Class Description:
Join Westford herbalist Amber Kennedy on a medicinal weed walk along the beautiful Misty Meadows trails in Westford, Vermont. These town trails are home to wide range of ecosystems and interesting plants to discover! We will explore the fields, woods and maybe even some aquatic plants by the brook. We will discover how to identify plants, notice what ecosystems they grow in, learn their latin and folk names, some simple botanical terminology and identification tips and tricks, discuss how herbalists harvest, prepare and use them for remedies and some interesting folklore and historical uses of some of them too! Please plan to arrive a few minutes before class as we will start with an important intro on the safety considerations of identifying plants and some ethics and sustainability guidelines should you choose to use the information you learn to forage or wildcraft plants on your own property! The landscape is ever changing over the season and it is so interesting and helpful to study plants in all their stages of growth so come to just one class or join us for the whole seasonal series!
What is Provided?
Informational handouts. Either a PDF emailed to be printed and downloaded or paper copies distributed during class.
Who is this class for?
The trails and pace of walking is for beginning hikers and walkers. The walk is leisurely and there are frequent stops along the way. Depending on questions and curiosities about what we find, sometimes we don’t get very far at all but we always discover lots! There are a few steep or rocky parts that may be difficult to navigate for folks with low mobility. I’m happy to stay on trails that accommodate most ability levels or offer a separate class to accommodate any special needs. Please just send me an email beforehand.
This specific class is not geared towards children but I encourage children to attend if they are interested and can stay engaged. I find that little folks 9 and up will get the most out of this class, but you know your child best. I do ask that children remain with their adults for the duration of class and if they are loudly playing or otherwise limiting other students ability to hear or pay attention, you kindly plan to step to the back of the group to attend to their needs. Please reach out to me via email to let me know if you plan to bring children: bohemebotanika@gmail.com
Location and parking details:
The trails are located behind Westford Elementary School at 146 Brookside Road. Parking is available in the school lot. We will meet in the outdoor classroom area in the woods to the left of the main trailhead, directly behind the school. We have permission with the town to use this common land for our class. Please adhere to all town property rules and regulations.
What do I need to bring?
Water, sun and bug protection if necessary. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that allow you to walk through tall grass or in the woods (long pants and sleeves to prevent ticks is helpful). You may bring a camera, notepad or pen if you’d like to document plants.
Other important information:
There is no indoor restroom available so please plan accordingly. There is a restroom available nearby at Westford Country Store and I’m sure if you make a small purchase they would be happy to accommodate you.
Pre-registration is required. Space is limited to keep groups small and ensure the protection of the trails, habitats and land we will be exploring. Please sign up well in advance to ensure a spot.
All information provided during class is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. It is Bohème Botanika policy not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use.
COVID-19 Policies:
Class will be held outdoors and class size kept small to allow for social distancing. Masks are not required but please mask up if you are more comfortable. I am fully vaccinated and will not be wearing a mask to allow for easier communication while teaching. Please respect other people’s space and comfort levels.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
Outdoor classes are held rain or shine so please dress and plan accordingly. The plants don’t go in when it rains and neither do I. Because Vermont weather is fickle and because I need a minimum number of students to run the class for both safety and planning reasons, I am unable to offer refunds for cancellations at this time. I understand that emergencies happen so if you do need to cancel for any reason, you are welcome to offer your spot to a friend or join us for another class in 2022 instead. I do ask that if at all possible you reach out via email to let me know if you are unable to attend or are running late so we don’t hold the start of class up. I will of course cancel in the case of severe weather and a full refund will be issued or your ticket price can be rolled into another class if you choose.
Please purchase tickets by the Monday before since I need a headcount and a minimum of 5 people signed up for class to run. If the class is set to run on the day of then I will accept last minute/same day sign ups but please email to make sure there is space. If class is cancelled due to lack of sign ups you will have the option to roll your ticket into another date or receive a refund.