Jan 24: Craft Tinctures & Glycerites with Donna Mother Herb

Donna Horn Putney, a certified holistic naturopathic practitioner and retired nurse known as 'Donna Mother Herb,' leads a hands-on workshop at Hagood Mill Historic Site on crafting tinctures and glycerites from foraged plants like Perilla and Bee Balm. Putney Farm, co-designed by Donna and her husband Lenard, serves as the backdrop for her expertise—a 20-year permaculture food forest, free-range poultry farm, nursery, and herbal paradise in the Upstate region. Participants engage in a 4-hour class from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, including a 30-minute lunch break, blending foraging, plant identification, and practical remedy-making. The morning session (10:00 AM–12:00 PM) focuses on foraging and identifying antimicrobial plants, emphasizing local, sustainable sourcing. Afternoon (12:30 PM–2:00 PM) covers extraction techniques: alcohol-based tinctures for strong medicinals and glycerites for alcohol-free options suitable for children and pets. Perilla, rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, and Bee Balm, valued for its antimicrobial and digestive properties, are featured, with discussions on their historical uses in traditional medicine. Students learn dosage, storage, and safety, including contraindications. Putney's decades of advocacy for local food via Upstate Locally Grown inform her teaching, promoting kitchen-based herbalism. Each class is unique, adapting to seasonal plants and participant questions. Attendees leave with finished products, recipes, and confidence to replicate at home. This workshop builds on permaculture principles by utilizing food forest yields for medicine, reducing reliance on pharmaceuticals. Putney's background in nursing ensures evidence-informed practices alongside folk wisdom. The event encourages ongoing learning through her Facebook page and online courses. Similar classes cover ointments and Native American plant medicine, expanding skills. In the context of rising interest in self-sufficiency, this class equips participants for health resilience. Detailed instructions include ratios (1:5 herb to menstruum), steeping times (4-6 weeks), and straining methods. Safety emphasizes proper plant ID to avoid toxics. The permaculture integration highlights multifunctional plants: food, medicine, pollinator support. Hagood Mill's historic setting adds cultural depth. With small groups, interaction is high, fostering community. Post-class, participants report empowered home apothecaries. Putney's farm exemplifies layered systems: trees, shrubs, herbs coexisting productively. This January 24 event, upcoming as of early 2026, offers timely winter prep for spring foraging.