Education - Herbal Harvest (Adult Workshop)

Harvest

Identify and cultivate wild and introduced plant species sustainably and ethically

Prepare

Extract, blend, infuse and ferment the plants you harvest

Enjoy

Taste and take home samples of what you’ve helped create

We offer Herbal Harvest workshops twice annually in Spring (April) and Fall (October). The Fall and Spring workshops focus on different herbal concoctions that reflect seasonal rhythms and abundances of wild and Food Forest plants found onsite.

What is Included in the workshop?

Hands-On Learning

With a limited workshop size, you will work closely with our instructors to learn techniques in sustainable plant harvesting, and food and medicine preparation and preservation.

All of our creations will be made from hand-selected plants from the Conservancy’s twin forest gardens and from the surrounding majestic forests on the Millard Learning Centre property.

Visit the Food Forest Visit the Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest

Things to take home

Leave with the knowledge of how to re-create each of the weekend’s projects and a sense of how people and forests can work together.

Every participant will take home a printed guide with recipes from the workshop and other herbalism resources.

Bring re-sealable jars to the workshop to take your hand-made herbal medicaments and tasty treats back to your loved ones.

Overnight accommodations

Coming from off-island? Sleep overnight at the Millard Learning Centre’s campground, with access to our Classroom facility.

Don’t own camping gear? We’ve got you covered! Rent our camping gear at a special Herbal Harvest price! Contact us for more info.

Check out our facilities

Explore nature

Experience the healing power of forest bathing within the Millard Learning Centre’s serene Coastal Douglas-fir forests.

Learn about coastal ecology and uncover the intimate relationships between plants and people.

Between class times, we encourage our guests to relax and explore Chrystal Cove and the many forested walking trails on the property.

Meet your instructors

Have questions about the Herbal Harvest Workshop? Please call us at 250-539-2424 or email bookings@galianoconservancy.ca. You can also contact your instructors directly by clicking on their names below – their direct email addresses will appear!

Cedana Bourne

Sustainable Food Systems Coordinator

She/Her

cedana.bourne@galianoconservancy.ca

Cedana has coordinated the GCA Native & Edible Plant Nursery and Food Forest for the last 10 years. She loves working with plants and has put her background in herbalism and holistic nutrition towards creating the GCA’s line of on-site harvested teas: Forest Garden Tea. She has taught workshops on seed saving, herbalism, composting, and many kinds of fermentation. She most enjoys helping folks to connect with nature and to grow resilient, sustainable food systems.

“Very informative, especially about herbal medicine & functional health. I feel like I can functionally use the teas, decoctions, vinegars and honeys to help myself and my kids.”

– Stephanie vanBeusekom, 2019 Herbal Harvest Participant

“[I learned] Practical knowledge & understanding of Coastal Native Plants. I loved the diverse ways we got to engage with plants, medicine, food and each other!”

– Marika Van Reeuwyk, 2018 Herbal Harvest Participant

“I would recommend for many reasons. My top three are: 1. The instructors are amazing facilitators! They work well together and are both very knowledgeable. 2. The information about plants and preparations was presented well 3. The location of this facility makes everything work. Beautiful place. Love forest bathing. Very special ”

– Allison Whitlock, 2017 Herbal Harvest Participant

“If you are looking to deepen your knowledge of herbs and medicinal plants, this workshop provides a balance of hands-on experience as well as information to take home, all while building a wonderful community of people”

– Jaycee Clarkson, 2017 Herbal Harvest participant

How do I get to Galiano Island?

Galiano Island is easily accessible via BC Ferries, either from the Swartz Bay (Victoria) or Tsawwassen (Vancouver) terminals. If you are travelling from Vancouver and are planning to bring a car, please reserve your ferry in advance. Ferry reservations to the Southern Gulf Islands can be made at: www.bcferries.com or by calling 1-888-BC-FERRY

Where is the Herbal Harvest workshop located?

Herbal Harvest is hosted at the Millard Learning Centre on Galiano Island.

Address:
Galiano Conservancy Association
10825 Porlier Pass Road
Galiano Island, BC
V0N 1P0

Google Maps – Galiano Conservancy Millard Learning Centre

Directions:
1. Take Sturdies Bay Road until you reach the traffic triangle just past the Hummingbird Pub.
2. Keep right at the traffic triangle. This will put you on Porlier Pass Road.
3. Drive up Porlier Pass Road for around 15-20 minutes. You are close to the Learning Centre once you pass the film school and McClure Road.
4. The Millard Learning Centre will be on your left. A big wooden sign that says “Millard Learning Centre” and a blue EV sign will be visible from the road.
5. If you reach the Forest Fire Risk sign by Melissa Road you’ve gone too far.

Please contact us at 250-539-2424 or bookings@galianoconservancy.ca if you get lost.

Is there public transportation on Galiano?

Unfortunately there is no public transportation or taxis on Galiano Island. Participants must make their own way to the workshop. We encourage participants to carpool if they are in the same social bubble.

If you are biking – It’s about a 1-1.5 hours on a regular bike, and approximately 45 minutes by ebike (~15km) and hilly bike ride to the Learning Centre from the ferry terminal. We have bike racks, tool/repair station an charging facilities for your ebike once you arrive at the MLC.

What do I do about meals?

Food is not provided for the workshop. Please bring ample food and water with you for the workshop. Potable water is available onsite. We will also have tea and coffee available for participants.

If you are coming from off-island , please purchase the bulk of your food before you arrive on Galiano. We have a fridge-freezer and dry-storage spaces for you to store your food in the Classroom building. We also have utensils for cooking and eating available at the Classroom.

We will discuss COVID-19 Safety Protocols for using the kitchen and other shared spaces when you arrive.

If you need additional food while on Galiano, we have a few small grocery stores and restaurants.

What should I bring to the workshop?

For use during workshop hours, please bring:
– Clothing for rain or shine (eg. rain jacket & extra warm layers, sunscreen & sunglasses etc.)
– Sturdy, closed toe shoes (eg. hiking shoes, runners)
– Mask or non-medical face covering*
– Personal hand sanitizer*
– Water bottle (1L recommended)
– Hot beverage travel thermos
– Food for lunch and lots of snacks
– A notebook & pen
– 2-3 mason jars (100 – 500mL size) and 2-3 tupperware jars/ re-sealable containers (small to medium in size) to bring your creations home
– Your own garden gloves*
– A pair of small garden clippers (secateurs)*
– A harvesting basket or bowl*

*we have extras of these if you don’t have any

If you are camping overnight at the Learning Centre:
– Tent
– Sleeping equipment (sleeping mat, sleeping, bag, pillow, extra blankets)
– Headlamp or flashlight
– Small bag to store “smelly” items (eg. food, beverages, soaps & creams etc) inside
– Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush etc.)
– Shower equipment (soap, shampoo, towel etc)

Don’t have camping equipment? Please contact us for the Herbal Harvest Camping Combo Gear Rental

Optional:
– Camera
– Cash or credit/debit card to purchase GCA swag (T-shirts, mugs, stickers etc). Food Forest produce (eg. Forest Garden Tea, Garlic Salts etc.) or native plants

How can I pay for the workshop?

Please click the ticket link above to purchase your workshop ticket by credit card.

Prefer to pay by cash/ cheque? Please contact us at 250-539-2424 or email bookings@galianoconservancy.ca

Cheques must be addressed to the “Galiano Conservancy Association”. Mailed cheques/ cash must be sent to:

Galiano Conservancy Association
10825 Porlier Pass Road
Galiano Island BC
V0N 1P0