Gardener & Cook: Pruning to Preserving

Taught by Tina Marie Wilcox & Susan Belsinger

This summertime class is about pruning, cultivating and harvesting herbs, produce, and useful weeds and how to use this garden bounty. Determined gardener, Tina Marie, is all about the gardening during the dogdays of summer—she gets so hot and busy—that she often feeds the compost pile instead of making use of the prunings and wild herbs that she extracts. On the other hand, Susan is a practical cook, who is always thinking of ways to use the harvest, bringing it into the kitchen to preserve in many ways, for the cold weather ahead.

In this practical, matter-of-fact, and fun class, this dynamic duo will discuss what is actually happening in the garden this time of year; how to keep yourself comfortable in summer heat; how to prune herbs for the health of the plants and people, and how to identify weeds that are actually herbs; and then utilize the harvest.

We will give you practical tips as well as hands-on guidance on the best ways to preserve herbs from drying and freezing to infusing them to capture their essence in vinegar, honey, oil and tincture. Each student will go home with the knowledge of how and when to harvest, how to keep the harvest fresh until it gets to the kitchen, and how to make infusions for the kitchen and apothecary; everyone will take home herbs and infusions that they create in class. Space is limited.

You will need to bring the following items to attend this class: gathering basket, pruners, chef and paring knife, go-cup or jar for beverage. We will provide handouts, however you might bring a notebook.

Class minimum is 4 and maximum is 10.

Lodging is available in the park at our Cabins at Dry Creek, newly remodeled duplex-style hotel rooms. There is a Folk School discount for students booking more than 3 days. Call the Cabins office at 870-269-0861 to book with the discount.

If you need to cancel your registration up to one month before the start of class, full refunds will be given upon request by phone to 870-269-3854 or email to [email protected]. Students requesting a refund between a month and two weeks before the beginning of class will receive a 50% refund. No refunds within two weeks of class date.