On Wednesday, Aug. 30, Deb Soule of Avena Botanicals will be teaching a workshop titled “Making Beneficial Herbal Teas.”  
 
Deb Soule is an herbalist, gardener, and the founder of Avena Botanicals in Rockport, Maine. Avena is home to a three-acre organic and biodynamic herb farm, which Deb and her staff cultivate to produce their handcrafted line of tinctures, herbal salves and ointments, facial crèmes and tea blends. Raised in a small town in western Maine, Deb began organic gardening and studying the healing uses of herbs at age 16 alongside the internationally known herbalist Mary Bove.   
 
In addition to her work as a farmer and business owner, Deb is a respected and well-known teacher. Her passion for plants, gardens and healing, as well as her commitment to sharing herbal knowledge with others, is central to her work. She is frequently a guest-lecturer at various conferences, as well as an instructor for botany and horticulture students, garden clubs, and medical students. She is a past keynote speaker at the Common Ground Country Fair, and in 2005, People, Places and Plants magazine named Deb as one of the 50 most influential gardeners in the Northeast.
 
Deb will begin by introducing the class to some of her favorite herbs for making healing teas, like catmint, lavender and lemon balm. She’ll then instruct the class in proper collecting, drying, and storing techniques. Creating your own herbal tea is a simple way to enjoy your own home remedies – come sample several hot and cold infusions for yourself!
 
The program runs from 1 to 4pm on August 30. Admission for the day is included in the registration fee. Participants can register online or call Taylor Eddy at 633-8012. 

The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education and research. Visit Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens online at www.mainegardens.org.