Autumn Bitter Root Remedies

Our farm landscapes are not only capable of producing nourishing foods, but also powerful plant-based medicines. This weed walk will focus on the identification and benefits of bitter herbs and roots commonly found on the Vermont farm landscape and invites participants to engage in nature-based local medicine as part of a resilient food system. Participants will help gather and process some of the bitter roots into classic tonic recipes traditionally featured in the fall.

Spoonful Herbals is the collaborative effort of community herbalists and educators Katherine Elmer and Kara Buchanan. Spoonful offers an annual Herbal CSA, which includes 3 seasonal herbal self-care packages: each providing 4-5 varied formulas, with detailed educational guidance about the plant ingredients and their uses, and educational events for members, all for $150, with convenient share pickup at Railyard Apothecary. Spoonful also runs a 6-month Community Herbalism Apprenticeship program where students learn how to identify, harvest, and create remedies from native and locally-grown medicinal herbs. Spoonful’s Herb Mob program engages volunteers to bring locally harvested (gleaned) medicinal plants into our apothecary from local organic farms and green spaces such as Shelburne Farms. www.spoonfulherbals.org.