Herbalism!
Herbalism is a lost science that was once a way of life for our ancestors. Being able to identify plants and herbs and know its uses was a standard knowledge. Herbs are used for culinary purposes but more importantly, herbs are medicinal. Herbs are the medicine of the earth. The original doctors were herbalists.
As homesteaders, we intentionally grow herbs for medicinal purposes. We seek to go back to the ways of old and heal ourselves from the plants of the earth. As we learn this process, we are teaching our children this science as well so that they can go above and beyond what we are even able to in our lifetime.
This activity is a staple chore on the homestead, but can also be done whether you grow your own herbs or not! The purpose is to learn the uses and benefits of herbs.
For this activity you will need:
your dried herb(s) of choice*
a large bowl
sterilized mason jars*
trash bags or sheets to cover your table
*About 1-2 weeks before you do this activity, you will need to dry out your herbs. If you plan to buy your herbs from the grocery store or farmers market, rinse the bunch of herbs thoroughly and hang them to dry in a sunny window for 1-2 weeks.
*Before you start this activity, sterilize your mason jars by cleaning them and then placing them in boiling water for 1 minute. Allow to dry before starting the activity.
The objectives are:
to identify the herb: talk about the leaf shape and the stem and any other distinguishing factors
identify its benefits and uses, along with what illnesses the herb is typically used for
safely and cleanly store the dried herbs by crumbling them into the large bowl and then transferring them into the airtight mason jar for safe storage and later use.
Check out this short video of the process of our herbalism activity!
Try this herbalism activity for your next homeschool lesson!
