Herbs for Healthy People, Pollinators & Soil

May Day is a time of year, at the height of Spring, when growth and the energy of nature is strong. Join us and learn how to grow herbs and edible flowers with a focus on healthy people, pollinators and soil. We’ll spend the morning in Teas for Bees’ small-scale ecological herb farm where Jo will introduce us to all of the herbs she grows for cooking and herbal teas, and the beneficial insects they attract.

We’ll enjoy noticing the young seedlings and leaves emerging from the herb pants as well as wild hedgerow leaves and May blossom. We’ll forage for new plant growth to create a natural wreath, to wear as a crown if you wish, into which you can weave your choice of flowers herbs, grasses and leaves.

Focusing on our herbs we will then look at how you can grow your own plants, by understanding;

• soil regeneration & maintenance
• how to make new plants by propagation of a variety of health-giving perennial herbs, including; mints, rosemary, catmint, oregano/wild marjoram, hyssop, sage, lady’s mantel and fennel. You will be able to choose herbs to take from softwood cuttings and plant division to take home
• compost preparation
• methods for sowing seeds of edible annual and tender perennial flowers and herbs; basil, calendula, chamomile, cornflowers, coriander, crysanthemums, sunflowers, dahlias, dill and many more
• the different pollinator and natural insect predators which visit our flowers 
• how to care organically for established plants – feeding, pest control, pruning. 

This time of year has long been celebrated by pagans and known as ‘Beltane’, is one of the four Celtic fire festivals. We will add an element of ritual by lighting a fire together and will harvest our own herbal tea ingredients to infuse around the camp fire, with delicious nourishing herbal treats prepared by Field Food.

This course can be taken as a stand alone workshop or is available to purchase as part of our Complete Guide to to Herb Cultivation across the year.

About Jo and Teas for Bees

The roots of Teas for Bees’ small ecological farm have grown out of a lifelong interest in the ecology of the natural world and a wish to live in balance with nature. They grow a variety of wonderful flowers, herbs, shrubs and trees that are suited to the soil and climate and benefit our beautiful pollinators (as well as other wildlife too!).

Jo uses the leaves, flowers, fruits and roots to produce the herbal teas and fresh herb and flower bouquets.