Workshops & Events

featuring educational classes, hands-on workshops, field and forest plant walks, and healing sessions with New England holistic practitioners and wellness experts

Herbal Medicine ● Organic Food
Energy Healing ● Yoga ● Nutrition ● Spirituality
Massage Therapy ● Wild Edibles

Conference Schedule

The U.S.A. is in the midst of a health crisis. We are seeing increasing incidences of diabetes, obesity, and cancer evident even in our children. While our health problems rise in number and severity, we are simultaneously polluting and depleting our natural resources.

In a society where the stress levels in our daily lives continue to skyrocket, antibiotic resistance is rampant, and healthcare is becoming less and less affordable, we need solutions that are holistic and community based. To realize these solutions, we must re-identify a connection to the land and develop a healthy ecosystem that includes people. Practices including traditional herbal medicine use, seasonal, local food consumption, and exercise for body and mind can ecologically and sustainably promote health and healing.

We invite you to join us for an experiential weekend

of healing to learn how YOU can

Cultivate Wellness in your world!

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:

Wellness Through Simplicity,

with Jim Merkel, author of Radical Simplicity

Perhaps you've heard a friend say, “I can't afford to be sick.” For many Americans, car payments, mortgages, and college loans are piling high while grocery and gas prices continue to rise. Unpaid sick time away from work can be detrimental to a struggling family and, coupled with the rising costs of medical care, prevents many people from seeking help. Simplicity offers the antidote to “affluenza” and related stress, illness and disease. Jim Merkel, author of Radical Simplicity, will speak about how to detangle yourself from the stranglehold of the American dream while having more time to exercise, eat healthy, local, organic foods, learn about healing herbs and permaculture, and quiet the all-too-busy “monkey mind.” Simplicity helps us to focus our attention on a life with room around the edges, a life where we take charge of our wellness. The crown jewel is material simplicity, inner peace, and an outward purpose that benefits all life on planet earth.

WORKSHOPS INCLUDE...

Medicinal Uses of Fruits and Fruiting Plants with Michael Phillips
Modern research reveals just why an organic apple a day holds so much healing potential. We’ll discuss the antioxidant qualities of many tree fruits and berries, the making of real cider vinegar and its use as an acetous menstruum for mineral-rich herbs, the tonifying powers of hawthorn, and the healing enchantment of elder. Growing tips for fruiting plants will fit in along the way.

Apitherapy- Health and Healing with Products from the Hive with Ross Conrad The honeybee and hive products have historically played a large role in disease care and prevention. Today science is finally catching up to what naturalists, herbalists, and acupuncturists have known for years. Covered are the healing properties of Honey, Pollen, Propolis, Royal Jelly, Beeswax and Honeybee Venom.

The Herbal Kitchen with Maria Noel Groves Get inspired to turn your garden herbs into fantastic treats you can use year-round or give away as gifts. We’ll discuss techniques (and demonstrate a few!) to make herbal vinegars, oils, honeys, butter, cheese, cordials, pastes, spice blends, sugars and salts.

The Essentials of Aromatherapy with Joann Vollmer Ancient history is steeped with lore of the mystery and healing power of plant fragrances. Through the ages, essential oils have been found to be highly effective in treating many common health problems. Bring aromatherapy into your home medicine chest by exploring the healing properties of specific oils and learning the various applications for enhancing wellness of body, mind, and spirit!

Garden of Your Soul – Preparation, Planting and Pruning with Lynn Durham To cultivate true wellness, you need to use the interconnectedness of mind/body/spirit to your advantage. There are all sorts of possibilities for your life. In order to produce what you want, there are certain gardening techniques that will help. Join Well Being Coach Lynn Durham to consider preparing the soil in your life and raising your awareness as to what to plant and what to pull so your life’s harvest is in keeping with your heart’s desire.

Nutrition Botany – Do you know what you are eating? with Barbara McCahan, PhD This workshop is designed to provide basic information on the distribution of nutrients throughout the various anatomical parts of plants that we consume. By knowing something about basic plant anatomy, and the botanical functions being carried out by different plant parts, we can have a better understanding of how to build our cuisines for nutritional balance and adequacy. Knowing about energy storage in roots and seeds, the abundance of various types of dietary fiber and the best sources of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in foods will empower participants with information for enhanced personal nutrition.

The Garlic Connection with Michael Phillips
If you understand the uses of garlic, you understand 50% of all herbal medicine. Come learn how to successfully grow great garlic, and then how to use this healing plant for effective medicine and delectable eating. Michael hasn’t met a gardener yet who doesn’t derive profound satisfaction from homegrown bulbs.

Knowing Your Intuitive Self, Corey Calaio and Susan Lucas

This session is based on learning how to recognize your intuitive voice and understand the connection between your higher self and your connection to the Universal Light. Corey and Susan will present exercises and literature to help you listen to your intuitive self, so that it may aid you in your daily life.

Herbs for Dental Care with Sandra Lory Let's demystify our teeth and gums! Take home a protocol to follow for general dental health maintenance, and discover supportive treatments for common oral health issues!

Mycological Landscaping with your Gardens, Dave Wichland Explore the relationship between mushrooms and garden plants, and discover the positive role mycelium has on the garden ecosystem. Working together with mushrooms and garden plants, you can cultivate a richly nutritious and medicinal ecosystem in your own backyard!

Hands-On Soap Making with Karen Lacharite Discover delightfully healthy alternatives to commercially available body care products. Karen will demonstrate and assist as we make our own handmade soap using all-natural and/or organic ingredients and pure essential oils.

Herbal Remedies & Your Animals with Carole Lizotte This workshop will cover the safe use of herbs and will as help you build an herbal apothecary for the everyday occurrences in your animals' lives. We will also discuss natural remedies for treating Lyme disease, fungal conditions, and much more.

Craniosacral Therapy: What is it, and how can it help you? with Kathy MacKay, PT, CST Kathy will explain what craniosacral therapy is, how it affects the body, and why it is a useful healing tool for a variety of conditions. The workshop will also include a demonstration!

Gardening for Health with Bill Errickson How can you bring healthier food into your life and household? In a time of rising food costs coupled with increasing incidence of illness, disease, and healthcare costs, there is hope! Bill will discuss simple ways that you can develop a home garden to provide fresh, local and organic food to your family and neighbors, reliably and affordably!

Experience Tong Ren for Energy Flow and Health with Linda Clave This will be an opportunity to experience Tong Ren, a Tom Tam system of restoring health to the body/mind using simple tapping with a magnetic hammer on points on an acupuncture doll to release blockages which cause disturbances in the natural flow of healthy energy. Collective consciousness is the force suppopting this transformation.

Break-Through Ceremony with Karen Lacharite We will, as a group in a supportive and encouraging environment, perform exercises and experiences that will assist us in breaking through some of the barriers that hold us back in life. Come ready to transform your self and your life!

Mushroom Food, Mushroom Medicine with Terry-Anya Hayes Mushrooms are good food and better medicine! Meet mushroom allies that please the palate as they boost the immune system, lower cholesterol, strengthen respiratory function, and fight cancer. Discover how to stalk, buy, store, and prepare a variety of delicious and healthful fungi! We will sample Chaga Chai, Reishi Energy Tea, and- if the Mushroom Goddess smiles- fresh Shiitakes cultivated right here at D Acres!

The Art of Fermentation: Step 1- Sauerkraut Making with Louise Turner
Lacto-fermentation was used before the days of refrigeration, pasteurization, freezing, and canning as a means to preserve food. A first, easy step to incorporating lacto-fermented foods into your diet is to observe the preparation of old-fashioned sauerkraut and to learn how it benefits your health and wellbeing.

The Permaculture Kitchen with Julia and Charles Yelton

Discover ways that you can use permaculture methods and plant synergy to promote soil rehabilitation while sustainably producing food for your family and neighbors.

Garden Medicinal Plant Walk with Lauren Buyofsky
Tour the D Acres medicinal gardens, meeting common, and some not-so-common, annual and perennial plants that you can grow and safely use for family medicine.

Tour of the D Acres Integrated Farm System with Tyler Durham

Over the past eleven years, D Acres has continued to evolve toward a sustainable farm system that includes annual vegetables, medicinal herbs, and fruiting forest gardens influenced by permaculture, biodynamic, and organic gardening principles. Home to humans, animals, bees, and wildlife, D Acres continues to strive toward modeling ways to provide a sustainable, healthy existence for all.

Woodlands Nature Hike with Kevin Wall

Experience the wonder and beauty of the northern forest through an interpretive hike on the D Acres trails! Dress appropriately for on-trail hiking.

An Introduction to Dowsing as a Tool for Divination with Suzanne Schwartz, Linda Clave, Sheila Williams, and Steve Hooper
In this hands-on workshop, Suzanne, Linda, Sheila, and Steve will demonstrate basic dowsing technique and assist you in working with various dowsing devices in order to welcome this divination tool into your daily life and healing practice. Famous for its usefulness in locating water, dowsing can also be used to interpret plants, auras, healing modalities and much more.

Yoga with Melissa (Brothers) Scagliarini
Learn to increase strength, improve balance and cultivate body awareness through breathe and movement that draws from several styles and traditions of yoga.

Complimentary Wellness Sessions
Conference participants can pre-register for private 15-minute wellness sessions during the weekend; this is included in your registration fee! All sessions are available on a first-come, first-serve basis; sign up at the registration desk at the conference. Sessions include:
Craniosacral Therapy with Kathy MacKay
Herbal Consultations with Maria Noel Groves
Reiki with Darlene Nadeau
Massage with Bri Carpenter, Jill Montgomery, Rachael Cohen, and Suzanne Schwartz

For a full schedule with class descriptions,

click here!

SPEAKERS & PRACTITIONERS

Lauren Buyofsky, M.S., D Acres of New Hampshire & Wise River Herbals An herbalist, educator, and Reiki practitioner, Lauren is a Farm Manager at D Acres of New Hampshire and offers herbal products, classes, and consultations through Wise River Herbals. Her intent is to assist with reconnecting the human spirit to the gifts of food and medicine graciously offered to us by the Earth.

Corey Calaio, CRT, CHT, Certified Consulting Hypnotist, Peace of Infinity, LLC Corey uses compassion and understanding in her practice to heal the Body, Mind and Spirit. Through Intuitive Channeling, Hypnotherapy, Reiki, EFT and Herbal recommendations, she teaches us about our own Energetic and Emotional Sediment, allowing the break through in destructive life patterns. Corey offers private consultations, private channeling, group healing circles, and Herbal product and Self Hypnosis Workshops.

Brianne Carpenter, LMT Bri is a local massage therapist who supports health and healing through natural, holistic means.

Linda Clave Linda Clave, Tong Ren Practioner, has maintained a Body/Mind/ Spirit practice for 25 years in the Boston area, integrating Reiki with body work, creative design and the use of cosmic energies.

Ross Conrad, Dancing Bee Gardens Ross Conrad learned his craft from Charles Mraz, world-renowned beekeeper, father of apitherapy, and founder of Champlain Valley Apiaries in Vermont, and his beekeeping son Bill. Former president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association, Conrad is the author of Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches To Modern Apiculture, and has written numerous articles on beekeeping, organic farming, natural healing, and health issues. His 12-year-old small sideline beekeeping business, Dancing Bee Gardens, supplies his friends, neighbors, and local stores with honey and provides bees for Vermont apple pollination in the spring. Ross lives in Middlebury, Vermont.

Lynn Durham, RN Lynn Durham, RN is a Well-Being Coach who incorporates her experience as a professor, author, columnist, professional speaker and mother of three sons to help clients and audiences feel better. She has been called “a glass of Prozac” by a fellow attendee at the Harvard Deaconess Mind Body Medical Institute and a corporate consultant dubbed her “a creative antidote to the everyday stressors of business . . . and life.”

Tyler Durham, D Acres of New Hampshire The education coordinator at D Acres, Tyler is passionate about kindling the wonder young people naturally hold for everything around them while encouraging everyone to be more curious about the world and its people. This task is not difficult when Tyler is leading tour groups through the D Acres farm system, nor when he is facilitating hands-on activities at this vibrant place where humans and nature are so alive. He also brings some of this vibrancy to local schools and other venues where he performs presentations that relate to the mission of D Acres for various audiences.

Bill Errickson, MS, D Acres of New Hampshire Bill is a permaculture designer, Reiki practitioner, and Farm Manager at D Acres of New Hampshire. By teaching workshops on home-scale ecological gardening and leading tours of the integrated farm systems at D Acres, he works to empower individuals to create their own gardens, their own visions of paradise. Through working with the natural elements and with our fellow community members, Bill hopes to rekindle that connection that once nourished our civilization.

Maria Noel Groves, Wintergreen Botanicals Maria Noel Groves, clinical herbalist, runs Wintergreen Botanicals, a small clinic and herbal education center nestled in Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, NH. Her primary herbal teachers include Michael Moore, Rosemary Gladstar, and Nancy Phillips.

Terry-Anya Hayes Terry-Anya is a Maine-based writer, herbalist and educator who lectures widely and leads mushroom and herb walks wherever the herbs and fungi beckon. She is a past president of the New York Mycological Society.

Karen Lacharite, Ancient Fire A Certified Firewalk Instructor and Personal Empowerment Leader, Karen has been leading people through these exercises for several years. Karen has years of experience making all natural handmade soap and herbal products using pure, natural ingredients and essential oil.

Carol Lizotte, Green Gems Herbals An Herbalist to the Animals, Carol completed her herbal apprenticeship in 1998, did advanced studies in 2000, has a certification in Aromatherapy, is a Flower Essence Practioner and a Shamballa Reiki Master.

Sandra Lory, Mandala Botanicals Sandra is a holistic health educator, grassroots health activist, herbalist, artist, and gardener in Barre, VT. She has worked at Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center in East Orange, VT for the past seven years.

Susan Lucas, BS, CRT, CHT, Wise Woman Tradition Herbals Susan is a spiritual and energy healer focused on balancing the body through herbs and "ki" energy. She teaches techniques for stress reduction and pain release using intuition and energy flow to gain inner peace and personal power. Susan offers Reiki treatments, herbal consultations and products, and also conducts herbal workshops and offers certification in traditional Usui Reiki I, II, and III to Mastership.

Kathy MacKay, PT, CST Kathy has been a physical therapist for 15 years. She began studying CranioSacral therapy 9 years ago, and received her CranioSacral certification in 2004. Kathy is active as a Teaching Assistant for levels one through four CranioSacral Therapy courses, and has been practicing in Plymouth, NH since 2006.

Barbara McCahan, PhD, Plymouth State University Dr. McCahan is an Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Plymouth State University. She received her MA and Ph.D from UC Santa Barbara in Cellular Biology and BA from Revelle College at UC San Diego in LaJolla, CA. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in health and exercise science including Applied Nutrition for Healthy Living. She resides in Plymouth with her husband Ted and her two daughters, Claire and Molly. Additionally, she has been a Director for the Community Guaranty Savings Bank in Plymouth since 1985. She is an active advocate of healthy, sustainable, active living and supports the educational efforts of D Acres toward this end.

Jim Merkel Jim is the author of Radical Simplicity. Originally a military engineer and arms trader, Jim changed his life at the time of the Exxon Valdez disaster, quitting his job and devoting himself to environmental service and world peace. He downsized his life and lived on $5,000 a year for 16 years. Jim founded the Global Living Project (GLP) and initiated the GLP Summer Institute where teams of researchers attempted to live on an equitable portion of the biosphere.

Darlene Nadeau Darlene Nadeau, M.S., M.Ed. is Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, Life Coach, and a certified yoga and Pilates instructor. Darlene specializes in yoga and massage to maximize wellness as well as to minimize the effects of stress, repetitive strain injuries, chronic pain, and other health conditions. Darlene offers personal coaching for individuals interested in enhancing their quality of life.

Michael Phillips, Heartsong Farm Healing Herbs Michael is an herb farmer, organic apple grower, and passionate observer of nature’s mysteries. Along with his wife Nancy, he operates Heartsong Farm Healing Herbs, an herb farm and educational center in the northern mountains of New Hampshire. The Phillips family sells herbs and herbal products to their local community and through a mail order business. Nancy and Michael co-authored the book The Herbalist’s Way—The Art & Practice of Healing with Plant Medicines. Michael’s first book, The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist, is now available in a newly expanded edition.

Melissa (Brothers) Scagliarini Melissa is certified in Kripalu - Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Prenatal Yoga and is currently instructing at the Spa at the the Common Man Inn, Plymouth, NH. She incorporates Pranayama(breathing) and Vinyasa(flow) into her classes and guides students with hands on assists. Melissa is also a certified Holistic Health Counselor through the Institute of Intergrative Nutrition in New York City.

Louise Turner, Journey to Wholeness Louise is a chapter leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation as well as an occupational therapist in the medical field. She is interested in showing people how to take their health into their own hands through the preparation and preservation of nutrient-dense foods.

Joann Vollmer, Wise Way Wellness Center Joann Vollmer, a licensed massage therapist since 1988, provides treatments at Wise Way Wellness Center in a peaceful setting amidst her medicinal herb gardens and geodesic Grow Dome in Thornton, NH. In her practice, she integrates a variety of healing modalities, including Maya abdominal massage, aromatherapy, raindrop therapy, CranioSacral therapy, lymphatics, and energy work, to meet an individual's needs.

Kevin Wall, D Acres of New Hampshire

Kevin's history includes a significant amount of time working for the National Park Service (NPS) and the National Forest Service (NFS) as an interpretive park ranger leading various education programs in addition to wildland firefighting, disaster relief assistance, search and rescue, trail maintenance and visitor information services. Academically, Kevin received his BA in History and Geography from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He now holds a Master’s of Education degree from Plymouth State University.

Dave Wichland, Wichland Woods Wichland Woods is a unique, local myco-business located in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. We have trained under Paul Stamets of Fungi Perfecti and have spent 8 years studying and experimenting with growing mushroom in a plethora of different indoor and outdoor mediums. We educate the public on the techniques of “backyard mushrooming” and how everyday resources can be used to cultivate their own mycelia network. By educating the public about mycology, we strive to promote people’s awareness about the health and ecological benefits of mushrooms.

Julia Yelton, Newforest Institute Julia Yelton is a teacher, designer and consultant, active in Permaculture for the past 17 years. She has a background in the cultivation of medicinal herbs at Avena Botanicals in Maine. She is passionate about wild plant foods for the table and for medicine.

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CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Two-Day Registration: $100
-Including Two Organic Lunches: $125
-Including Five Organic Meals

and Camping: $150

*Scholarships now available!* Due to a generous grant from the Robin Colson Memorial Fund, we are able to offer financial assistance to folks in need who wish to attend the Cultivating Wellness Conference! To apply, please send us a brief description of what you would like to learn at the conference and how you plan to share that information with the broader public. Please apply via mail or e-mail by September 1st.

*Ask us about group discounts and work-exchange opportunities!*

To register BY MAIL, please print the Registration Form and return to:

Lauren Buyofsky, D Acres of New Hampshire

P.O. Box 98, Dorchester, NH 03266

To register BY PHONE, please call (603) 786-2366. A $50.00 deposit (check or money order payable to D Acres) to hold your reservation must be mailed to Lauren Buyofsky, D Acres of New Hampshire, P.O. Box 98, Dorchester, NH 03266 within 10 days of making a phone reservation to hold your place. Your registration will be complete when your deposit/payment is received.

There is a 25% discount for residents of Grafton County and a further 25% discount for members of D Acres of New Hampshire. Members who live in Grafton County receive a total 50% discount!

Please contact Lauren Buyofsky if you have questions:

(603) 786-2366 or info@dacres.org

Thank you...we'll see you in September!!

2008 is the year of Gardening for Health, Cultivating Wellness

No one will be denied access to D Acres workshops & events due to inability to pay.

A 25% discount on all workshops and events is offered to members of D Acres and to residents of Grafton County, so...

50% off for Local Members