The Rural We: Nicole Irene
A Berkshires native, Nicole Irene is an artist, a high school art teacher, a practicing folk herbalist, and a reiki-trained ordained minister. When she lived in Northern California, she studied herbal medicine and received herbal certifications from some of the big names in herbalism, including Rosemary Gladstar. Starting next month, she will be leading “Fire Cider Make + Take” workshops at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, a hands-on introductory course to making the beloved traditional herbal folk remedy.
I grew up in Lee, and currently live in Interlaken, West Stockbridge. I have lived in several places throughout the US: the southeast, southwest and northwest, most notably Northern California where I studied Herbology or Herbal Medicine. It was in Humboldt County, Eureka/Arcata area that I lived and grew cannabis while I started by taking herbal classes at Moonrise Herbs in Arcata and Humboldt Herbals in Eureka with Jane Bothwell of Dandelion Herbal Center. After completing beginning courses my studies took me to study directly with Jane and complete more intense and lengthy programs, became a teaching assistant, and participated in an herbal clinical rotation where I assisted with clients in a community clinic setting. I am continuing my herbal studies both independently and through various online options.
In addition to being a practicing folk herbalist and art teacher, I am an artist, art curator, and a reiki trained ordained minister. I am on the Community Advisory Network Committee for MASS MoCA and a teacher advisor for our Wildcat Social Justice Club and Orange Ink, which is the creative publication at Lee Middle and High School. I am also in the process of launching my herbal business, The Enchanted Altar.
I first made fire cider with Jane Bothwell who first made it with Rosemary Gladstar. The idea is that herbal knowledge is for the community and should be shared and passed on. We create the medicine together as each person instills it with their own personal magic, invocation, and energy which only makes it more potent and special.
In the workshop at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, we will be making fire cider together. Everyone will have their own station and tools. We’ll learn why we use the ingredients and how they benefit our health. Fire cider is packed with antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. You can take it daily as a preventative and also at the onset of a cold or flu. All of the ingredients are very potent, so it’s not a pretty process, but it’s beautiful. I use the folk method, which means you can use whatever you have on hand; each person makes it his or her own way. The class will be very hands on, going through the process from start to finish. We’ll have tea and a fire cider tasting.
There is nothing like getting a group of like-minded people together and sharing in the act of making something healing and nourishing together. Creating times of mindfulness, community, and belonging in our society is so very important as it is healing in itself.
Nicole Irene, center, with renowned herbalists Jane Bothwell and Rosemary Gladstar
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