My grandmother said that time flew by faster and faster the older she got. I haven’t yet had that experience. In fact, I feel that time is circling in on itself making everything feel longer and weirder.
Perhaps you feel this, too.
So instead of feeling like, wow, [enter season here] was so short, I’m feeling like, wow, I thought that would never end.
It’s probably a reflection of all the unsettling things happening in the world right now. But let’s set that aside to reflect on the season.
My DNA tells me that this is the time where the year ends, not the calendar, but the year that was a year in the times of my ancient ancestors. The beginning of The Cold Dark when the angle of sun falls until people created ways to know exactly when it was in fact returning.
Autumn settles into winter and while I count time and tromp through the snow looking for the last wild berries. Three months of contemplation and then by February I can feel it all rising again when the maple trees start singing their sweet song.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, when I really want to talk about the past.
In late October, strings of marigolds, sugared skulls, and photos of ancestors emerged throughout the valley of the San Gabriel mountains. I stomped around the mountains as a child but explored the valley as soon as I could make the descent in my first car.
Excursions into L.A. for Day of the Dead Festivals exploded with color, music, and tantalizing scents of iced sweetbreads. Painted faces with skeletal hollows and colorful flowers mixed with Halloween masks and witches’ hats. Food trucks, popsicle carts, and the fragrance of incense and churros filled the streets.
So different than the anemic Halloween school festivals at my elementary school. There children wore plastic masks of popular TV characters carrying pillowcases to fill with candy. My brother wore his Caspar the Ghost a little too long even after two boys said, “You’re despicable.” Which just made us daffy with quacking noises.
These kids were utterly offended by the father who came out to perform magic tricks with a top hat, tuxedo, and magic wand. Dude, where’s the candy?
Now here in NE Ohio, the season is marked by dappled gold and scarlet as the trees stop watching the sun. Marigolds breathe a red orange sigh of relief as the temperatures begin to cool. Homesteading time is spent mulching the garden, pulling vegetable roots, and preparing for winter greens in the hoop house.
Elsie, as usual, has her own priorities.
The apothecary is calling for plantain, cleavers, the roots of echinacea and elecampane. And I’m reflecting on the herbal school year as it comes to a close.
I have one more walk and one more class before it’s time to start planning for 2027.
This is the last newsletter for 2026, so I’m sharing a few accomplishments, the details for the last events, and a preview of 2027.
I wish you deep healing as we descend into the dark, breathing into the creative depths of what we’ll carry into the next year.
Leah
CHI 1 Getting Grounded – Class of 2026
The lovely group above is now completing the Community Herbal Intensive (CHI) level 1, called Getting Grounded. They explored the Lakefront Reservation in Cleveland, Rocky River Reservation, the Rockefeller Gardens. and made medicinal preparations in 3 of 4 workshops. One more workshop will happen before we close the in-person portion so they can finish the online readings and work toward their certificates. Registration for 2027 is now open.
CHI 2 Getting Rooted – Class of 2026
This beautiful group is now completing the Community Herbal Intensive level 2, called Getting Rooted. We organized four retreats to different parts of Ohio. We explored Hocking Hills, Arc of Appalachia, and the shores of Lake Erie, practiced identifying plants and made herbal preparations while reviewing case studies. In a couple of weeks, we’ll be visiting the Cuyahoga Valley National Park before we part ways. I’m starting a waiting list for people interested in CHI 2.
Community Medic Trainings
We had fun in the first community medic training in 2026. Nicki, from Galactic Oasis, holds up the Dress-A-Medic game. I led two community medic trainings in 2026, with one more happening next Saturday. It’s not too late to sign up for this important community perspective on first aid in emergent situations. Scroll below for details or get in touch if you’d like to schedule a training in your area.
100 Uses of Plantain
My favorite accomplishment of the year is the “100 Uses of Plantain Poster.” The unfinished drawing above is a Common Buckeye Butterfly, one of the images featured in the poster and a sticker. This poster is the foundation for the book on herbal first aid I’m writing. I will be sharing portions of the book on Flowers from the Forest on Substack.
Read about how indigenous species are often overlooked posted in October: https://flowersfromtheforest.substack.com/p/invisible-indigenous-plants
The poster is now available with some matching stickers. Find the poster (and soon the stickers) at Verity Herbs and Wellness, Harbor Gardens, Roots of Reverence Herb Shop, or order below to get it shipped.
Last Class of the Year
Community Medic Training
November 7, 11-4 PM
Church of the Sparkling Unicorn, Columbus, OH
Learn basic first aid from a community perspective. This training has online and in-person components to offer different ways of learning. Trainer Leah Wolfe is a former street medic and disaster responder. Disaster preparedness is self-care especially in uncertain times.
Last Walk of the Year
Wild Edible & Medicinal Plant Walk
November 8, 10 AM, Columbus OH
To join a walk, you have to be part of the walking group. It’s free to join. Once you join and then sign up for a specific walk, you will receive the meeting place for the walk. Suggested donation for walks is $10-20.
First Ohio Community Herbalist Guild Medicine Making Gathering
The Crow’s Feet
Medicine Making Mondays
The Crow’s Feet is a new volunteer-based project for an Ohio community herbalist guild welcoming herbalists, foragers, and healing practitioners in Ohio. We are listed in the Mutual Aid Herbs Directory and Leah Wolfe, primary organizer of The Crow’s Feet and creator of the Trillium Center, is a contributor to Mutual Aid Herbs. We are working to establish collection hubs throughout the state.
Medicine Making Monday is the second Monday of the month at the Galactic Oasis, in Lakewood, Ohio at 6 PM starting in January. A second location in Columbus is in the works, subscribe to the Trillium Center to get updates on events.
Medicine making is open and free to anyone who wishes to learn and give ease to others through herbalism. Becoming a member means that you will be more engaged and you will be honored with gifts each year of membership.
Emergent Herbalism and Community in Disaster Situations
January 12, 19, 26, 2027
Online Live Sessions
When disaster strikes, government response is often slow leaving victims without help for days. Preparing community members to coordinate a decentralized and plant-based response and recovery is vital. This workshop is presented in 3 parts: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. Topics include putting together disaster kits, learning about common wild plants, logistics and communication ideas, basic project set up, thoughts on how to work with the community to rebuild, and suggestions for further education. We will work through each scenario with active discussion, planning, and logistics for a plausible disaster situation. Sliding-scale fee is offered up to $40-120 for three-online live sessions. Enter the amount you want to pay after you click on the button below.
Herbs to Support Immunity
January 10, 1-3 PM, Erie PA
I’m excited to start a new partnership with herbalist Kristy Baird at Verity Herbs and Wellness. She has a beautiful shop and I can’t wait to get back out to Erie to spend more time there. This is my first class of the year and the first class in Erie in a long time. Many thanks to Kristy for opening her space.
In January, we’ll start with a class on how to use herbs and natural healing techniques to stay well during the darker days of winter and prepare for the transition into spring.
Reading the Body
February 27-28, 2027, Conneaut OH
Pre-registration now open for CHI Alumni only
Reading the Body is an amazing workshop being offered by Stacey Quade, the first graduate of Margi Flint’s well-known work built from the legacy of William LeSassier. These techniques are invaluable in herbal assessment, including pulse, tongue, skin, and other ways to determine which herbs for which person.
If you have taken CHI 1 or CHI 2 (Northways) you are given priority and a discount to sign up for this course. Preregistration is available now, just get in touch.
Community Herbal Intensive 1: Getting Grounded
March through November 2027
Registration for the in-person Community Herbal Intensive is now open. Payment plans are available – with a monthly payment plan that must be completed by March 1. Starting early means lower payments. Self study and online-only versions available. This course is offered in the Columbus and Cleveland areas. Click below to see dates, payment options, and sign up.
Community Herbal Intensive 2: Getting Rooted
TBA 2027
If you already took CHI 1, then you are ready for CHI 2. Or if you already took a basic herbal program and want to learn a different perspective without starting at the beginning, get in touch. The waiting list for CHI 2 is open now. This in-person course will be shaped by those who wish to attend. If you are interested in being part of this conversation, send me a note.
California Herbalism – By Request!
March 16-23, 2027
I’m creating a herbal tour of California. I grew up in a village between the Angeles National Forest and the San Bernardino National Forest. Experience the ocean, the desert, and the mountains in spring while the California poppies are blooming. Learn about the medicinal plants in the high desert, mountain, and coastal areas of southern California. We will visit an olive and mesquite orchard, the beach areas, Joshua Tree National Park, Cleveland National Forest, Angeles National Forest, and the San Bernardino National Forest.
Scotland Botanical Tour
June 2027
The exact dates are still to be determined as I pull together a group. I am organizing this tour of botanical gardens in Scotland to learn about the medicinal plants and explore the area. If you are interested in working with me to schedule this event, please get in touch. We will need to start making reservations very soon!
That’s all for now! Slainté!
