Saturday Schedule
In 2024 we did a 1-day event at Mead Botanical Garden!
The garden and vendor marketplace opened at 9 a.m.
The first class block began at 10 a.m.
We've had a full day of herbal learning planned that concluded with a keynote presentation by Emily Ruff! Opening for Emily this year was returning favorites Høly River and drummer Mark DeMaio!
The garden closed around 7 p.m., after the conclusion of our keynote presentation.
Sunday Intensive
We had a special intensive this year that had limited availability, the day after our full-day event! Attendees joined Ricky Tree for an 'Herbal Distillation Demonstration' on Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 1pm-4pm, at Mead Botanical Garden.
This intensive was an additional charge. Attendees walked away with their very own sample of what was made in class as well as a deeper understanding of the essential oil distillation process.
Our 2025 class schedule for Saturday and class descriptions can be found below!
Please note: this event has passed.
2025 Florida Herbal Conference Saturday Class Schedule
Note: Class descriptions are further down the page.
Class Title |
Teacher |
Type |
Description |
| Alcohol-Free Herbalism | Ruth Glass | Class | Join Ruthie for a medicine making experience! Explore ways to make herbal medicine without using alcohol in the preparations. Ruthie will demonstrate several preparations and everyone will have a chance to make one preparation to take home! |
| "Cacao Ceremonies": Healing Community Through Cacao | Sara Ratza | Class | Let’s talk Cultural Appropriation. Cacao Ceremonies have exploded in popularity over the last decade. In this class, we will all participate in a cacao circle and will discuss the medicinal benefits of cacao as well as learning about the traditional “Kotzij”. There will be opportunity for dialogue among participants and discuss how we can bring people in our own community together through cacao.
Clinical herbalist and Author, Sara Ratza, has studied with the Maya people of Guatemala through an organization called “The Mayan Wisdom Project” and has been trained in the “Cacao Training Program”. Her mission is to educate about cacao and the Maya culture while sharing how we can honor this medicine in our own practice. Sara wrote a book in 2002 entitled, “Drinking Chocolate: Ancient Traditions for Modern Healing”. |
| Navigating the Aging Body with Body Dialogue & Herbs | Madelyn Ilana & Janice Steiber Rous | Class | Can you imagine getting excited about what aging can feel like? Can you imagine having confidence in your ability to confront challenges, so that you can make choices on behalf of your well-being?
Join Body Dialogue practitioners Janice Stieber-Rous and Madelyn ilana for this somatic play-shop. Body Dialogue is a somatic healing modality focused on embodied mindfulness. It offers practical tools to incorporate into your daily life to support expansive breathing, musculoskeletal health, strengthening of the core, and relating to your body as your best friend. One of the consequences of aging, is our body not only loses suppleness, but also strength. After an embodied practice that focuses on these issues, we will discuss herbal medicines and flower essences to support you on your journey. We will also have time for Q & A. * Wear loose fitting comfortable clothing that is easy to move and breathe in, bring a yoga mat, a spill-proof water bottle, a journal and a pen or pencil. Expect moderate exercise and dynamic stretching. |
| Botanical Secrets – From Doctrine of Signatures to Adaptogens | Ellen Kamhi
PhD, RD, AHN-BC, RH(AHG) |
Class | Ellen Kamhi, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, RH(AHG) The Natural Nurse®, will present ancient theories and modern scientific validation about the spectacular healing activities of Herbal Medicine. We will delve deeply into Botanical Secrets that can be gleaned from The Doctrine of Signatures and investigate the health supportive potential credited to a group of herbs referred to as Adaptogens. Modern research has uncovered various mechanisms of action that may explain their ability to help the body resist and adapt to stress. These include positive effects on biosynthesis of RNA and proteins, balancing carbohydrate metabolism, reducing cortisol, and decreasing inflammatory mediators. Lets investigate the secrets ! |
| Hormonal Imbalances & Gynecological Patterns | Feather Jones | Class | The menses cycle acts as a window to our total health picture, often showing us imbalances long before more serious problems develop. Hormonal balancing addresses most gynecological issues. The body sways out of balance in order to adjust to whatever the stresses are that we impose upon it. In estrogen dominance, that means supporting the progesterone phase or toning a sluggish uterus. A wise approach is to see reproductive imbalances as part of a larger endocrine system involvement.
What I have provided is a cycle scenario system of specific indications for you to match to a woman's individual needs from short to long cycles, heavy to light, with individual and unique constitutional considerations and a complete materia medica. |
| Garden Like an Herbalist | Stephen Kane | Class | Gardening like an Herbalist includes a holistic look at everything from the health of the soil, growing food and medicine, native Florida plants and wild crafting your own backyard. |
| Building a Spiritual Apothecary | Aurora Lacska-Tommerdahl | Class | In this class we will discuss herbs that are used for spiritual purposes. We will discuss 12 plants, how they are used and will give attendees some recipes to try out at home. |
| Practical Plant Propagation | Kelli Varon | Class | This workshop provides a comprehensive introduction to plant propagation-both sexual and asexual, equipping participants with the skills to confidently expand their gardens.
The seed starting segment will cover the fundamentals of seeds, the types available, and a step-by-step guide to germination, transplanting, and seasonal timing. Participants will also explore factors influencing successful germination and learn advanced germination techniques. The second part of the workshop focuses on asexual propagation, including the science and step-by-step methods for taking cuttings and understanding plant division—what it is, how it works, and when to use it. These practical techniques will enable participants to multiply plants without seeds. |
| Basics of Herbal Medicine Making | Ricky Tree | Class | A discourse introducing the basic herbal preparations that can be made at home including poultice, tisane, decoction, tinctures, and oil extractions. |
| Rooted: Herbs for Pregnancy & Postpartum | Lyani Powers | Class | "Rooted: Herbs for Pregnancy and Postpartum" focuses on holistic protocols and alternative approaches to common pregnancy concerns, such as morning sickness and preeclampsia. Drawing on indigenous and traditional birth practices of the Western Hemisphere, this session aims to empower healthcare providers, birth workers, expectant parents, and herbalists alike with valuable knowledge and self-care routines to support maternal well-being. |
| Food For Thought: The Gut-Brain Connection | Leann Hill | Class | Our minds and bodies are intricately connected. Traditional healers have known this for centuries, but modern Western medicine is finally starting to realize this as well. One of the more important discoveries they have made in the past several years is the connection between your gut and brain. During this session, we will discuss how our digestive and gut health can affect our mental and emotional state. We will learn how the foods we eat can play a direct role in anxiety, depression, and joy. We will also discuss ways to begin the healing process in our guts and how this can help to heal our minds and emotions as well. |
| Mushroom Walk | Andrew Johnson & John Cook | Plant Walk | Walk to identify and utilize the naturally occurring wild mushrooms for the benefit of our health. |
| Plant Walk in Spanish / Caminata de Plantas | Johana Castillo | Plant Walk | If you're a plant enthusiast and want to learn the names of plants in Spanish, this plant walk is for you! Join us as we explore the Mead Botanical Garden, practice our Spanish, and discover the Spanish names of the plants around us. Whether you're a native Spanish speaker or a Spanish learner, all are welcome! |
| Herbal Distillation Demonstration | Ricky Tree | Sunday Intensive - Additional Registration Fee | Learn to make your own essential oil with a demonstration of distilling plant material in a 20L copper alembic still. You will receive a hydrosol sample to take with you! |
| QiGong | Masaji Terasawa | Workshop | Energy level workshop. All levels are welcome! |
|
Florida Wild Weeds Plant Walk |
Deb Krause | Plant Walk | Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and healing properties of local plants as we explore the trails and learn about the wild edibles and medicinal herbs that thrive in our environment. This hands-on experience will not only deepen your understanding of Florida's diverse flora but also provide you with practical knowledge on foraging. |
| Hug in a Mug: Herbal Support for Grief & Heartbreak | Danielle Roberson | Class | Heartbreak and grief touch us all at some point, and nature offers gentle allies to help us navigate these tender times. In this class, we’ll explore the soothing, heart-nourishing properties of lemon balm, tulsi, linden, and hawthorn—herbs traditionally used to support the nervous system, ease emotional heaviness, and bring a sense of calm. Together, we’ll discuss how these plants work energetically and physically, different ways to incorporate them into daily life, and the power of herbal tea as a ritual of self-care. We’ll also share a tea tasting to experience their effects firsthand. Whether you're moving through loss, a breakup, or simply want to learn more about herbal emotional support, this class offers a warm, comforting space to connect with the plants and yourself. |