Distilling the Medicine of the Library Garden: A Hands-On Hydrosol Experience

Registration is encouraged to ensure we have enough supplies for all participants.

Discover the ancient art of distillation as we transform fresh medicinal plants into a nurturing hydrosol and aromatic essential oil. Together we’ll collect, prepare, and pack plant materials from the library garden for immediate distillation in a traditional copper alembic still.

This three-hour workshop offers a unique first-person experience of distillation from harvest to hydrosol. In addition to preparing and distilling our materials, we’ll look at the benefits of incorporated plants, explore the process of distillation, examine the responsibilities of a distiller, consider the practical applications of hydrosols, and craft a blend with our resulting hydrosol and oil.

You’ll go home with a small bottle of our co-created hydrosol and a small jar of lotion featuring our co-created essential oil.

Don’t miss this chance to enjoy a magical summer day celebrating plants and making medicine at the library!

Participant Takeaways:

2 oz. bottle of resulting hydrosol
2 oz. jar of lotion scented with resulting essential oil
possibly a 1 dram vial of essential oil (If enough oil is produced, depending on what materials the group selects.)

Taught by Kristina Bauer of Untamed Alchemy

Kristina Bauer has delighted in the magic and medicine of aromatics, herbs, and oils for over forty years. Her curiosity and passion resulted in an education across a variety of plant-centric modalities along with unique experience using traditional, hands-on approaches to engaging plants for beauty, health, and wholeness. Though she has formally studied and worked with medicinal plants as a professional herbalist, aromatherapist, and natural cosmetic formulator for almost two decades, her ongoing journey continues to inspire change and inform her approach with fresh perspective.

On her farm in Sagle, Kristina grows, forages, distills, infuses, formulates, and blends the natural skincare products and herbal remedies she offers through her business, Untamed Alchemy. As the Untamed Alchemist, she offers inspired workshops to teach others traditional, hands-on methods for crafting herbal/aromatic delights and encourage intentional, sustainable engagement with medicinal and native plants.