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Food and Beverage
in Classes and Workshops
Flowers as Healers: Introduction to Flower Essences
with Debra Bluth
Join herbalist, homeopath, and flower essences practitioner Debra Bluth for an introduction to flower essence workshop.
Flower essences are energetic remedies made from the blossoms of living plants, potentized by the sun or moon, and created with intention and ceremony. Taken orally, these essences work on a vibrational level to support emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Each essence carries a unique energetic imprint, guiding the body and mind toward greater balance and healing.
In this immersive workshop, you'll explore the foundations of flower essences, including their history, uses, and the subtle yet profound shifts they can facilitate. A significant portion of the day will be spent outdoors, where each participant will have the opportunity to create their own flower essence.
Ages: 18+
Harvest Feast: Hints, How-Tos, & Three Fresh Recipes
with Pat Friedman
Join Pat Friedman of Fearless-Foodies (www.Fearless-Foodies.com) for a fun afternoon of prepping and cooking
$125 per person includes take-home recipes, all ingredients needed for preparation, tools and equipment.
This lively workshop will feature a local August-season bounty of tomatoes, cukes, peppers, kale, celery, corn, zucchini, green beans, herbs, and edible flowers. We'll also share growing and harvesting ideas, while expanding our culinary horizons with renewed flair for serving great food on a budget.
The meal includes:
• Awesome Appetizer ~ Zesty salsa with homemade tortilla chips and taco seasoning.
• Standout Salad ~ Featuring unique vegetable cuts, herbs and edible flowers along with a homemade herbed vinaigrette.
• Tuscan Kale Soup ~ A creamy and delicious, gluten-free, simply made soup with veggies, beans and herbs. We’ll also make a quick no-yeast focaccia to dip in the soup.
The class includes tasty add-ons such as adding seasonal fruits to the salsa, quick pickling, and ways to prepare the soup that will appeal to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
Accessibility Information
We aim to make this class as inclusive as possible:
• Viles Arboretum is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms. • Tables and chairs are provided
• Participants will be standing and moving around, with some light lifting and handling of equipment. Please reach out if you have mobility concerns or need accommodations.
• Instructions will be provided verbally and visually.
NOTE: Please include any dietary restrictions and allergies in advance, at the time of registration, so your needs can be met. Thank you.
About the Instructor
Pat Friedman was born into her family’s New York deli on Long Island. From the age of nine, when her family moved to the Poconos, she worked in their remote Pocono Mountains General Store. There she prepared and served from-scratch salads, bakery goods and deli favorites including specialty foods for the local Scandinavian community. Since moving to Maine, she has been the founder of Sout to Nuts Coffee House, an organic café in Waterville, and currently operates Fearless Foodies, an online cooking and healthy food focused business. A lifelong healthy gourmet chef and avid organic gardener, Pat is also the publisher of the digital Life Recipe Magazine and is writing an international foods cookbook.
Honey Wine Workshop
with Wood Thrush Wilderness
All participants must be 21 years or older. Valid ID is required at check-in.
Discover the ancient art of mead making and transform honey into a decadent, fermented beverage cherished throughout history. Mead, also known as honey wine, is the world’s oldest alcoholic drink. In this immersive workshop, you’ll explore its rich history, learn the basics of brewing and fermentation, and create your own one-gallon batch of mead to take home.
What to Expect
- History & Tasting: Learn about mead's origins and cultural significance while sampling a selection of meads and honeys from across the country. Enjoy about 4-8 ounces of mead throughout the class.
- Hands-On Learning: Step-by-step guidance through the mead-making process, from selecting ingredients to understanding fermentation.
- Tools & Techniques: Learn to measure sugar levels with a hydrometer, determine alcohol content, and practice sterilization and bottling techniques.
Every student will receive the following supplies to continue brewing at home:
- One-gallon glass carboy
- Airlock Hydrometer with a cylinder and brush
- 3-4 lbs. of raw honey and ingredients for a batch of mead
- Detailed directions and a materials list for bottling your finished mead
This class is perfect for beginners and hobbyists interested in home brewing, wine making, or fermentation. Whether you’re curious about mead or looking to refine your skills, this workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to the craft.
Accessibility Information
We aim to make this class as inclusive as possible. Please reach out if you have mobility concerns or need accommodations.
- Location: The venue is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms.
- Seating and Workspace: Tables and chairs are provided
- Physical Effort:Participants will be standing and moving around, with some light lifting and handling of equipment.
- Visual Guidance: Intructions will be provided verbally and visually.
About the Instructor
Wood Thrush Wilderness is an outdoor guiding and educational business that helps people connect more deeply with themselves and the natural world. As Licensed Recreation Maine Guides, we offer guided canoe expeditions throughout the state of Maine. We also offer classes and training in outdoor education, wilderness medicine, and traditional crafts such as basketry.