Spring Tonics & Wild Greens

Instructor: Bonnie Lenneman

Day & Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tuition: $90.00

Ages: 18 and Up

Spring is upon us! The earth gifts us each year with plants that help us release that which has been stored over the winter, allowing us to more abundantly invite in the new. These “spring tonics” not only aid in digestion and are high in nutrients but are also delicious and abundant! Experience the joy of eating weeds as we spend the morning identifying and foraging for plants on the Folk School campus, followed by an afternoon of crafting food and medicine from our findings. Projects include infused vinegars, pesto, and compound butters made with wild spring greens.

There will be a 1-hour lunch break. Bring a sack lunch or explore local dining options.

Experience needed: All levels are welcome. No experience required. Must be able to walk at a moderate pace and navigate uneven terrain.

Location: This workshop takes place at both the John C. Campbell Folk School Campus and Olive’s Porch. Participants will meet on the main campus at 10 a.m. The meeting place will be determined and announced via email the week prior to the scheduled workshop date. The class will break for lunch and meet at Olive’s Porch in Murphy for the afternoon.   Campus Map 

Students Please Bring:

• Weather-appropriate outdoor gear (we’ll be walking rain or shine).
• Apron
• Lunch
• Note taking materials.
• (Optional) A snack and/or water bottle. Filtered water is available in the classroom.

An additional fee for materials provided by your instructor for this workshop is estimated at $30.00. THIS FEE IS PAYABLE TO THE INSTRUCTOR at the time of the workshop. Material fees may change depending on the number of participants and price of materials at the workshop. *Payment by cash or check is required for materials fees. 

* We contract with local and regional instructors for short workshops that generally require a minimum of students to run. If you have any questions, you’re welcome to call Olive’s Porch for up-to-date enrollment information. To respect our instructor’s time and preparation for workshops, please contact us as soon as possible if you are unable to attend a workshop. Cancellations made more than 14 days prior to a workshop will be issued a full refund. Cancellations made 14 or less days prior to your workshop are not eligible for a refund. If Olive’s Porch needs to cancel a workshop for any reason, we will issue a full refund. See our General Information and Policies page on our website for more information.

About Instructor: Bonnie Lenneman (she/they) is an herbalist and community educator residing on traditional ᏣᎳᎩ or Tsalagi (Cherokee) land near what's now known as Brasstown, NC (Itseyi), where she explores mountains and creeks, forages, makes medicine, and learns from plant and fungal teachers.  She is passionate about good (and wild) food, the intersection between food and medicine, ancestral skills, ecology, community resilience, and the healing properties of plants. Bonnie shares her enthusiasm with her community through plant walks, food and medicine workshops, an herbal CSA, and wellness consultations through her small business Hearth & Hedge. A former Folk School work study student, student host, and Olive's Porch Artist in Residence, Bonnie has been teaching and assisting Folk School classes since 2015.