A few weeks ago, September 13th, I took part in a beautiful gathering of women seeking to connect with wild herbs. This beautiful day was lovingly created by Nutmeg Baker.


An herbal gathering organized for women, by women.

Nestled under the Oak, Birch, and Linden trees Women from various walks of life gathered to learn the medicinal and spiritual uses of plants. This full-day retreat allowed women to explore their relationship to the natural world through the practical and medicinal properties of plants local to the Netherlands.


We gathered to study, teach, learn, network, talk about plants, and have a good THYME.
We were guests at the beautiful fertile grounds of Kraaybeekerhof. They welcomed our willingness to work with the plants and roots.


Between class sessions we could freely walk the abundant gardens and visit the bees. All classes were held outdoors sitting on the earth, the weather was beautiful and the day magical.


Throughout the day we were treated to the most beautiful food, made with love and attention and during sessions we snacked on all sorts of herbs, berries and plants.


Flow for the day

I woke up very early (even for my doing) to walk to the train station (as it was too early for the metros to run), take trains to Driebergen and walk from the station there to Kraaybeekerhof, the world was still sleeping and I arrived as one of the first people at the gardens, witnessing the world arising from slumber, the dew in the grass, the sun slowly climbing above the horizon, it felt so calming and healing. For a moment all was good in the world.



8:30 Registration opens, more and more women started to gather in the barn, enjoying nourishing tea and homemade vegan cakes.
9:00 Morning yoga with Lisa Knibbeler
10:00 Opening Ceremony, words of welcome, opening the circle, calling in the quarters, the elements, father Sky and Mother Earth. Welcome.
10:20-11:45 First Class Session “All About Nettles” with Saskia Nieboer
11:45-12:00 Tea Break
12:00-13:25 Second Class Session “Herbal Womb Wisdom” with Madelief Jara (or “Forest Bathing” with Janneke Meijers)
13:25-14:25 Lunch
14:25-15:50 Third Class Session “Wild Picking Herb Walk” by Tuinvrouw Teunisbloem (or “Four Herbs in Your Garden” by Anca Moldovan)
15:50-16:05 Tea Break
16:05-17:30 Fourth Class Session “Living with the Seasons” by Aukje-Bor Stokroos
17:30-18:00 Closing Ceremony, and Herbal Marketplace
On my way home I walked back to the station through the woods and at home it was dark and was greeted by the fairylights of a local circular 2chef restaurant.

The whole day was so nourishing and it was just wonderful to be bathed in the energy of Kraaybeekerhof and a full day resting in feminine energy and soaking in ancient wisdom and a time to let go.

Some take aways

Just some knowledge I took home with me; Did you know the nettle (leafs and roots) is tremendously versatile and is rich in silica, tannin, mucilage, iron, potassium, calcium, vitamins A, B, C, K, folic acid and female hormones and that the seeds contain many minerals in addition to protein and fat. Now is the time to collect the seeds, the male seeds are green and hang (pardon the pun) and the female seeds are bigger and yellowish. The male seeds can be slightly roasted, dried and ground to release their properties. I order to handle the nettles, stroke them from the bottom upwards and the needles will seize to prick. The use for nettles varies greatly like fyto-estrogen, bladder infections, anti-lice spray (nettle juice and sugar), hayfever, headaches, hair and you can even use the stems for fibre.

A Yoni steam is a beautiful way to re-member ourselves as nature, not a part of nature, but as nature, we are not separate. In our society winter has become suppressed and we no longer take the time to rest and grief. Working with herbs can help coming to the roots of our needs, herbs are an ally and deserve our respect. Yoni steams detoxify physical and emotional dis-ease and helps us heal.

Ivy contains saponin and with five leafs in a wash bag you can do your laundry or add them to a blender and add vinegar, coconut oil or other ingredients to make things such as washing up liquid and shampoo.
Ground Ivy tastes lovely, peppery and helps against nettle stings (they often grow near nettles, nature always provides).
Daisies are antibacterial and help the respiratory system and Hawthorn is heart-strengthening and aids blood vessels and capillaries.

Duality, such as light and dark started with imperialism, before these times there was just sunrise and sunset, no light or dark, no opposites, just expressions of nature. These days we have less and less time for the ‘darkness’ in our lives and we feel we need to fight and extinguish everything that makes us feel uncomfortable. Re-member there is always an in-between, a different story.

The Honorable Harvest

(From Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass)

  • Ask permission from the ones whose life and medicine you seek. Abide by their answer.
  • Never take the first. Never take the last.
  • Harvest in a way that minimizes harm.
  • Take only what you need and leave some for others.
  • Use everything you take.

Traditionally, the native indigenous people of the Americas would offer one of the following before they harvested any plant : a song, hair, blood, urine, or a pinch of tobacco. A way to give before we receive.

Round and round the earth is turning,
Turning always into morning,
And from morning into night.

P.S. Nutmeg is organizing a Wild Roots Herbal Gathering 2021, July 2-4 in Drenthe as the details become more clear. For that gathering we will have more space, more yin, more time to rest in nature, and enjoy the sweetness of the days. Follow her on Facebook if you would like to be kept informed about this event.