WASHINGTON GARDENER Review: Herbal Activities for Kids
BOOK REVIEW BY KATHY JENTZ
Herbal Activities for Kids: 50 Nature Crafts, Recipes, and Garden Projects is a new book for parents, grandpar- ents, and teachers of all kinds to guide children through the world of herbalism through var- ious crafts and activi- ties. The author, Molly Meehan Brown, is the founder of the Wild Gin- ger Community Herbal Center in Bryans Road, MD (see the Wild Gin - ger profile in the Sum - mer 2024 issue of Path- ways Magazine). She also draws on the exper- tise of several herbalists from all over the globe for inspiration and con- tent in the book.
Published by Storey Publishing, LLC, and available now through Hachette Book Group, BetterWorldBooks.com, and other booksellers online and locally near you. Kathy Jentz is editor/publisher of Washington Gardener maga- zine. She is also the host of the popular GardenDC Podcast. Washington Gardener magazine is the gardening publication pub- lished specifically for the local metro area — zones 6-7 — Washington DC and its suburbs. The magazine is written entirely by local area gardeners. They have real-world knowledge and practical advice. They share their thoughts on what to plant in deep shade, how to cover bare spots, which annuals work best throughout the humid DC summers, and much more. The magazine is published monthly online and includes timely information such as a local garden events calendar and gardening to-do list for that month. A year-long digital subscription is $20.00. To subscribe to the magazine: Send a check/money order for $20.00 payable to “Washington Gardener” magazine to: Washing - ton Gardener, 826 Philadelphia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910 OR to pay via Paypal/credit card click on the “ subscribe ” link at www. WashingtonGardener.com . owners in your life.
The book is well-illustrated with colorful photos and vibrant draw- ings throughout. This makes it an inviting read and allows kids to flip through and dive into any of the projects they may find engaging. Adults, too, can use it as a teaching tool to introduce children to plant- based crafts, then tie them into other topics, such as math, culture, etc. The activities are arranged in sections around the senses — from touch to scent to taste — introducing children to plants in various ways of interaction. As many children may not be familiar with the plants used in this book, there are lots of visual aids and descriptions as well. One of my favorite activities is the Nature Mandala, which is an easy project to do with children of all ages. You can gather flowers, leaves, and sticks, then arrange them in a sun pattern radiating out from a center. The mandala can be simple or complex. You can add to it over several days and let it change over time. The fact that it is ephemeral is part of the experience. The section addressing the “Wildcrafting Code of Ethics” will be especially helpful to those new to foraging. The author includes a time for reflecting on our relationship to the land and previous land stew - ards, as well as addressing the need to avoid overharvesting and caus- ing possible habitat loss. The book is very much an introductory text to basic herbalism. The author sprinkles bits of herbal lore and teachings throughout it, but only lightly. I found myself wishing for more side notes on things like what to do with the unused plant parts from a craft (my suggestion is to compost them), and more about the possible herbal uses and pre- cautions of many of the plants used in the activities. I do appreciate, though, that this is meant mainly as a basic book written at a child’s level. The suggested age range for this book is 7 to 11 years old. Several of the activities require adult supervision or at least initial involvement in procuring the supplies. Some could be simplified a bit such as the flower press, which describes sourcing pieces of plywood not all would have access to. I’d like to have seen more suggestions of alternative materials, such as recycling things to re-use in these projects. For ex- ample, you could use an old, damaged hardback book to repurpose it for making that flower press. Overall, though, the book does a fine job serving its mission of gath - ering dozens of activities that help children explore the world of herbal plants. It is a great gift idea for any child who shows enthusiasm for exploring the natural world around them.
PATHWAYS—Fall 24—69
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