Discover how herbs supported health, beauty, and everyday life in Colonial New England during Garden Plants for Health and Beauty in the 18th Century, a hands-on workshop presented by the Lincoln County Historical Association on Tuesday, July 21, at 1:30 p.m. in Dresden.

Join instructors Rebecca Manthey and Louise Miller for a fun and relaxed introduction to the many uses of herbs to support and promote wellbeing during the colonial era. Without a local doctor in many villages, women would often rely on the knowledge and skills passed on to them as they used herbs for everything from hair care and healing salves to culinary flavorings and household remedies.  This hands-on workshop shares some examples of that traditional knowledge.

Workshop participants will learn about the properties each herb has to offer, prepare herbal products to take home, and enjoy a tour of the Court House herb and flower garden. This lovely garden was designed by the Wiscasset Garden Club and is maintained by its volunteers.

Participants will make and take home a selection of herbal recipes and receive a small booklet listing all the recipes presented during the session. As the workshop comes to a close, participants will be invited to enjoy lemonade by the garden.

Garden Plants for Health and Beauty is part of the Lincoln County Historical Association’s Adult Heritage Craft Workshops. It is the first to be offered during a summer season. The workshop will take place on Tuesday, July 21, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Pownalborough Court House in Dresden. The workshop fee of $35 includes all the supplies. This is a rain-or-shine event. Spaces are limited and pre-registration is required. Please contact email lchaprograms@gmail.com. for more information and to register.

Lincoln County Historical Association is a non-profit organization that provides stewardship for the 1754 Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta, the 1761 Pownalborough Court House in Dresden, and the 1811 Old Jail and Museum in Wiscasset. For more information, please visit www.lincolncountyhistory.org or Facebook at Lincoln County Historical Association (Maine).