Book in for just 1 of the Masterclasses, or come for the whole day!

Morning workshop: 9am-12. 

A Herbal Perspective: ADHD & Herbs for Cognition 

With the increasing prevalence and proper diagnosis of neurodivergence, the need for herbal and lifestyle support is at an all-time high. 

Here we will explore herbs for focus and cognition, as well as gut restoration and nervous system support, which may benefit more than the neurodivergent. 

Taj Scicluna has lived experience with ADHD. Although she is not adverse to pharmaceutical intervention and it’s benefits, she manages her symptoms largely with herbs and lifestyle choices. 

Here she will share tips from her own personal journey, as well as evidence-based research on herbs that can support, with practical examples of how and when to work with them. 

Afternoon workshop: 1 – 4pm

The Herbal Apprentice Essentials 

If herbal books have started to feel overwhelming- pages of information that never quite land- you’re not alone.

Herbalism isn’t meant to be memorised. It’s meant to be experienced, sensed, and understood in relationship.

In this workshop, we move beyond rote learning into a deeper way of knowing plants: through the senses, through patterns, and through practical tools that help you understand when and how to use herbs, not just what they do.

You’ll leave with frameworks and learning methods you can return to again and again, long after the workshop has ended.

Just note: when you buy a ticket, your confirmation email will have the times for the whole day. If you’re just booking 1 Masterclass, make sure you write down the correct time. 

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We’re beyond lucky to welcome the legendary Pat Collins for a practical deep dive into the world of Indigenous Plants 🌾✨ 

Pat has been wildcrafting, growing, and medicine-making since the 1990s—over 30 years of practical, earth-rooted wisdom. And now, she’s bringing it straight to YOU.

In this immersive Post-HerbFest Masterclass, you’ll:

💚 Learn how to make an ointment from Indigenous plants for all kinds of skin issues
💚 Get to know these plants intimately—their healing properties, and versatile uses
💚 Learn to properly identify medicinal natives, a vital skill in wild plant medicine
💚 Take home a sample of your creation + a copy of the recipe to keep the magic going!

Pat makes and sells herbal products at her clinic in NSW. She’s also written a tonne of books on herbal recipes, home healing, medicinal and culinary weeds and more!

If you’ve ever felt the call to know and work with plants right outside your door and to cultivate a deeper connection with our wild green friends, then you’re gonna want to join us! 

In case you’re showing up and buying a ticket on the day – here’s some info:

Address: Valdora Hall, 360 Valdora Rd, Valdora.

Bring things to take notes and anything else you need to be comfy. I’ll have a selection of teas and morning tea provided. 

Depending on the weather, the hall might be chilly so come bundled up just in case.

And if you’ve got questions – reach out on Instagram, @everyday.empowered or @herbfest_sunnycoast

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Come explore the majesty and medicine of Plantain herb: a potent herbal ally.

Tatiana is a fun and skilled herbalist from Far North Queensland and she’s going to share from her deep love for and connection with this common weed. You’ll meet Plantain as a friend and learn how to work with this powerful plant in your life.

Learn how to harvest and make an array of different medicinal preparations with this beautiful plant, and how you can incorporate these remedies into your medicine cabinet.

Get to know the different species of Plantain (including how many native species there are!)

Plantain is a safe remedy for the whole family and for all stages of life.

You’ll leave the Plantain herb Masterclass inspired by the incredible versatility of this plant, and learn why we should all be growing and/or wildharvesting this wonderful plant everyday!

Location

Valdora Community Hall is located at 360 Valdora Rd, Valdora QLD 4561.

Valdora is a suburb between Coolum and Yandina, near Mt Ninderry.

Earlybird prices end June 7

HerbFest Masterclasses

Whilst these amazingly knowledgeable speakers are on the Sunshine Coast for HerbFest, I asked them to stay and teach us more!

You can also catch Kimberly Ashton’s deep dive into Traditional Chinese Medicine 5 Element Nutrition Masterclass. (click here)

rab a bargain with a full day Masterclass ticket to learn from both Tatiana and Kimberly. It’s just BYO lunch

Btw – this is a follow-up MASTERCLASS following on from Tatiana’s shorter HerbFest talk. Come see her 30 min intro at HerbFest- along with an amazing line-up of speakers and topics, all around kitchen medicine.

Meet Tatiana

Tatiana is an engaged, active and amazing grassroots community herbalist hailing from Far North Queensland. She’s an active herbal medicine educator, herb grower, herbal-medicine maker and visionary on a quest to create a botanical sanctuary for us to all learn and grow in.

Her small business, Alchemilla Herbals click here) was “created from a dream of bridging the gap and allowing re-connection. Tuning into plants as our allies we have the opportunity to live in a symbiotic relationship with nature, because we are nature too. What we want is to assist in creating/maintining is a life that is full of deep and sacred connection to all life.”

She’s also a mother, permaculturalist, geneologist, lomi lomi, reiki and attunement therapy practitioner, Sahumadora, Sacred Song Carrier and Oneironaut.

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The changing seasons.

If the seasons ebb and flow throughout the year, why do we think a uniform, same-food-every-season approach to nutrition will see us thrive!?

Ancient Chinese medicine knew that to be healthy is to live in alignment with the seasons – to create seasonal harmony.

In this 3 hour Masterclass, Kimberly Ashton is going to dish the secrets on how to tune in to the world around you to eat for optimum health.

This will be a very practical, immediately-applicable deep dive into seasonal eating according to the ancient Chinese wisdom of 5 elements nutrition.

You’ll be inspired to inhabit this wise and ancient worldview that saw food as PART of something bigger than itself. ie part of:

• the changing seasons;
• all of us – knowing food affects people differently;
• the whole meal – food combinations and cooking techniques matter and they’ll change how food affects our bodies

The penny will drop that food can’t just be reduced to its isolated constituents or ‘superfood’ status and we need a more holistic way to understand and talk about food – in relationship to the world around us.

What does the workshop cover?

You’ll learn about the connection between the 5 seasons, flavours, energetic properties of different foods and herbs. You’ll learn ways of cooking for balancing mood, well-being & life energies. 

If you’re feeling disconnected from nature, and from a holistic food culture, you’ll love this workshop.

5 element nutrition is all about us reclaiming and returning to the natural world and having a clear roadmap for how that applies to what we cook and eat.

Location

Valdora Community Hall is located at 360 Valdora Rd, Valdora QLD 4561.

Valdora is a suburb between Coolum and Yandina, near Mt Ninderry.

HerbFest Masterclasses

Whilst these amazingly knowledgeable speakers are on the Sunshine Coast for HerbFest, I asked them to stay and teach us more!

Tatiana from FNQ is also doing a Masterclass – a deep dive into the wonderful wild and weedy Plantain! (Click here)

If you want to do a full day of Masterclasses, with both Tatiana and Kimberly – buy a full-day ticket. You’ll need to BYO lunch.

Earlybird prices end June 7

Curious but want to know if it’s right for you?

I loved hearing Kimberly talk about 5 element nutrition on the SuperFeast podcast – definitely left me wanting to know the nitty gritty details of how I use this ancient wisdom as everyday kitchen medicine in my home! Take a listen

Btw – this is a follow-up MASTERCLASS following on from Kimberly’s shorter HerbFest talk. Come see her 30 min intro at HerbFest- along with an amazing line-up of speakers and topics, all around kitchen medicine.

Meet Kimberly Ashton

Kimberly Ashton is a 5 Elements wellness coach, energy healer, Yin Yoga teacher, author & educator focusing on intuitive eating and food energetics. 

With an entrepreneurial spirit she spent over 16 years in Greater China, 8 of which she co-owned China’s first health food store, cafe & teaching kitchen, inspiring clients to restore their well-being through 5 element nutrition.

Kimberly believes in the power of reconnecting with the elements and natural world, and realigning our individual & collective relationship to food, emotional & energetic health.

In 2019 she published her second book “Chinese Superfoods” which encourages new generations of nutrition enthusiasts to explore Asian traditional foods, everyday ingredients & get back in the kitchen. It has sold over 7000 copies and is in its 2nd reprint in Mandarin, Chinese. She is also the co-author of a TCM e-book series which focuses on theory & recipes for each of the 5 elements and health imbalances.

She is launching an online 5 Element Nutrition training course in September 2024.

Check out Qi Food Therapy and get to know Kimberly better (click here)

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