BotanicWise was founded by Charis Lindrooth with the intention of providing a forum where plant wisdom can be shared and where like-minded people can connect and build a community to steward land, medicinal plants, and supportive relationships with each other. Inspired by the work of Rosemary Gladstar, David Winston, United Plant Savers, and many internationally acclaimed teachers and organizations in the herbal renaissance, BotanicWise strives to create space for land and plant stewardship, with an inner mission to cultivate alliances between plants and people, and between people and people. We are grateful for all who participate in this expanding green movement that invites perspective on the transformation of modern health and health care in this country.
What you will learn from Gathering Forest Medicine
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Hello Reader, In just 12 days, we will join Kate in her virtual forest! I have been waiting for this moment to drink up Kate’s wealth of knowledge. My heart is singing, knowing the wisdom of the forest can be life-changing. Here’s what Kate will share with us… Oct. 13: Entering the Forest: The Living WebStep into the beauty, complexity, and healing presence of the Northeast forest—and into the timeless relationship between humans and the woodland world. Together, we’ll explore the Northeast's diverse forest types, from Pine-Oak forests of the coastal woodlands of Cape Cod and Maine to northern hardwood forests and the boreal forests of the Adirondacks. Kate will share stories from her experiences with old-growth forests, including the Cathedral Pines of Adirondack Park and the King Pines of New Hampshire, as well as stories gathered from a lifetime spent among the forest lovers of the Northeast. See the forest not simply as a collection of trees, but as an intricate web of relationships—where plants, fungi, animals, soil, water, and humans are woven together. Meet ancient evergreens, or conifers: Pine and Cedar, Hemlock and Spruce, Larch and fragrant Balsam Fir. Each has its own presence, personality, and gifts to offer. We’ll explore their roles in the health of the forest and planet, their traditional uses as medicine for humans and animals, and even the shelf mushrooms that make their homes upon these remarkable trees. Come listen deeply to the forest and discover what becomes possible when we begin to know it as a living community. Oct. 20: The Generous Hardwoods: Trees of Light, Strength & LifeOur attention turns to the magnificent hardwoods of the northern forest. Meet the generous Maples, Birches, Poplars, Oaks, Wild Cherry, Black Walnut, Sassafras, Aspen, and Linden, along with woodland shrubs such as Witch Hazel and Viburnum. We’ll explore these trees not only for their beauty and medicinal gifts, but for their essential place within the larger forest community. Who depends upon them? What do they provide? How do they shape the soil, shelter wildlife, nourish pollinators, and create the conditions for other plants to thrive? We’ll consider the many ways these tall beings of light and strength have touched human lives—from food and medicine to shelter, tools, beauty, and story. As Kate shares her deep experience with these trees, we’ll be invited to slow down and see them differently: not simply as resources, but as generous members of a living community with whom we share a home. Perhaps, by the end of our time together, you’ll never walk past a Maple, Birch, or Linden in quite the same way again. Oct. 27: The Forest Floor: Medicine, Mystery & Planting the FutureNow reach down to the forest floor—to the small, remarkable plants that live in the shade of their towering elders. Meet Spikenard, Solomon’s Seal, Goldthread, Clubmoss, and some of the forest’s most treasured and vulnerable medicines: Bloodroot, Goldenseal, Blue Cohosh, Trillium, Pink Lady’s Slipper, and Wild Ginger. These plants teach us about patience, place, and interdependence. Many grow slowly and are exquisitely adapted to the unique conditions of a healthy woodland. Some are increasingly at risk, reminding us that loving a plant also means learning how to protect its future. Explore ethical gathering and the importance of knowing when to harvest—and when to leave a plant undisturbed. Kate will share ways to successfully grow some of these woodland herbs in a shady garden or neighboring woodland, creating small sanctuaries where forest medicines can take root. We’ll consider what it means to become stewards rather than only gatherers, and how our gardens can become refuges for plants that need our help. This is the work of Planting the Future—a beautiful call to action championed by United Plant Savers: learning to cultivate, protect, and nurture the plants we hope will be here for generations to come. Gathering Forest Medicine: A Journey Through Northeast Woodlands with Kate GildayYours in Health, Charis Lindrooth BotanicWise |
BotanicWise
BotanicWise was founded by Charis Lindrooth with the intention of providing a forum where plant wisdom can be shared and where like-minded people can connect and build a community to steward land, medicinal plants, and supportive relationships with each other. Inspired by the work of Rosemary Gladstar, David Winston, United Plant Savers, and many internationally acclaimed teachers and organizations in the herbal renaissance, BotanicWise strives to create space for land and plant stewardship, with an inner mission to cultivate alliances between plants and people, and between people and people. We are grateful for all who participate in this expanding green movement that invites perspective on the transformation of modern health and health care in this country.
Hello Reader, Autumn in the forest is a magical time—sunlight shimmering on the tall pines—maple leaves dancing in bright reds and golds as they fall to the forest floor among boletes and amanita mushrooms popping up near turkey tail shelf mushrooms on downed tree limbs. Wild geese call from a clear blue sky while chickadees chirp “chicka-dee-dee-dee” from nearby evergreen branches. The air fills with the fragrance of soil, balsam fir, fungi, and fallen leaves. I go to the woods to gather...
Hello Reader, Spending time in the woods with White Pine, sharing our gratitude and gathering the needles, is one way to connect with the forest, creating and nurturing a relationship with these wise, wild elders. The food and medicines we prepare from the woodlands hold the resonance of all that is held there. Watch on Instagram Kate Gilday shares her recipe for pine-infused honey, one of her favorite treats! Pine Needle Honey by Kate Gilday This sweet treat from the forest has become one of...
Hello Reader, Today I want to share a personal story by Kate Gilday…and her recipe for Pine Tea! Called by the Trees by Kate Gilday Since I was a young girl, trees have been my friends, trusted guides, and places of play and refuge. As the oldest of ten children, when I needed space, I would quietly climb the old apple tree in our tiny yard, where I found peace and comfort hidden in the leafy branches. Apple held me close, whispered in fragrant spring blossoms, and became a precious refuge. I...