HerbFest Reflections & Lady’s Thumb Medicine Making

This past Sunday was the 4th Annual HerbFest and it is easy to say that I think it was the best year yet!

It was fun looking around at the vendors and being a part of so many different conversations. The entire event was a living display of so many of the ways in which plant medicines can be shared…

through learning about the plants growing all around us (via plant walks);

through medicinal plant starts to plant in one’s garden/yard;

through various prepared herbs (tinctures, salves, teas, oxymels, etc.);

through pressed and dried plants made into art;

through education and teaching;

through working with a practicing/clinical herbalist.

Although the medicine of the plants took center stage at HerbFest, this beautiful gathering demonstrated the “medicine” of connection and community as well, which was incredible to be a part of. I look forward to HerbFest 2026, maybe I’ll see you there!

~ Kara

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Harvesting Lady's Thumb for medicine.

Medicine Making Workshop & Lady’s Thumb

Sunday, July 20, 2025 @3pm in Eagle Lake 

If you’ve been around the herbal community for any amount of time, chances are you’ve heard folks talk about how abundant certain plants are, and how year to year the plants in abundance change or “take turns”.

When I see certain plants in abundance, it is like Nature is showing me/us that this is a really good year to harvest the plant for medicine. Many also see the abundance and think that maybe it’ll be part of the medicine that people will be needing in the near future.

This year, Lady’s Thumb (Polygonum persicaria) is most certainly growing in abundance. There is more growing in my personal garden than I have ever seen! 

All this said, I would love to share the beauty and medicine that Lady’s Thumb has to offer. We will join in my home garden to spend time with the plants, learn from them and about them, make medicine (tincture), and simply enjoy the company of others on a Sunday afternoon.

Registration and payment details can be found HERE.