What are these plants that spring from the ground beneath our feet — the ones we walk over and so often dismiss as weeds? Some make excellent remedies, some provide food for insects, others offer shelter to lizards… and many are edible!

In this activity, part walk and part workshop, we will learn how to identify edible and medicinal plants and, above all, learn to appreciate them and stop calling them weeds! We begin by descending the steps beside the Fontaínhas Washhouse and setting out to discover the herbs and flowers that grow almost everywhere — along the edges of the gardens, in the cracks of the pathways, and among the stones of the walls. As we gather plants, we will explore their scents and textures, observe their shapes and colours, and taste the unique flavours of each one.

We then return to the Washhouse, where, around an improvised table set above the washing tanks, we will begin creating a wild plant herbarium and preparing a sweet-and-sour preserve to take home.

Nasturtium is peppery, borage brings courage, fennel tastes like cough drops, plantain recalls mushrooms, and sorrel is almost like lemon!

NOTE:
This will be an outdoor, hands-on workshop, so we recommend wearing old clothes, comfortable footwear, a hat, and sunscreen. Please also bring a pen and some adhesive tape. We will provide the notebook used to create the herbarium.