Mills Garden Herb Farm

.....everything goes better with herbs

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Herbs & Uses

Classes at Mills Garden Herb Farm

Madge and Jane host a monthly class on Sunday afternoons to share the fun of gardening, cooking and making medicine from the herbs we grow. Each participant receives a handout with all the information presented, along with products and plants to take home--depending on the class.  All supplies, a snack, and herbal tea, are included in the fee. For cooking classes, we all sit down and share the food that is featured, and no one leaves hungry! There is always  lively conversation and the opportunity to make new friends with people in the area who share your interest.  If the class you are attending will be held outdoors, please wear shoes with socks. Below is the schedule for 2012; we also present classes for special groups, so contact us to make arrangements.  
Cooking With Herbs: A Waist Management Meal
     
January 15, 2012
2:00-5:00 p.m.

An expanding waistline is the forerunner of many chronic issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease. In this workshop we’ll introduce  “waist management” strategies to help you get on track, and prepare an ideal meal, seasoned with the special herbs and spices known to shift metabolism.  When the food is ready, we will sit down for the meal with lots of lively conversation. Cost: $40 or $70 for two.
Fermentation: Cheese, Yogurt, Butter & Vegetables
      
 February 12, 2012
2:00-5:00 p.m.

Bring back the age-old tradition of making cheese and other fermented foods in your own kitchen. Making fresh cheeses, sauerkraut and other fermented foods is surprisingly simple. They are loaded with health benefits and are another way to use the herbs from your garden. Bring an appetite and be ready to sample these great products in a variety of recipes from dips to desserts. You’ll take home instructions, recipes and a starter kit so you can get started making all yourself. Cost: $40 or $70 for two. 
 
Gearing Up the Organic Herb & Vegetable Garden
  March 25, 2012
2:00-5:00 p.m.
                                                 
Once spring equinox has passed; longer, warmer days return. This class will inspire you to go outside and get your hands in the dirt! Topics include how to naturally build soil, control pests, and fertilize plants (ever hear of manure tea?).  Get a head start on your garden and turn your yard into an edible landscape. Bring questions about what to plant and where for a well balanced herb and vegetable garden. Take advantage of the opportunity to dig and take home selected plants from the gardens at Mills Garden Herb Farm. Join the fun; dress to garden, and bring gloves, shovels, bags, and boxes for carting home plants that you dig.  A handout of recipes and techniques is included and delicious herbal treats will be served. Cost: $30 or $50 for two.
The Woodland Garden: Growing Native Plants for Food and Medicine

                                                          

                                                          April 22, 2012                                                           

2:00-5:00 p.m.

Did you know that at one time Statesville was the “herb capital of the world?” Celebrate Earth Day with us and learn about our NC herbal heritage and native plants. This workshop will take place in the woodland garden where we will show you how to identify, grow, and use the shade plants, many of which are on the endangered list. There also are a few plants in this garden for you to dig and take home for your woods garden.  Snacks and tea will be prepared from woodland plants (nettles, spicebush, violets, chickweed, sweet woodruff) and we’ll make an herbal bug spray to take home. In this garden, the plants reign so wear socks and long pants. Cost: $30 or $50 for two.
Cooking with Herbs: Easy to Make Artisan Breads 

                                                              

                                                              May 20, 2012                                                              

 2:00-5:00 p.m.


Madge's bread, prepared with whole grains, herbs, and spices, definitely belongs in the "good carbs" category. Learn how to make her famous basic recipe, which is not only delicious and versatile, but timesaving too. After this workshop, you’ll easily work bread making into your busy day, for each step takes only a few minutes. There are so many variations: pizza, focaccia, bruschetta, herb breads/rolls, sweet varieties with fruits, nuts, and cinnamon, or add a pesto filling.  Of course, there will be many samples along with herbal tea and soup! Cost: $40 or $70 for two.
Herbal Beverages: Herbal Teas, Elixirs and Cordials

                                                            

                                                            June 24, 2012                                                             

2:00-5:00 p.m.

One of the best ways of using the fresh herbs from your herb garden is to make a simple herb tea. Learn the art of making herbal teas, and how they can be used for relaxation, stimulation, fevers, sore throats etc.  Make your teas into a simple syrup and you can easily put together a sparkling beverage—oh so refreshing in summer!  Herbal cordials are also easy to make, have a long shelf life, make great gifts and are VERY tasty.  We make many preparations together and have others prepared to sample.  Of course there will be delicious herbal snacks to accompany the tasting too!  Recipes for all. Cost: $40 or $70 for two. 
Cooking with Herbs: Mediterranean Menus
                                                               
                                                               July 22, 2012                                                                 
2:00-5:00 p.m.

Old World cooking in the New World; you don’t have to live by Mediterranean Sea to enjoy the delicious meals and reap the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. We can easily grow the herbs and vegetables in our own gardens or buy them at our local farmers markets.  At this workshop we’ll explore the benefits of this traditional way of cooking and prepare a delicious meal using them.Cost: $40 or $70 for two. 
The Healing Garden: Using Medicinal Garden Plants

                                                     

                                                             August 19, 2012                                                  

2:00-5:00 p.m.


Fall is when we start thinking about the end of the growing season and how to harvest and preserve our herbs for winter use. Learn to use the medicinal plants that grow best in the Piedmont of NC, and create a personal apothecary from them. We’ll make tinctures, teas, a syrup, and a salve with many samples to take home for your herbal “farmacy.”  Of course, a delicious herbal tea and snack will be served.  Cost: $30 or $50 for two.
Hypertufa Workshop
                                                       
                                                September 16, 2012                                              
2:00-5:00 p.m.

Hypertufa garden embellishments are fun and easy to make, and become great gifts as well. We’ll mix the hypertufa recipe together, and everyone will make a pot or stepping stone. We’ll use leaves from the garden to make leaf prints in our creations.  Learn how easy it is, and let your creativity be your guide. Dress in old clothes and come prepared to work.  Tea and snack will be served.  This workshop is held outside. Cost: $30 or $50 for two.

Cooking with Herbs: Beans, Beans, Beans
   
 October 14, 2012
2:00-5:00 p.m.

Beans are many and varied, and they provide a valuable protein source for much of the world’s population. Explore the world of beans at this workshop to learn about their special constituents and preparation methods that improve digestibility and render nutrients more bioavailable. In these times of escalating food prices, using more beans can really help stretch the food budget. They are easy to prepare from scratch, can be cooked in advance, and frozen for quick meals. Herbs are the perfect companions to all bean dishes. Of course, we’ll serve our creations too. Cost: $40 or $70 for two.
Cooking with Herbs: Spices of Life
                                                      
                                               November 11, 2012                                                
2:00-5:00 p.m.

The spices that we use for our holiday meals are not only delicious, but have powerful healing constituents that should be consumed throughout the whole year.  At this workshop come and learn about their historic place in cooking as well as healing. Although we cannot grow most of these spices in our area (in fact Columbus was looking for the Spice Islands when he discovered America), they are a “must” in the well-spiced kitchen. We will demonstrate new techniques of cooking with these spices and sample many new dishes throughout the class. We’ll include ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, chocolate, coffee and more. It doesn’t get more delicious than this. Cost: $40 or $70 for two.
Wreath Making Workshop
       
December 2, 2012
2:00-5:00 p.m.

Winter Solstice is a time when tradition calls for bringing in evergreens as a symbol of everlasting life—so this year, make a wreath from fresh greens. Join us for the festivities in the barn where Christmas music will be resounding through the rafters. Madge will demonstrate her special techniques and everyone will leave with their own creation, decorated with nature's finest. All supplies are provided, but if you want to add something special from your own backyard—a favorite berry, pinecone or other ornament, bring it along; some people also bring their own small wire cutters.  We'll enjoy a special holiday soup and hot cider.  Dress warmly if the weather is cool. Cost: $25 or $40 for two.
Reservations

To make a reservation, please fill out the form on the "Reservations" page, indicating the class you would like to attend and the number of reservations; send this form with your payment to:

Mills Garden Herb Farm
732 Mills Garden Road
Statesville, NC  28625

Your advance reservation is required to assist us in planning. Reservations may also be made by email: millsgardenherbs@roadrunner.com or phone: 704-873-3361.

Who Are Madge and Jane?

Two sisters who share a passion for nature and herbal healing. For most of their lives, thousands of miles separated them, but in “retirement.” Madge has created Mills Garden Herb Farm, and Jane has pursued studies in herbal medicine and nutrition. And, by some twist of fate, they are almost neighbors in North Carolina.  They have combined their talents and offer a variety of classes at Mills Garden Herb Farm to share the knowledge of our great grandmothers: organic gardening (of course, everything was organic for them!), and the wide and varied uses of herbs in cooking and medicine.

Mills Garden Her Farm, located in rural Statesville, NC is the realization of Madge’s dream to grow herbs and share her love of nature with others.  The farm delights the senses; her wonderful garden beds have become magical places for birds, bees and butterflies as well as a sustainable source of herbs and food, supporting all life.  The woodland garden has become a virtual fairyland, where she lovingly cultivates many of our NC native plants that are “endangered” due to overharvesting and loss of habitat.  In her greenhouse, Madge’s “certified naturally grown” herbs are germinated and raised to be sold as potted plants at farmers markets in Statesville, Hickory and Charlotte, NC. They thrive in the greenhouse where they are tenderly cared for while listening to classical music all day long! Madge also teaches at Mitchell Community College, is a member of NC Herb Association, the Charlotte Herb Guild, and manages the Evening Farmers Market in downtown Statesville. 

Jane moved to Asheville, NC in 2001 after a 30-year career as a science teacher and school counselor.  She worked in schools in the US, Brazil, and Japan. Always interested in science and healing, “retirement” offered her the opportunity to study herbal medicine and complete certificates in a traditional herbalist program as well as a clinical herbalist curriculum. She also holds a master’s degree in holistic nutrition.  Through her teaching, Jane hopes to help others return to traditional healing methods with whole foods and herbs.  She is on the board of  the NC Herb Association, and has twice been a presenter at their annual conference, Wild Herb Weekend.   She attends the “Medicines from the Earth” conference in Black Mountain, and also teaches classes related to nutrition and herbal healing in Asheville, NC.