Upcoming Plant Walks & Workshops

Join us for immersive plant walks and hands-on workshops exploring the medicinal and food uses of the plants and fungi of our bioregion!

2026 Workshops & Plant Walks

Medicinal Plant Walks

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2026 Dates Posted!

Acquaint yourself with the medicinal and edible plants of our bioregion – join myself and fellow plant lovers to explore all of the wonderful medicinal & edible plants at various locations throughout Chicago!

Incense Making Workshop with Hard Broom

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Thursday, April 30, 2026 – 6:30-8:30pm

Join Chicago-based artist & incense-maker, Morganne Wakefield, in an exploration of the art of natural incense making. We’ll learn the fundamentals of natural incense, using a variety of aromatics, botanicals, tree barks and resins. We will discover various recipes and craft a unique incense cone blend for you to take home! All materials provided.

Incantations and Invocations

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Tuesday, June 2, 2026 – 6:00-8:30pm

Write Love Letters to the Natural World!

Plant ecology, herbalism, community, and writing all invite us to feel centered and happy in our bodies and minds because these practices help us relate to the earth itself – our larger body. Join writer Sarah Kokernot to observe and connect with the living world while it's in a cycle of renewal and growth, and write love letters in honor of this unfurling process.

  • "I really enjoyed the tinctures & infusions workshop; it was informative and fun! Alex is very knowledgeable and open to questions; it was a comfortable, welcoming space to learn. I am enjoying the tea I made and can't wait to try the tincture when it's ready!"

    Adrienne Q., Workshop Participant 2023

  • "This was a great experience! It was a treat to explore Horner Park for the first time with Alex, who is a knowledgable and generous teacher. Despite the heat, there were so many wonderful, medicinal plants in bloom - most of them native and part of a recreated prairie along the river. It was a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon."

    Ryan B., Plant Walk Participant, 2024

  • "I joined Alex's Patchwork Farms plant walk and it exceeded my expectations. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable, enabling him to give thoughtful responses to all of our questions, but his passion for plants is truly contagious and I left feeling inspired and motivated to continue delving deeper into herbalism. I can't believe how much I learned in the span of two hours; bring a notebook, you'll need it! Looking forward to future learning with Greenspell."

    Sarah E., Plant Walk Participant, 2024

  • "I left this workshop eager to develop a deeper relationship with my local herbs and empowered to make my own tinctures. Alex's enthusiasm and knowledge made the time fly by!"

    Tincture Making Workshop Participant, 2024

  • "The plant walk was amazing! Alex gives expert advice in a down-to-earth way. This was a great introduction into Western herbalism, folklore, and the plants of this region. I look forward to learning more. "

    – Sarah K., Horner Park Plant Walk Participant, 2024

  • "I attended a very informative and interesting plant walk at Patchwork Farms with Alex. Herbalism is very new to me, but nature walks and outdoor education are not. As a science teacher with a huge dose of skepticism towards anything "woowoo", I appreciated Alex's depth of knowledge of everything from the origins of the names, the biochemistry of plants, to the history of herb use and the different frameworks for herbalism. He sprinkled in so many interesting tidbits that I jotted down to follow up on later. It's obvious that Alex works from a very deep respect for everything, most especially the plants themselves, the people who have used them over the millennia, and the students present on the walk. I highly recommend taking a class with him!"

    Beth M., Plant Walk Participant, 2024

  • "Very informational and hands-on workshop that details real ways to get started creating infused oils at home. In addition to providing suggestions for supplemental resources for continued learning, we learned a lot about how to identify credible farms and sources for herbs. Lovely time!"

    Julia N., Infused Oils Workshop Participant, 2024

  • "This class was fantastic! It felt really special to be learning in-person with Alex and other participants. I got so much more from this class than I would have from a book or online session. All of the herbs and ingredients were waiting and ready for us. We were able to interact with the plants in a attuned, hands-on way. Alex is a great teacher and I look forward to taking more classes at Greenspell."

    – Sarah K., Shrubs, Switchels, & Oxymels Workshop, 2025

Explore our multi-month in-person courses.

Greenspell currently offers two multi-month courses:

  • Year One: Foundations in Bioregional Herbalism Course is a 7-month, in-person course in Chicago, IL with an embodied, experiential, and bioregional approach to herbalism, focusing on actions & energetics in western herbalism, herbal medicine making, building plant relationships, and community engagement.

  • Year Two: Community Herbalism Intensive offers a deep dive into the practical applications of herbs across various body systems – intended for serious students of herbalism as a stepping stone toward becoming a full-time clinical herbalist, or to provide a solid foundation for aspiring community herbalists.

Generally, students take these courses sequentially over the course of two years, starting with the Year One course. But student who already have experience or who have taken introductory courses can begin at the Year Two course. Learn more about each course by clicking the links above.

Interested in having Alex offer a class, plant walk or workshop for your organization?

I'm always excited to explore new areas and travel to talk about the medicinal and edible uses of plants. I speak on a wide range of herbal and ecological topics, with classes ranging from a couple of hours to a full weekend. I also am happy to lead private walks for you and your friends or family. If you’re interested, feel free to reach out at alex@greenspell.org

Past Workshops
Past Workshops