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August, 2003 report
Fireweed Farm Hydrosol Workshop with Heather Kehr
By Brigitte L'Heureux
This past August (2003), Christine Hopkins, proprietor of From the Garden... at French Beach presented a one-day
hydrosol workshop, facilitated by Heather Kehr of Fireweed Farm of Edson, Alberta. Heather is an avid lifelong
gardener, massage therapist, and now a distiller and distributor of fine Canadian hydrosols and essential oils, who
shared her passion with us, not only for the products, but also for the integrity and commitment to the environment
that is honored in gathering the raw materials. She has been working closely with the Alberta Agriculture and
Alberta New Crops Network for the past 5 years to bring these products to an eager market.
The mandate of the company is to either naturally grow (transition organic) or ethically wildcraft therapeutic native
plants and distill them into essential oils, hydrosols, or tinctures. A number of the oils offered by Fireweed Farm are
native only to this part of the world (western Canada).
Some of the essential oils offered include Black Poplar, Black Spruce, Goldenrod, Hyssop, Labrador Tea,
Spearmint, Tamarack, Tarragon, White spruce, and Yarrow. The list of hydrosols included such absolutely unique
products as Wild Rose, Black Poplar, Black Spruce, Douglas Fir, Fireweed, Goldenrod, Hyssop, Labrador Tea, St.
John's Wort, Lodgepole Pine, Wolf Willow (also known as the jasmine of the Canadian prairies). Spearmint,
Tamarack, Tarragon, Black Currant, Sweetgrass and Yarrow, as well as basil, parsley, thyme and marjoram
hydrosols.
The day began with a brief introduction to hydrosols and their varied uses, and then the 7 participants got busy with
the most labour-intensive part of the day - a truly gourmet feast prepared with hydrosols. With 9 women preparing a
5 course lunch, Christine's kitchen may never be the same - she may still be finding misplaced utensils months from
now.
Appetizers consisted of a fresh vegetable "pizza" prepared with a cream cheese base flavoured with basil hydrosol,
and then liberally sprinkled with an assortment of fresh vegetables. A brandy-nut brie cheese appetizer, served with
crackers was fabulously delicious, flavoured with tarragon hydrosol. Next, a cold avacado soup, spiced up with a
combination of basil and parsley hydrosols, added about 400 calories, but no one was counting - it was all too
delicious. Next came a salad, complete with nasturtiums, flavoured with a creamy basil/dill/thyme (hydrosols)
vinaigrette. The main course was comprised of spaghetti squash primavera (basil hydrosol), creamy dilled salmon
(dill hydrosol), and rice. And no meal is complete without dessert - rocky mountain squares, lemon cheesecake
squares, and a sorbet flavoured with wild rose hydrosol. Throughout, a medley of punches were served - cranberry
juice spiked with wild rose and sweetgrass, or lemonade perked up with Black Spruce, Poplar, and Neroli. It was
an incredibly delicious meal, with hydrosols incorporated either as a substitution for the dried herbs required in the
recipe, or simply as a wonderful additive.
The balance of the afternoon was informational, and Heather explained the process of wild Crafting, organic
farming, and the distillation process of the various oils and hydrosols. We learned the importance of "flow-rate" and
that the best hydrosols are obtained in the first 1 to 2 hours of distillation. Heather carefully described each step of
the process, including how the distiller is cleaned between batches, batch testing and analysis, and she shared some
of the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of an exciting new venture.
The latter part of the day was spent in concocting personal care products. For starters, we made a wonderfully
luxurious hand/body cream, using hydrosols. At the end of the day, each participant was gifted with 3 bottles of
hydrosol of their choice, a bottle of hand cream, and a choice of either a prepared foot scrub, skin toner, cleaning
products, tub and tile cleaner, or a "hot flash" spritz, all made that afternoon. Each product was truly of the finest
quality, and after a hard day's work in the kitchen preparing such a gourmet feast, each one of us appreciated these
gifts to nuture and renew ourselves at the end of the day.
It was a fabulous summer day at French Beach, great company, incredible food, and an exciting informational event
on these indigenous essential oils and hydrolates.
Christine Hopkins, Aromatherapist
From the Garden...at French Beach - Retail sales of Herbal and Essential Oil Products
Specializing in Custom Blends using Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and
Carriers.
Click HERE to view and purchase products. |
