Appalachian Folk Medicine w/ Byron Ballard
October 10 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
About the Workshop: Appalachian Folk Medicine w/ Byron Ballard
Just in time for Samhain, step into the wild heart of southern Appalachia and explore its vibrant folk traditions through the wisdom of Appalachian magic practitioner and beloved storyteller, Byron Ballard.
Carried across oceans in the hearts of immigrants and woven together with local Indigenous plant knowledge, Appalachian folk medicine is a unique living, breathing tradition: practical, powerful, ancestral. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll trace the twisty history of these old medicines and discover how culture, land, and spirit shaped a distinctly Appalachian healing practice.
Together, we’ll roll up our sleeves and work with the plants themselves — crafting tinctures and poultices, and creating traditional asfidity (protection) bags from up-cycled fabric. These humble tools carry generations of knowledge about protection, restoration, and care of both body, spirit and the land.
Midway through, we’ll break bread and share a warming bowl of soup, nourishing body and spirit in good company.
Participants will also spend time with the Seven Sovereign Sisters of the Appalachian mountains, learning the stories and healing relationships surrounding these beloved plant allies. Alongside the herbal work, Byron will guide deep relaxation techniques rooted in traditional practice — reminding us that healing has always been about tending the whole person.
Throughout the day, we’ll explore the culture and heritage behind these practices, dispelling stereotypes and gaining a fuller, truer understanding of Appalachian people and their ways. These traditions are not relics — they are vital threads in the living fabric of the region.
In this workshop, you will:
- Learn the history and cultural roots of Appalachian folk medicine
- Explore the blending of British Isles traditions and native plant wisdom
- Work hands-on with tinctures, poultices, and traditional protection bags
- Meet the Seven Sovereign Sisters and their healing uses
- Practice deep relaxation techniques grounded in folk tradition
- Gain a richer, more nuanced understanding of Appalachian people and culture
Come spend the day in the old ways — practical, grounded, generous — and leave with skills, stories, and a deeper connection to mountain folk medicine.
This class will be held indoors on Saturday, Octber 10th, 2026, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in Asheville, NC.
This class is suitable for all – from folklore & folkways enthusiasts to those new to these traditions! The minimum age is 10 with maturity level to understand the content. Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
About the Instructor: Byron Ballard
H. Byron Ballard, BA, MFA, is a native of Western NC. She is a writer, amateur folklorist with a specialty in Appalachian folk magic & healing. She tours extensively in the US & Great Britain. Her books include four on mountain folk magic. The first was Staubs and Ditchwater (2017), and the most recent is A Feral Church (2025). She lives in Asheville, NC.
You can find out more about Byron through her website myvillagewitch.com
Equitable Pricing Model $30 – $80
* Please click here to learn about your pricing options before you register for your first Perennial Workshop. The pricing options are the same for all events, so you only need to do it once!
In order to make our workshops more accessible, we offer two price options for each class, with an additional Equity Discount for qualifying individuals. Please consider these options and select your price at checkout.
- Sponsor Price $80: For those who have enough to share, thank you for being a Sponsor. This is an opportunity to contribute towards the cost of the class for someone else.
- Standard Price $55: The Standard reflects one person’s share of what it costs to produce the class and cover basic expenses.
- Equity Discount $30: We offer an additional Equity Discount for those from the following communities who support reparations and/or an equitable redistribution of wealth and would not have access to this workshop without this discount:
- Indigenous or Native American, Black, Latino/a/x
- Other peoples of the global majority, or racialized communities
- Ethnicities underrepresented in the Southeastern earthskills community
Thank you for helping transform the world into a culture of abundance, resilience, and opportunity for all.
Which Price Option is Right for You?*
*Please check your pricing options before you register for your first Perennial Workshop. The pricing options are the same for all events, so you only need to do it once!
Class Price includes all Materials for the Class
Registration closes at 8am on October 10th
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