Programs and Lectures

If you would like to see our scheduled programs for 2025 and beyond, please check out the Events page

                                                 Marcy can do three types of Programs:

1. Presentation Lecture: programs that generally include a PowerPoint slide show and sharing of knowledge on the topic with handouts.
2. Demonstration Programs: where Marcy shows how to make recipes or create crafts and passes around completed items and provides recipes for recreating the items at home.  These can be modified to include make-and-take items made at the end of the program by participants.
3. Workshops: for a smaller number of participants, Marcy will teach step-by-step crafting with herbs and include recipes. Participants will take the items they create home with them.  Fees are based on material costs.

 NEW in 2025

Body Beautiful – Discover the art of herbal skincare with our Body Beautiful series, where we explore three unique ways to craft natural, garden-inspired body care products. From infused scrubs and toners to powdered beauty treatments and rich, moisturizing salves, these adventures will teach you how to harness the power of herbs for radiant, nourished skin. Each of these programs is designed to complement the others while standing alone as a complete learning experience.  Each program can be a demonstration or a workshop. Demonstrations include showing how to make the items with completed items passed around with recipes provided (perfect for larger groups.) Workshops are for a smaller number of participants and include the making of items by participants to take home with recipes. (Fees vary.)

1. Infused Beauty: Harnessing Herbs for Luxurious Bath and Body Care Using infusion techniques (salt/sugar, water, vinegar and oil) to create base products for body care.

2. Powdered Perfection: Crafting Herbal Body Care with Dry Ingredients Using dried herbs, clays, and powders for natural body care.

3. From Garden to Glow: Herbal Salves and Lotions for Nourished Skin Creating rich herbal salves, balms, and lotions to soothe and heal skin.

Crafting Herbal Mocktails (In-Person) Turn your next gathering into a sophisticated and flavorful experience—without the alcohol! This hands-on masterclass dives into the art of herbal mocktails, demonstrating how to make simple syrups, herb extractions, and bitters to elevate your drink game. We’ll explore:

• Reinventing party punches with herbal ingredients
  
  
  
• Stirring up Faux Gin and other alcohol-free alternatives
• Mixing classic mocktails like martinis, fizzes, and sours
• The history of herbs in alcoholic beverages
  Spring, Summer, and Fall versions available. Alcohol can be substituted for mocktail ingredients if requested. This no-alcohol program is ideal for Park Districts and Libraries.

Making Mocktails (Zoom Workshop) Learn to craft incredible mocktails from the comfort of your home! This interactive Zoom session will guide you through:

• Making simple syrups, bitters, and Faux Gin
• Mixing creative mocktails using these ingredients
• Techniques for balancing flavors and aromas
  Recipes and a shopping list will be provided for those who want to follow along and mix in real-time.

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Edible Flowers (Presentation & Workshop) Discover the delicious world of edible flowers! This photo-rich presentation explores over 20 edible blooms, including:

• Tasty flowers like daylilies, anise hyssop, and flowering herbs
• The culinary and medicinal properties of purslane and mustard
• Harvesting, preserving, and preparation techniques
  Participants will receive a plant list and recipes. In-person attendees will sample select recipes, while Zoom participants will learn techniques to try at home.

Decorating with Herbs (Demonstration or Workshop) Celebrate Spring and Fall with herbal decor! This hands-on workshop will teach you how to:

• Create stunning herbal decorations for doors, mantels, tables, and trees
• Craft simple, elegant party favors using herbs and natural elements
  A perfect program for those who love seasonal decorating with a fragrant and sustainable twist.

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Curative Properties of Tea (Presentation) Herbal and green teas offer more than just warmth—they bring a wealth of health benefits! This engaging session covers:

• The difference between black, green, and herbal teas
• Which herbs make great tea and their medicinal properties
• How to formulate your own teas for wellness
  In-person: Participants will create and sample their own custom tea blends (hot water required).
  Zoom: A guided discussion on blending methods with recipes provided for at-home experimentation.

Afternoon Tea (Presentation, Demonstration or Workshop) What are the origins of Afternoon Tea, what did it replace and how can we throw a traditional tea party are all components of this program.  Recipes are included.

• When did tea become a meal
• What teas do we serve at Afternoon Tea
• Enjoying and creating recipes for an Afternoon Tea
• In-person Presentation: Tea samples and discussion of customs and techniques
• Workshop: creation of tea sandwiches and teas with a small tea celebration.

Historic Herbal Treasures (Presentation) Uncover the fascinating history of herbal remedies! This show-and-tell program explores:

• Traditional methods used to determine an herb’s curative properties
• The Victorian "language of flowers" and its hidden meanings
• A fun, interactive flower-language game!
  Perfect for evening groups or historical enthusiasts.

Native American Herbs (Presentation with Hands-On) Explore the plants that Native American tribes of the Midwest have relied on for centuries. This program combines visuals and hands-on experience to cover:

• Medicinal, culinary, and spiritual uses of native plants
• Growing habits and sustainable harvesting
• Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, and other tribal traditions
  Great for history buffs and nature lovers alike!

Language of Flowers (Presentation & Workshop) Step into the romantic world of Victorian floriography! Learn how flowers were used to send secret messages and:

• Decode the meanings of different blooms
• Learn the creation of a symbolic tussie-mussie bouquet
• Interpret displayed floral arrangements
  Available both in-person and on Zoom.

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Crafting Herb Blends (Demonstration) Unlock the power of herbs in the kitchen! This demonstration workshop includes:

• Creating dips, dressings, and spreads using fresh and dried herbs
• Understanding flavor families for expert herb pairing
• Hands-on herb blending experience
  Fee: $225 for up to 35 people; $3 per person for additional attendees.

Be an Herbal Gourmet (Demonstration) Discover how to elevate everyday meals with herbs! This session covers:

• Which herbs enhance different dishes
• How to use herbs to replace salt and boost flavors
• Creating herbal vinegars, butters, and other pantry staples

Flavor Bombs & Compound Butters (Cooking Demonstration) Turn garden-fresh herbs into powerhouse flavor enhancers! This hands-on demo will teach you to:

• Create herb-infused pastes, butters, and oils
• Preserve fresh herbs for year-round use
• Incorporate these ingredients into delicious dishes
  Sampling included. (Higher fee required.)

Infusion Techniques (Demonstration) Learn how to capture the essence of herbs! This class explores:

• Creating herbal sugars, vinegars, and flavored waters
• Infusing herbs into oils and bath salts for skincare
• Packaging and presentation tips for gifts or sale
  Real-time demonstrations included.

Green Cleaning with Herbs (Demonstration or Workshop) Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to natural cleaning! This program covers:

• Using herbal vinegars and essential oils for home cleaning
• DIY laundry, dishwashing, and surface cleaners
• Live demonstrations of herbal cleaning techniques
  Available in-person or on Zoom.

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Playing by the Rules: A History of Board Games (Presentation) From ancient strategy games to modern classics, discover the origins and evolution of board games! A great program for history and game enthusiasts alike.

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Children’s Programs

Let’s Play Native American Games (Hands-On) Explore the games of Eastern Woodland tribes through:

• Interactive play with historical accuracy
• Learning the cultural significance of each game
• Creating a take-home game to continue the fun
  Designed for ages 7-12 and adults.

Let’s Play International Games (Hands-On) Travel the world through play! This program introduces:

• Traditional games from Africa, the Netherlands, Peru, and beyond
• Hands-on game creation and rule exploration
• Fun, interactive play for ages 10-15 and adults
  All games can be played with paper and pennies!

FEES

Fees -- Any lecture listed above can be done for $185.00, unless otherwise noted.   Fees include handout materials for participants. Almost all of the above mentioned lectures can be modified to include hands-on demonstrations and instruction.  Since this requires additional materials, supplies and equipment an additional fee per person or a minimum of $36.00 is needed for a demonstration lecture. 

Travel Boundaries -- At this time I do not travel outside the Chicagoland area. However, this is a generous area that includes southern Wisconsin, western Indiana and anything within a 100 mile radius of Elmhurst, Illinois.