Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants - May 

Around the time the spotted fawns hide in the dappled sunlight of the edged forest, students will meet to be introduced to the supportive and loving plant allies of the Southern Appalachian. 

Having built our baseline connection with the earth, our physical body, and our needs in the previous month, students will now move outward into the blooming world of plant allies. Students will learn their local medicinal and edible plant allies in our world famous Southern Appalachians.  Students will meet new plants with respect and compassion, and learn how to create their own personal giving ceremony before harvesting. Students will be introduced to plant allies that can be our medicine, food, shelter, and firewood. 

While watching the cycles of the plants, students will concurrently begin their introduction to the “wheel of the year”, and being to track all things within this context.  Using this framework, students will be able to track plants, personalities, seasons, animals, and emotions while understanding the underlying, universal principles. Furthermore, students will be prompted to “learn their own medicine” and how their “sacred wounds” create their “sacred gifts” and make them an imperfectly perfect leader in this modern world.