Naturalist, artist and herbalist June Ellen Bradley will teach several classes at Isothermal Community College’s Polk Center starting this month.

In “Herb Gardening” Bradley will guide you through site planning, planting, caring for and harvesting herbs. You will transform a tilled site at ICC’s Polk Center into an herb garden in this working gardening class meeting each Wednesday from 8 – 10 a.m. starting May 11.

Whether you’re a new or experienced journaler, you can learn ways to express your thoughts, record your memories and capture your stories in the “Journaling” class that starts May 11 and meets each Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. – noon.

Bradley shares her knowledge of the plants of the area’s unique ecosystem as she leads you on “Wildflower/Discover Walks” each Monday for six weeks from 8 – 11 a.m. starting May 16.

In “Herbal Medicine I” you’ll explore herbal remedies and centuries old healing treatments from simple salves, tea, oils and vinegars to herbal elixirs. Starting May 16 the class meets each Monday from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. through June 27.

All skill levels are welcome for “Botanical Drawing,” where you’ll learn not only how to draw the physical aspects of the plants you choose, but go deeper in your perceptions and understanding of plant energies and healing properties. This class starts May 16 and meets each Monday from 3:30 – 5:30 for six weeks.

Explore your creative side with “Collage – It’s Not Just for Kids,” for a freeing form of artistic expression meeting Thursdays from 1 – 3 p.m. starting May 26.

Bradley earned her degree in biology and government from Wheaton College. She studied for 10 years under Tom Brown Jr. learning the art of tracking, Native American skills and philosophy and apprenticed with Rosemary Gladstar, a leading herbalist in the U.S.

A teacher at the Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference and past teacher at the International Herb Symposium, she is a member of the American Herbalist Guild and United Plant Savers.

Call 828-894-3092 for more information or to register for these or other upcoming classes.

– article submitted by Kate Barkschat