Fat is like liquid gold. Nutritive, giving us long lasting energy, necessary for proper nervous system and hormone function, and thus growth + maintenance of the body, hydrating, and insulating, not to mention its many uses outside the human body-- as fuel, candles, lubrication, for tanning hides, making soap, etc…

Unfortunately, the mainstream dialogue about fat and cholesterol is outdated and frankly, inaccurate, despite there being scientific evidence that says otherwise. In this class, we will get into the nitty gritty of why fat is important to the body, including the role of cholesterol and how to support wellness with delicious nourishing fats. Discussion will include getting to know different types of fats, how to process or render them from their raw form, and how to integrate them into our daily lives.

Gina Shvartsman is an herbalist, farmer, shiatsu practitioner, and creative kitchen crafter. All of her work is informed by her understanding of the plants and the body. She is an avid learner, forever enchanted by the depth of wisdom and potency of tracking patterns throughout the human and earth body landscape. She has a background in traditional systems of plant medicine, in particular the Chinese Five Element System, anatomy & physiology, herb-drug interactions as well as the Meridian System. Farming paired with regular ventures to the woods, fields, and meadows gives her the opportunity to continue engaging and learning from the plants directly through embodied experience. As a homesteader, being in intimate relationship with her food and sharing the stories of the beings that become our bodies and the nuances of how to select, preserve and optimize nutrient density brings her joy. She hopes to inspire curiosity in others to reconnect with the plants and their bodies as a way to create a greater sense of self awareness and agency. Together we are creating this collective reality we call life.

Her practice, Radical Rose Botanicals is a garden to apothecary project, and also offers herbal consultations, Shiatsu bodywork and herbal and food preservation classes.