Herbs for Health and Hearth at the Avery-Copp House Museum August 6

An expanded herb garden and knowledge of the practical uses of herbs are the right ingredients for a new program at the Avery-Copp House, 154 Thames St. in Groton.
 
Museum Director Leslie Evans will teach a class on “Herbs for Hearth and Health,” August 6, from 4 PM to 6 PM. Evans’ experience includes the design and planting of the herb and heirloom vegetable gardens at the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry. She has lectured extensively on the topics of domestic life in 18th & 19th century New England, concentrating on food history, open hearth cooking, herbs and heirloom gardening.
 
The class will cover how herbs were used historically for cooking and medicine, and how they can still be used at home today.  It will be held in the historic kitchen of the Avery-Copp House and outside in the herb garden, which was recently completed as part of a collaboration with Girl Scout Lighthouse Service Troop 67911. The girls learned how to plant a garden and use organic methods in exchange for their help to install the garden and to volunteer to interpret it during special events. The project was part of a plan to expand kitchen programming at the museum.
 
Participants in the class will touch, taste and smell a variety of plants, and learn how to make some time-tested skin care and household cleaning products.  Everyone will make an herbal vinegar to take home.  The class will conclude with tea and treats – herbal, of course!  Recipes and a resource list will be provided. Admission is $20. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 860-445-1637 or emailing averycopphouse@sbcglobal.net.