Herbal Alchemy

Growing and using herbs and plants from your garden to heal is permaculture in motion - Helping us to reclaim traditional knowledges, share produce, and build community resilience - practices aligned to the core permaculture ethics of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share.

Join Freo Permies and herbalist and Naturopath, Zoe Wilson from Alchemical Heart for an immersive journey into the world of herbal medicine, blending traditional herbal wisdom with modern evidence-based understanding. 

In this workshop we will: 

• Discover how to recognise and identify plants, understand their traditional uses and lore, and explore how we can match our own physical and emotional symptoms to herbal actions.  

• Learn how traditional systems such as Western herbalism, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Ayurveda can help us understand the energetic qualities of both plants and people, and how the two intercept to help bring equilibrium back into the body to allow healing to happen. 

• Build understanding of when and what part of a plant to harvest to capture its medicinal potency, how the plant’s life cycle and the seasons influence its medicine, and how to choose the right preparation for different needs. 

Then we get practical! You’ll learn the foundations of harvesting, drying and preserving herbs, and have the opportunity to create your own herbal tea. Zoe will demonstrate a range of traditional preparations including infusions, decoctions, infused oils, salves, liniments and tinctures. 

Along the way, we’ll explore the fascinating folklore, beliefs and traditional wisdom that have surrounded medicinal plants for generations. 

By the end of the day, you’ll have the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to begin creating your own home herbal apothecary and using the plants around you in meaningful, practical ways for everyday wellbeing. 

Come ready to get your hands into the herbs, learn something new and deepen your connection with the plants growing around you.  

Please arrive at 9.45am for a 10am start.

Gluten free and Vegan lunch will be provided – please advise us of any dietary requirements.