9.30am to 4.30pm

The course

From the beginnings of Western medicine in ancient Greece this instruction on food was followed for many centuries. We find diet given importance in Roman health advice with heating and cooling foods and those good or bad for different organs specified. This theme continued into the era of the medieval health handbooks.

In the last century the emphasis changed to the chemistry of foods and led into taking vitamin supplements. This day is about more than simple nutrition. It includes food quality, diets for specific conditions, the role of herbs in reducing sugar and salt and adding digestive and adding supportive properties together with vitamins and minerals. Herbs featured will include lovage, savory, sage, sweet cicely and rosemary. Living foods with sprouted seeds and herbs better known as spices will be included in simple recipes to offer delicious tastes from past and present. Here is a medicine which does not need sugar to make it acceptable, it is medicine to enjoy.

The tutor

Christina Stapley BSc (Hons) MCPP is a qualified medical herbalist with a degree in Phytotherapy (plant therapy) and practises in Wiltshire.  She has grown some 300 herbs, studied and used them for over 30 years.  Her Hampshire garden was featured on television several times.

Her knowledge of herb history is shared in historical herb workshops at Butser Ancient Farm, the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, the Chiltern Open Air Museum and other centres in Somerset and East Anglia.

She has written three books on cultivating and using herbs in cookery, fragrant recipes, wines and liqueurs, crafts and home remedies.  Christina has also edited and interpreted a 17th century book of cookery and physic recipes.

Participant information

Places are limited to 12 people. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear as some of the day will be spent outside. Please also remember a pen and paper for taking notes and a camera, if you wish.

Fee

£50 per person, including tuition, teas and coffees.
The Museum café will be open for lunch-time snacks or alternatively participants can bring their own packed lunch.

The Museum

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits.  It is also home to the award winning and innovative Downland Gridshell, which houses a conservation workshop and artefact store, and is also used for many practical courses.  The Museum runs a full programme of courses in historic building conservation and traditional rural trades and crafts, along with MSc programmes in Building Conservation and Timber Building Conservation. Please telephone for further details.

To book, download a form here. Alternatively, fill in the booking request below.