Kara Swenson
Herbalist & Integrative Nutritionist
Upcoming Classes & Events
Check back regularly or sign up to recieve newsletters for class and event updates!
Plant Walk Dates
Throughout the warmer months, let's get to know the medicinal and edible plants that grow all around us! On a plant walk, you can expect to learn plant identification, plant names (common and botanical latin), as well as some of the ways in which the plant can be worked with and sustainable harvesting practices. Plant walks are interactive as we will walk around local areas (parks, properties, etc.) and observe, touch, and taste the plants as we go. Each and every plant walk will be different- depending on location, time of year, and which plants we come across!
​
2024 Plant Walks - Mankato Area
Wednesday, May 8th - 6:00-7:30pm @ Rasmussen Woods, Mankato
Saturday, June 8th - 2:00-4:00pm @ Wildwood County Park, Mankato
Thursday, July 11th - 6:00-7:30pm @ Bluff Park, Mankato
Sunday, August 18th - 2:00-3:30pm @ Indian Lake Conservation Area, Mankato
Wednesday, September 25th - 6:00-7:30pm @ Rasmussen Woods, Mankato
​
​
​
​
2024 Plant Walks - Zumbrota/Rochester Area
Saturday, June 1st - 9:30-11:00am @ Covered Bridge Park, Zumbrota
​
​
​
​
Others may be added throughout the season! Check back for updates or sign up for my newsletter.
​
Goldenrod Medicine Class
Tuesday, August 20th ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at Wildwood County Park, Mankato
​
Goldenrod, Solidago spp., is a plant that hangs out with us for the entirety of summer as a relatively boring looking green plant until it begins to bloom sometime in August then it seems to fill spaces with its beautiful yellow flowers.
​
Goldenrod gets blamed for late summer and fall allergies but a little tidbit for you- it isn’t the Goldenrod’s fault! In fact, Goldenrod might just be an ally. - In this class all about Goldenrod, we will explore this tidbit further along with the many other ways Goldenrod offers its medicine to us.
​
This class is offered on a sliding scale:
$15 if you must; $25 if you're able; $35 if you are in a place of being able to pay it forward.
More Classes Coming Soon!
​
An Introduction to Working with Herbs for Health
Thursday, August 8th ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at Lincoln Community Center, Mankato
​
The world of herbalism is a vast one that can sometimes feel a little overwhelming when first starting out. The good news is that herbalism doesn’t have to be complicated! Let’s explore some of the most common questions and topics of herbal medicine together!
​
We will disucss:
The many ways we can work with herbs.
Herbal actions and herbal energetics.
Effective ways to learn herbs.
Sourcing herbs.
Ethical harvesting practices.
*And more*​​
Bee Balm Medicine
Thursday, July 18th ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at Williams Nature Center, Mankato
​
Bee Balm, Monarda fistulosa, is an incredible medicinal plant that blooms beautiful purple flowers mid-summer. This plant's benefits range from being supportive in first aid-like complaints to supporting the gastrointestinal system and even the brain. Just to scratch the surface.
​
In this class all about Monarda, as I call it, you will get to spend some time with the plant, learn all about its medicinal virtues, as well as learn how to make it into medicines for your own medicine cabinet.
​
Medicinal & Edible Plant Walk
Tuesday, July 16th ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at Rassmussen Woods, Mankato
​
Plant walks are a great opportunity to become more connected with the plants all around you. These walks are interactive as we explore the plants to get to know them better through sight, touch, smell and taste. You will leave knowing visual identification as well as how to work with the plant and their benefits!
​
This class will be hands-on (and in nature) with the plants themselves. No experience is necessary for this course, all knowledge levels are welcome!
​
HerbFest
Sunday, July 14th, 2024
12:00pm-4:00pm at Keepsake Cidery, Dundas
​
HerbFest 2024 is the 3rd annual gathering of herbalists of all levels.
​
There will be vendors offering fresh, dried, and/or value-added herbal products which they have grown and/or made themselves. There will also be an assortment of free presentations led by some of the vendors attending.
​
I will have a booth set up and I will also be presenting - Learning From the Plants Themselves!
Motherwort Medicine
Thursday, June 13th ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at Rasmussen Woods, Mankato
​
Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca, is one of my personal top herbal allies and I would love to get to share with you all about the medicine that this plant offers. In addition to discussing the many benefits of Motherwort, we will also discuss proper identification and the different ways we can work with this plant. Depending on the location, you may even have an opportunity to harvest some to add to your medicine cabinet!
Plant Walk: Medicine within Common Plants & "Weeds"
Wednesday, June 12th ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at Williams Nature Center, Mankato
​
Dandelions, goldenrod, motherwort, mullein… If you’ve ever wondered if those common plants or “weeds” have a deeper use or purpose, they do and this class is for you!
Within this class, you will begin to learn how to identify many of the common plants as well as learn their benefits. This class will be hands-on (and in nature) with the plants themselves.
No experience is necessary for this course, all knowledge levels are welcome!
​
*This class was offered through Mankato Community Education.
An Introduction to Working with Herbs
Wednesday, May 22nd ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at Apoth-A-Teas, Rochester
​
The world of herbalism is a vast one that can sometimes feel a little overwhelming when first starting out. The good news is that herbalism doesn’t have to be complicated! Let’s explore some of the most common questions and topics of herbal medicine together!
​
We will disucss:
The many ways we can work with herbs.
Herbal actions and herbal energetics.
Effective ways to learn herbs.
Sourcing herbs.
Ethical harvesting practices.
*And more*
​
First Aid Basics:
from an herbalist’s perspective
Thursday, May 16th ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at Minnemishinona Falls, Mankato
40923 Judson Bottom Rd, Mankato, MN 56003
​
Cuts, scrapes, stings, bites, bumps, bruises, burns… All common occurrences in the summer months while everyone is out being active, having fun and/or working hard. No matter the time of year, however, accidents happen and being prepared for them makes them much less stressful (and painful). In this class, attendees will learn about some of Kara’s most reached for herbal and home remedies for basic first aid needs- one of which attendees will get to take home with them!
​
Compassionate Living Festival
Saturday, May 4th & Sunday, May 5th
at Curiosi-Tea House, North Mankato
​
A weekend full of music, vendors, and friends - all in the theme of compassion and kindness!
​
*Kara will be a vendor at this event both days.
Tending the Fire:
supporting easeful transition into spring and summer
from an herbalist’s perspective
Tuesday, April 23rd ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at The Haven, St. Peter
​
The transition out of winter and into spring and summer doesn’t have to come with allergies, tight muscles, headaches, poor sleep, digestive disturbances, or feeling irritated or “moody”. All of these symptoms are common during the transitions into spring and summer but as we will explore in this class, there are ways we can support our bodies during these transitions to feel more balanced and vibrant. Herbal remedies as well as dietary and lifestyle modifications specific to this seasonal transition and the common ailments that may come with it will be discussed.
Nourishing Herbal Infusions
Tuesday, April 9th ~ 6:00-7:30pm
at Curiosi-Tea House, North Mankato
​
When many of us hear about working with herbs to help with our health, we may think of tinctures or salves or even syrups, teas, or capsules. What we may not think of are nourishing herbal infusions. Nourishing herbal infusions- strong, long-infused herbal teas- are a very simple way to benefit from herbs on a regular basis. We will discuss how to make a nourishing infusion, which herbs to consider using, as well as what the benefits are for each of the herbs.
Holistic Health Expo
Saturday, March 16th
9:00am-4:00pm
Located at The Gathering
1042 Old Minnesota Ave., St. Peter, MN
This expo is an excellent opportunity to meet some local practitioners and find out more information regarding their practice/modality. There will be a variety of local practitioners attending this expo including: The Haven at Hallet's, New Atlantis Holistic Health, Compassionate Way Coaching, Light From Within Reiki, MNIV Vitamin Infusions, Physio Strong P.T., Thistle Patch Wellness (Kara!), and more!
​
We would love to see you there to meet you and answer any questions that you may have.
Bark Collection Workshop
A hands-on, introductory class to learn about medicinal barks and preparations
Saturday, March 9th - 2:00pm-4:00pm ~ Mankato
This class is completely outside.
Winter and very early spring are a dormant time for most plants but that does not mean that there isn’t harvesting that can be done for our home apothecaries. Barks are just one of the medicinals that can be harvested during this season and during this workshop, students will learn the basics of harvesting bark and how to prepare the bark for medicinal purposes. Alcohol and oil preparations will both be covered.
​
On our walk, we will spend extra time learning about Bur Oak, Crampbark, and Red Osier but we will also encounter Elder, Eastern Red Cedar, Sumac, and Roses. We may even identify some of the baby medicinal and edible plants along the way.