holding, Pastry Chef, The Little French Bakery

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

via Zoom

Susan will demo and discuss ways she incorporates herbs into her pastries. She is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and the owner/pastry chef of The Little French Bakery in North Freedom, Wisconsin. Susan wrote and photographed The LIttle French Bakery Cookbook in 2014.

The Little French Bakery

www.littlefrenchbakery.com

Garden Party!

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

We will meet first at 9 a.m. in the Outdoor Classroom at Olbrich Gardens to share MHS news and announcements. 

We’ll tour the Olbrich Herb Garden and discuss its history and its current plantings. Then we’ll head to the nearby home of member Linda Marx for a garden party. Please bring herbal treats 

for sharing at Linda’s. 

Summer hats and gloves are encouraged! Bring a yard chair to Linda's. (Directions and further details will be provided in the June newsletter.)

Our usual garden tours and summer gatherings have been cancelled due to COVID-19. We hope to see you soon, virtually!

Our usual garden tours and summer gatherings have been cancelled due to COVID-19. We hope to see you soon, virtually!

Summer Harvest Potluck

Theme to be announced.

Set-up 5-5:30 p.m.

Dinner 5:30-7 p.m.

Cleanup 7-7:30 p.m.

Bring a dish to pass—something fun and herbal. Invite a friend. Bring your own table service – plate, fork, knife, spoon, napkin.

WE NEED HELPERS TO SET UP 

AND CLEAN UP.  

Read the MHS newsletter for 

additional details.

Virtual Tea and 

MHS Member Introductions

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Membership renewals are 

due in September. 

We are holding a Virtual Tea on Zoom for our meeting this month. Join us and have your favorite tea and breakfast or tea foods to enjoy during our meeting. 

Watch for Zoom meeting details in your newsletter and email.

Herbs, Stress, and Doshas

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Zoom Meeting

Herbalist Kyle Denton of Tippecanoe Herbs will offer this online presentation on nervines. We all cope with stresses, and there are hundreds of plants that can alleviate stress. But, it can be overwhelming to figure out which plants to use and how to best use them. Kyle's presentation will start with a framework based on a traditional Ayurvedic model and show different ways that stress can manifest. Whether we experience anxiety, grief, anger, or tension, if we understand the ways we feel, we have a stronger idea of which plants will help and which will not. Kyle will cover several plants in depth and how to use them.

Kyle Denton is an herbalist and founder of Tippecanoe Herbs and Apothecary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  There he runs an herb shop, manufactures the medicine sold there, conducts herb walks and workshops, and occasionally practices clinically. 

Meeting invitation with Zoom code will be emailed to MHS members a few days ahead of the meeting. Watch for it and look for tips on using Zoom!

38th Annual (Virtual) Herb Fair

Herbs in Ferment

The 38th annual Madison Herb Fair goes virtual on Crowdcast this year on November 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our theme is HERBS IN FERMENT. Our three speakers will present varied perspectives on herbs in fermented foods and beverages. We also will have mini-sessions with local creators of herbal products. 

Please pre-register here for the FREE EVENT so that we can email you schedule updates and announcements for this fun annual event. You will not need to download any software for Crowdcast. 

9 a.m. Herbs and Fermentation for Digestive Health Presented by Linda Conroy of Moonwise Herbs 

The digestive system is the gateway to health, as nearly 80% of your immune system lives within it. This talk will offer practical ways to bring herbs and fermented food into daily life, for optimal health, nourishment, and fun! 

10:30 a.m. Brewing Beer with Herbs (Not Hops) Presented by Nick Ryan of the Herbiery Brewery. 

Nick brews exciting beers with herbs and spices instead of hops. They will discuss which herbs inspired them throughout the process of opening Herbiery and how they decide which herbs to use. Nick will share some failures and some surprising successes. 

1:30 pm Make Your Own Nourishing Fermented Granola Presented by Michael McClennen of Wildwood Institute Granola is a wonderful traditional food, and its benefits are greatly enhanced when it is made using fermented nuts, grains, and herbs. Michael will talk about the nutritional benefits of fermented nuts and grains and give a live demonstration. The recipe he uses will be provided to participants. 

MINI TALKS BY VENDORS 

11:45–11:50 Inspired Alchemy 

Herbal and CBD gourmet truffles, with organic, raw ingredients. www.inspiredalchemy.org 

11:55–12:05 Wildwood Institute and Herbs Herbal education, apprenticeships, tinctures, teas and ointments, and holistic health consultations. www.wildwoodinstitute.com 12:45–12:50 Creative quinTESSence 

Lotion Bars, Body Lotion Sticks, and Lip Balm. www.creativequintessence.com 

12:50–1:00 Nativa Medica 

Offering plant spirit classes and products, herbal tinctures, and private consultations. Special Herb Fair offer of a Community Support Herbs sampler box with nervous system support, dream pillow, tinctures, and cough syrup. www.NativaMedica.com 

1:00–1:10 pm Moonwise Herbs 

Handcrafted herbal wares, earth-centered education, apprenticeships, classes, and consultations. Products include salves, infused oils, lotions, tinctures, soap, herbal infused vinegars/honey, dry herbs, beeswax, honey, and much more. https://moonwiseherbs.com 

39th Annual Herb Fair

Virtual Holiday Potluck

6 p.m. on Zoom

Our December meeting will be on MONDAY EVENING, December 7, at 6 pm via Zoom. We will have a brief business meeting and socializing, followed by our guest speaker, Michelle of Clasen’s European Bakery in Middleton. She will tell us about Clasen’s traditions of Central European heritage recipes for breads, pastries, tortes, and candy confections. The bakery was started in 1959 by Ralph and Ernst Clasen, emigrant brothers from Cologne, Germany.

Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.

All About Seeds!

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Matthew Weaver, Horticulture Specialist at the Bruce Company.

We will meet in the upstairs meeting room.

Held at the Alliant Energy Center, 

Madison, WI

Come and visit the Madison Herb Society booth at the Wisconsin Garden Expo to learn about herbs, stock up on your favorite MHS products, or buy a cookbook!

Making Herbal Paper

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

MHS board member and mixed media artist Sylvia Lieteau will demonstrate how to make homemade paper. See how common garden herbs and weeds can add fascinating pattern and texture to handmade paper.

We will meet in the upstairs meeting room.

CANCELLED Due to COVID-19

Herbs and Honey

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

MHS member Suzanne Heideman and her husband, Mike Heideman, will share their experiences as beekeepers and honey producers, including the role of herbs in 

their business.

We will meet in the upstairs meeting room.

CANCELLED Due to COVID-19

Annual Spring Tea for MHS Members 

and Their Guests

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Speaker details to come.

What to bring:

• A plate of herbal tea dainties (sweet or savory) to share, with serving utensil
• Your own plate(s), cup(s), and dining utensils
• Optional: A friend/partner (bring additional food, utensils, etc.)
• Fancy hats and spring finery are encouraged!

We will meet in the Atrium.

Exploring Essential Oils

10 a.m.

Presented by Teai Czajka, MHS member and a wellness advocate for doTERRA essential oils. Teai’s goal is to empower you and your family with natural health and wellness. 

Learn about essential oils and 

ways to use them.

Also, MHS elections and our seedling exchange will take place at the May meeting.

We will meet in the upstairs meeting room.

Watch your email for complete details on how to attend our online meeting via Zoom. Business meeting information will be in the MHS newsletter.

Vegetarian Theme Summer Potluck 

Set-up 5-5:30 p.m.

Dinner 5:30-7 p.m.

Cleanup 7-7:30 p.m.

This summer’s MHS potluck is a vegetarian theme on Monday, August 19, in Olbrich’s Commons Room at 5 p.m.

Bring a dish to pass—something fun and herbal. Invite a friend. Bring your own table service – plate, fork, knife, spoon, napkin.

WE NEED HELPERS TO SET UP 

AND CLEAN UP.  

Read the Summer Potluck flyer for 

additional details.

What I Did With Herbs This Summer

9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

Several MHS members will share how they used a variety of common and unusual herbs this summer for cooking, beverages, body care, health, and more. 

Then we’ll invite other members to share their own herbal ideas. Please come prepared to share your herbal experiences!

We will meet in the upstairs meeting room.

A Packaging Party for the Herb Fair

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Come join the fun of packaging MHS’s signature herb and tea blends for our upcoming Herb Fair. 

The work goes quickly with many hands. 

After the packaging, enjoy herbal treats and conversation. Members are asked to bring herbal treats to share.

We will meet in the Atrium.

Theme: Wisconsin's Wild and 

Native Herbs

9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

There will be lots of vendors, the MHS booth and the Educational Room with three fabulous speakers!

Speaker Topics include:

• 9:30 a.m. - Meet the Wild and Native Herbs of Wisconsin
• 11:30 a.m. - Native Herbs in 

Ho-Chunk Food Traditions

• 1:30 p.m. - Medicinal Herbs and Lyme Disease

Read all about the Herb Fair. 

Holiday Potluck for MHS Members and their Guests at Olbrich Gardens

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

What to bring:

• An herbal potluck dish to share, with serving utensil
• Your own plate(s), cup(s), and dining utensils
• A donation of full size personal care items for a women’s shelter
• Optional: A friend/partner (bring additional food, utensils, etc.)
• Holiday cheer!

We will meet in the upstairs meeting room.