Upcoming Events
Pawpaws and Their Tropical Relatives and Global Beverage Biology
United Plant Savers Sanctuary
Overview
Explore tropical fruits & global beverages in a full-day workshop on Pawpaws and worldwide drink traditions.
Join us for a full-day journey into the fascinating worlds of tropical fruits and global beverage traditions. This immersive experience is perfect for plant enthusiasts, curious foodies, and anyone interested in ethnobotany, culture, and health.
Morning Session: The Pawpaw and Its Tropical Relatives (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Discover the Pawpaw and its extended family, the Annonaceae. Explore legendary fruits such as Biriba, Bullock’s Heart, Soursop, Sugar Apple, and Sweet Sop, as well as non-edible members like Ylang Ylang. Learn where these plants grow across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and uncover their non-food ethnobotanical uses.
Lunch Break (12:00 PM – 1:30 PM)
Take a break, enjoy your own meal, and connect with fellow participants.
Afternoon Session: Beverage Biology of the World (1:30 PM – 4:00 PM)
Take an ethnobiological tour of beverage traditions from Appalachia and cultures around the globe. Learn how different liquid preparations relate to health and well-being, and engage your senses with a curated selection of beverages for tasting. This session blends education with hands-on experience for a fully immersive exploration.
Open to all skill and knowledge levels
Additional Info: A portion of proceeds will support United Plant Savers.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore tropical fruits, global beverage culture, and their fascinating intersections with health and ethnobotany.
Register at the following link.
Time: 10 - 4
Fee: $30
Ethnobotany Intensive
Mosaic Faith Community
The Seagate School of Holistic Herbalism is thrilled to welcome and host marc williams to southeast North Carolina for a Botany Intensive on March 28th. marc was one of the presenters at the Southeast North Carolina Herbal Conference and we are grateful to have him return this spring!
Workshop Description
Our learning experience will focus on the families of plants found commonly in the Coastal Plain. We will cover how the differences in look regarding leaves, flowers, fruits and other parts may help in proper identification. The way plants are classified based on these features and more recently DNA will be discussed relative to how they are referred to scientifically.
We will also cover the best book and web resources for the exploration of plant identification and use in the region. The class will feature a powerpoint illustrating the major characteristics of botany in general and then we will examine various forms of plant material gathered directly from the land to further emphasize the lessons learned and walk around to explore further. Ethnobotanical applications for craft, food, medicine will round out our experience together with a focus on sustainability.
Registration and Pricing
Three tiers of tickets are available:
$40 Early Bird Pricing through March 7th, 2026
$60 Regular Pricing through March 21st, 2026
$80 Regular Pricing through March 28th, 2026
No Refunds will be issued, but you can transfer or gift to another person. Limited tickets available at each price range.
If finances are a major restraint to enthusiastic participation then folks can reach out to marc in regard to a work trade or scholarship arrangement marc@botanyeveryday.com.
Register at the following link.
Time: 1 - 4:30
Fee: Variable Pricing
Ethnobotany Intensive
Mosaic Faith Community 408 Willard Street Wilmington, North Carolina 28401
The Seagate School of Holistic Herbalism is thrilled to welcome and host marc williams to south east North Carolina for a Botany Intensive on March 28th. marc was one of the presenters at the Southeast North Carolina Herbal Conference and we are grateful to have him return this spring!
Workshop Description
Our learning experience will focus on the families of plants found commonly in the Coastal Plain. We will cover how the differences in look regarding leaves, flowers, fruits and other parts may help in proper identification. The way plants are classified based on these features and more recently DNA will be discussed relative to how they are referred to scientifically.
We will also cover the best book and web resources for the exploration of plant identification and use in the region. The class will feature a powerpoint illustrating the major characteristics of botany in general and then we will examine various forms of plant material gathered directly from the land to further emphasize the lessons learned and walk around to explore further. Ethnobotanical applications for craft, food, medicine will round out our experience together with a focus on sustainability.
If finances are a major restraint to enthusiastic participation then folks can reach out to marc@botanyeveryday.com in regard to a work trade or scholarship arrangement.
Registration and Pricing
Three tiers of tickets are available:
$40 Early Bird Pricing through March 7th, 2026
$60 Regular Pricing through March 21st, 2026
$80 Regular Pricing through March 28th, 2026
No Refunds will be issued, but you can transfer or gift to another person.
Register at the link below
https://www.simpletix.com/e/ethnobotany-intensive-with-marc-williams-tickets-259663
Time: 1 - 4:30
Fee: Variable Pricing
Temperate Medicinal Plant Biogeography, Comnservation and Use
Front Street Theater Wilmington, NC
This class will focus on several of the major medicinal plants that grow in the cold areas of the world and the coastal plain particularly that are often used in herbalism. We will go over where these plants are originally from and the current state of their conservation. The work of the non-profit United Plant Savers in plant preservation will be a major topic of discussion. The need for more cultivation of various species, as well as the substitution of more common plants for rare ones and resources to assess sustainability of harvest will round out our discussion. Some examples of some of the plants we will discuss include: Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa), Fairywand (Chamaelirium luteum), Ginseng (Panax quinquefolia), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Osha (Ligusticum spp.), Spikenards (Aralia spp.), Stoneroot (Collinsonia canadensis), Virginia Snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria) and White Sage (Salvia apiana).
Register at the following link
Time: 1 - 3
Fee: $10
NC Rare Plant Discussion
UNC Chapel Hill Botanical Garden
Mike Kunz & Brandon Wheeler (North Carolina Botanical Garden), Julian Wilson & Kate Loughran (NC Plant Conservation Program), and Misty Buchanan & Katherine Culatta (NC Natural Heritage Program) would like to invite you to the **2026 North Carolina Rare Plant Discussion Meeting**.
Date: Wednesday, **April 1st, 2026, 9:00 am-4:00 pm**
Location: **North Carolina Botanical Garden, Reeves Auditorium, Chapel Hill, NC**
No RSVP is required and please bring your own lunch. If you have any talks you'd like to add to the agenda, please email me, Brandon Wheeler (branwhee@unc.edu). We'll be in touch with a finalized list of speakers and schedule in the coming weeks and look forward to seeing you all in early spring!
Time: 9a.m. - 4p.m.
Fee: Priceless: Free!
Ethnobiology and Sustainability
North Carolina State University
A lecture for the Ethnobiology class of Dr. Jillian de Gezelle at NC State and not open to the public though the hope is to also give a presentation to the Ethnobiology club as well that may be then open.
Time:
Fee:
Phytoremediation
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Botanical Garden
Phytoremediation entails the use of plants to mitigate the effects of some type of environmental toxin or damage. Humans have introduced tens of thousands of novel compounds into the environment just since World War II while only a fraction of these have been adequately tested for safety and even proven toxins continue to often be used. Phytoremediation may be used to remove contaminants from soil, air, water or simply re-vegetate and stabilize a disturbed area. In the process, phytoremediation may offer a suite of benefits familiar to those who work with plants including carbon sequestration, erosion control, increased water quality, aesthetic value, food for wildlife, craft materials etc. The potential threat from toxins to folks interested in foraging or community gardening in polluted urban environments will be a focus in particular.
Time: 1:30 - 4:00
Fee: Variable Pricing
Botany by Plant Family: The Key to See
Duke Gardens in Durham, NC
Learning to notice plant family patterns can greatly aid in demystifying the “green wall” of plant species around us. Nearly 350,000 species of flowering plants are known to global science, and these species have been grouped into over 400 flowering plant families. By learning the top 30 plant families growing around you, you will begin to recognize plants everywhere you go. After an indoor presentation on the major plant families common to the Southeastern US, reinforce your plant identification skills on a walk in the Gardens to observe family patterns in leaf, flower and fruit types. Discuss edibility, medicinality, craft, wildlife support and landscape beauty as you gain a more holistic understanding of the major plants comprising Southern US flora and their potential ecological and ethnobotanical applications.
Accessibility: This will be a small group program that takes place partially seated indoors and partially outdoors traveling on a combination of paved and unpaved paths with some uneven surfaces and moderate inclines.
Register at the link below
https://gardens.duke.edu/learn/adult-programs/
Time: 1 - 4:30 p.m
Fee: $32 and 20% discount for garden members
Apr
12
2026
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Apr
18
2026
Field Botany–Foraged Snacks & Teas
John C. Campbell Folk School
Discover the joys of botanical exploration. Walk the Folk School’s gardens, fields, and forests as you observe plants and practice a patterns method of identification. Deepen your awareness of plant life stories and their relationships to other life forms like animals and fungi. Recognize plant families and their representative members, practice sustainable plant collecting, and learn from presentations. End each day with samples of delicious snacks and teas featuring wild foraged ingredients.
https://folkschool.configio.com/pd/3686/field-botany-foraged-snacks-teas?st_t=2077&st_ti=2492&cid=2527&returncom=productlist&source=search
Time: 6p.m. 4/12 - 12p.m. 4/18
Fee: $870
May
15
2026
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May
17
2026
Medicines from the Earth Conference
Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC
Excited to be returning to one of my favorite conferences ever! Will also be nice to be at the amazing venue of the Blue Ridge Assembly again after being displaced last year due to the damage from Hurricane Helene. It will certainly be an incredible scene! My classes this year include Ethnomycology and the Poisonous Plant Path.
See more info at the link below.
https://www.botanicalmedicine.org/pages/medicines-from-the-earth
Time: Friday morning until Sunday late afternoon
Fee: Variable Pricing
Jun
12
2026
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Jun
14
2026
Wild Indigo Herb Fest
Terrapin Hill Farm, Harrodsburg, KY.
Excited to be one of the keynotes along with friend and inspiration Linda Black Elk for this inaugural iteration of a new herb conference for Kentucky. Will probably teach another class or two while in the area as well.
More details at the link below
https://wildindigoherbfest.com/about/
Time:
Fee: Variable Pricing
Jul
15
2026
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Jul
18
2026
Cullowhee Native Plant Conference
Western Carolina University
One of the oldest native plant conferences in the country having just celebrated its 40th birthday! Always a highlight of the teaching schdule every year with enough high qulaity class offerings to make ones head spin!
https://www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/conferences-and-community-classes/the-cullowhee-native-plant-conference/
Time: 7 a.m. 7.15.26 - 2 p.m. 7.18.26
Fee: Variable Pricing
Jul
31
2026
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Aug
02
2026
Southeastern Permaculture Gathering
The Patterson School
Come to our annual gathering at the beautiful Patterson School outside Lenoir, NC This is certainly one of my favorites of all time, even in a place and a life with many amazing events! i will most definitely be helping to facilitate a plant/mushroom walk and will also be working in the kitchen if you want to help make food for everybody. Almost all the meals are sourced locally or from participants of the gathering. Some of the best food experienced by many at any gathering bar none. An amazing outdoor sculpture park is another incredible component of this locale too. http://www.southeasternpermaculture.org/
Time: 8a.m. 7.31.26 - 4p.m. 8.2.26
Fee: Sliding Scale
Sep
11
2026
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Sep
13
2026
Great Lakes Herb Faire
Cedar Lake Outdoor Center outside Chelsea, MI
This is one of my favorite events ever attended of the over 100 experienced over the decades. Will update info once the schedule is announced.
https://www.greatlakesherbfaire.org/
Time: Friday morning until Sunday late afternoon
Fee: Variable Pricing
Oct
02
2026
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Oct
04
2026
Gullah Geechee Herbal Gathering
John's Island, South Carolina
Excited to finally attend this annual gathering. For one of the few times in my career in the last fifteen years my role will be solely as a student and at least not formally as a teacher. That said excited to absorb as much as possible of the wisdom of the elders that they care to share.
https://www.gullahgeecheeherbalgathering.com/
Time: 10a.m. 10.2.26 to 4p.m. 10.4.26
Fee: Variable Pricing