2024 Workshops at Wild Ivy Herb Farm

Can’t wait to see you at Wild Ivy Herb Farm! See workshop descriptions for 2024 below. NEW Workshops for 2024 are highlighted. Volunteer days are free and will offer educational opportunities as you commune with the plants! Please sign up for volunteer days as well as workshops so we can plan accordingly. Each workshop will be held outdoors or under cover of our large hoophouse if the weather requires cover. Workshops and volunteer days are all held at Wild Ivy Herb Farm on the date and time specified. You will be notified if severe weather forces a workshop to be rescheduled. All participants will be contacted if there is an unexpected cancellation and will be notified of the date for the rescheduled workshop. Each workshop must have 3 or more participants registered. If there are fewer than 3, we reserve the right to cancel the workshop and give you a full refund. Follow the signs for designated parking. Please wear appropriate outdoor closed-toe footwear and bring a chair. Please note: Once you have registered for a workshop, we do not issue refunds.

February 25: 1-2:30pm NEW FOR 2024 “ELDERBERRIES PART 1: FROM SEED TO HARVEST” - Do you want to plant elderberries to join this growing trend in farming? Elderberries are becoming widely known for their medicinal qualities and there is a massive demand for them in the U.S. Learn how to start and grow your own elderberries for fun or profit. Tour the expanding elderberry orchard at Wild Ivy Herb Farm. This workshop will cover what you need to know to plant, grow, maintain, harvest and prune elderberries in all seasons. Whether you want 1 or 2 bushes for your landscape or you want to start an orchard, this workshop will be chock full of informative help. Everyone registered will take home 1 elderberry cutting. Cuttings will be available for sale. There will be a 1/2 hour break between parts 1 & 2. Please register for each workshop individually.

February 25: 3-4pm NEW FOR 2024 “ELDERBERRIES PART 2: AFTER THE HARVEST - USES FOR ELDERBERRIES” - This workshop will focus on the medicinal aspects of the berries. Many of the uses for the flowers, bark and berries will be discussed and demonstrated including elderberry syrup and elderberry tincture. Recipes will be available for many more delicious products you can try. 

March 9 & 10: 9-4 Volunteer for fun and companionship as we tidy up the gardens in preparation for spring planting. There will be jobs simple and large for every ability and willingness of spirit! Commune with the plants and with other herb lovers as we enjoy the beauty of the land and the community we create! Bring any hand held garden tools, gloves and comfy outdoor shoes. Volunteers will receive a special gift and all Wild Ivy Herb Farm products will be available for 30% off to volunteers. A nourishing herbal beverage and snacks will be available. Attend anytime during the hours of 9-4 on Saturday and/or Sunday. You will receive an email with further details

March 24: Mar2-3pm NEW FOR 2024 “How to Raise Chickens and Poultry: What the Internet Won’t Tell You” Join Nancy E. Noyes to get the straight-forward facts for tending a home flock for eggs, and even cover your feed costs with egg sales. Learn to raise your birds with low-impact, holistic and sustainable practices. Seminar will cover from acquiring chicks through the life of the bird -the good, the bad and the ugly. Nancy has an Animal Science B.S. degree from Virginia Tech and during her masters degree studies she worked as a Poultry Science Research Assistant. She performed stereotactic brain surgery on chickens and turkeys and can confirm they do have brains! They are sentient and trainable. She has raised both laying hens and meat birds for her family’s CSA and market stand. She has taught 4-H Embryology projects to hundreds of school children. Welcome Nancy!!

March 31: 2-4pm NEW for 2024 “Mushroom Log and Outdoor Bed Cultivation 101” In this rare workshop, Jacob Chapman will provide a hands-on experience for participants who want to learn about mushroom inoculation. Jacob is the steward of Moose Paw Farm, a Springhill, KS based, sustainably-minded, dynamic farm focusing on mushrooms, honey bees, composting, education, and growing food and communities. Join us as we learn to grow mushrooms in a natural and sustainable way. Participants will have the opportunity to take home their inoculated logs for an additional $10, payable at the workshop. Please bring a cordless drill or driver with a 1/2” bit (if you have these) and a chair.

April 21: 1-3pm CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH THESE 2 FABULOUS WORKSHOPS!! Register for 1 or both: NEW FOR 2024 “Mind the Gap: The Role of Composting in Our Food Cycle” Composting workshop with guest Robert Hickerson, “The Friendly Farmer” , Steward of Table View Farm: “Mind the Gap: The Role of Composting in Our Food Cycle” In this engaging composting workshop, participants embark on a journey to understand the significance of composting as part of the food cycle. Beginning with an introduction to the environmental benefits and waste reduction, the workshop delves into the basics of composting, the decomposition process, carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, and suitable materials. The session on various composting methods introduces both traditional techniques and vermiculture, with a hands-on activity setting up composting bins and worm bins. Participants explore the enriching world of compost tea and delve into the microscopic life of compost. Practical applications cover troubleshooting common issues, harvesting compost, and creative ways to use the finished product in gardens. The workshop culminates in a deeper understanding and appreciation for sustainable waste management practices. Interactive discussions and Q&A sessions ensure participants leave equipped with the knowledge and skills to confidently embark on their composting journey. April 21: 3-5pm Back by popular demand! NEW for 2024 “Mushroom Log and Outdoor Bed Cultivation 101” In this rare workshop, Jacob Chapman will again provide a hands-on experience for participants who want to learn about mushroom inoculation. Jacob is the steward of Moose Paw Farm, a Springhill, KS based, sustainably-minded, dynamic farm focusing on mushrooms, honey bees, composting, education, and growing food and communities. Join us as we learn to grow mushrooms in a natural and sustainable way. Participants will have the opportunity to take home their inoculated logs for an additional $10, payable at the workshop. Please bring a cordless drill or driver with a 1/2” bit (if you have these) and a chair.

May 5 -1-3pm NEW FOR 2024 “Learning the Art and Language of Teas” - A sampling adventure just in time for Mother’s Day! Experience several different types of teas, learn to rate and understand the language to describe them. Discover which type of teas you love! After this workshop, you will be a tea expert, knowing what flavor indicators resonate with you, allowing you to make wise future tea purchases.

June 2: 1-2:30pm “MAKING INFUSED OILS AND VINEGARS” - Tips and tricks for making successful infusions of herbs into oils, vinegars, honey and other mediums. This is an interactive workshop.

September 15: 1-2:30pm “MAKING LIP BALMS AND SALVES” - Take away recipes for lip balms and salves after learning the step-by-step process of how to create them from herbs in the garden. Resources for ingredients will be shared. This is an interactive workshop.

October 6: 1pm Join Rachel Allai for an “Acorn Cracking Party” and learn how to process acorns into flour from one of Douglas County’s tree specialists, a true gem and great friend to Wild Ivy Herb Farm. Join us during the Kaw Valley Farm Tour, tour the farm and enjoy this free workshop!

Looking forward to seeing you on the farm!

Location: Wild Ivy Herb Farm 649 E 1450 Rd, Lawrence, KS 66046

Directions: From K10, take the Ottawa/Iowa St. exit and head South onto Highway 59. Take the 650 Rd. exit and turn left to 1450 Rd. Turn left onto 1450 Rd. 649 E 1450Rd. Yellow and green house with 2 hoophouses on the property.