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SUMMARY:Appalachian Folk Medicine w/ Byron Ballard
DESCRIPTION:About the Workshop: Appalachian Folk Medicine w/ Byron Ballard\n\n\n\nJust 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. \n\n\n\nCarried 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. \n\n\n\nTogether\, 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. \n\n\n\nMidway through\, we’ll break bread and share a warming bowl of soup\, nourishing body and spirit in good company. \n\n\n\nParticipants 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. \n\n\n\nThroughout 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. \n\n\n\nIn this workshop\, you will: \n\n\n\n\nLearn the history and cultural roots of Appalachian folk medicine\n\n\n\nExplore the blending of British Isles traditions and native plant wisdom\n\n\n\nWork hands-on with tinctures\, poultices\, and traditional protection bags\n\n\n\nMeet the Seven Sovereign Sisters and their healing uses\n\n\n\nPractice deep relaxation techniques grounded in folk tradition\n\n\n\nGain a richer\, more nuanced understanding of Appalachian people and culture\n\n\n\n\nCome spend the day in the old ways — practical\, grounded\, generous — and leave with skills\, stories\, and a deeper connection to mountain folk medicine. \n\n\n\nThis class will be held indoors on Saturday\, Octber 10th\, 2026\, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in Asheville\, NC. \n\n\n\nThis 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. \n\n\n\nAbout the Instructor: Byron Ballard\nH. 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 \n\n\n\n\nEquitable Pricing Model $30 – $80\n\n\n\n* 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!\nIn 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. \n\n\n\n\nSponsor 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.\n\n\n\nStandard Price $55: The Standard reflects one person’s share of what it costs to produce the class and cover basic expenses.\n\n\n\nEquity 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:\n\nIndigenous or Native American\, Black\, Latino/a/x\n\n\n\nOther peoples of the global majority\, or racialized communities\n\n\n\nEthnicities underrepresented in the Southeastern earthskills community\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThank you for helping transform the world into a culture of abundance\, resilience\, and opportunity for all. \n\n\n\nWhich Price Option is Right for You?*\n\n\n\n\nFind your Pricing Option\n\n\n\n\n*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! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nClass Price includes all Materials for the Class\n\n\n\nRegistration closes at 8am on October 10th \n\n\n\nEnter the HTML code for Eventbrite’s embedded checkout in the Custom HTML box below. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWant to support our Equity Fund but not able to upgrade to Sponsor Price? Donate below!\n\n\n\n				\n					\n					\n					Equity Fund Donation – Sliding Scale\n				\n				\n				\n				Choose price\n			\n				\n					\n					\n					Friend of Firefly ($5/month)\n				\n				\n				\n				Add to cart\n			\n				\n					\n					\n					Donation – Choose your amount\n				\n				\n				\n				Choose price
URL:https://www.fireflygathering.org/event/appalachian-folk-medicine-w-byron-ballard
CATEGORIES:Farmsteading,Perennial Workshop,Wild Foods
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