An Herbal Safari is an opportunity to recognize helpful plants wherever you live. Think of our farm, Bull Brook Keep, as a green lab where you can see, touch and examine helpful herbs, shrubs and trees — many of which probably grow in your own backyard.
The variety of plants shifts with the seasons: tree bark in winter, buds in spring, flowers as the weather warms, and berries in late summer. And in fall, we’ll examine and collect helpful roots. Yup, every Herbal Safari offers a fresh look at the helpful plants around us.
These plant explorations are a logical extension of our grass-fed-grass-fed beef farming, and the pasture walks we enjoyed with hundreds of visitors every year.
Throughout the growing season, we rotated our cattle from field to field of fresh grass every one or two days. This practice encouraged a wide diversity of wild herbs and grasses. So many of these plants have been used by diverse cultures for hundreds of years.
Photo by Aethan Hart
An Herbal Safari is:
- A 3-hour walk over pastures, shady areas, wet brook bank
- Pastures tend to be bumpy and uneven, and walks will include rough terrain and slight climbs
- A close look at the helpful/medicinal plants of the season
- A brief printed guide
- A review of “at risk” plants and why that matters
- A look at holistic medicinal herbalism vs “natural” remedies
- A demo out in the field or indoors
- A look at some helpful books, websites, and learning opportunities
- A cup of tea/coffee, a muffin, and conversation
The Next Step: Making Remedies
Herbal Safaris let you meet plants where they grow. The next tasks are to harvest and prepare them. Enjoy Herbal Safari Remedy-Making Level 1: four hours of hands-on experience making tinctures, teas, infused oils and powders.
Remedy-Making Level 2: four hours of hands-on making salves, lip balms, and creams.
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