Officials with the Hagood Mill in Pickens are committed to protecting the unique native plant communities found at the mill site.

To that end, last year officials with the mill and the Pickens County announced last year the creation of Field School at the Hagood Mill.

The classes were aimed at teaching participants' new skills while introducing them to the beautiful plants on display at the mill, while also raising funds for the mill's Native Plants Conservation Plan.

Previous Field School classes have included beekeeping, hearth cooking, tree and shrub identification and edible and medicinal plants.

The classes offer in the late summer and into the fall this summer will focus on making medicine from plants and trees.

All classes require pre-registration. Register by calling 898-5963 or drop by the Pickens County Museum of Art and History, located at 307 Johnson Street in Pickens.

“Making Your Own Herbal Extracts” will be held from 12pm – 3pm, Sept. 13. Herbalist Robin McGee will show students how to make their own potent medicinal herbal extracts, or tinctures, from fresh and dried berries, roots, bark, leaves and flowers. The class will also cover the importance of properly labeling and storing your herbal extracts. The class is $60 or $50 for museum members.

Tuition includes a detailed handout, recipes, materials, and instruction. 

Students will make a tincture to take home.

On Sept. 27, from 12 – 3pm, McGee will present “Barking Up the Right Tree: Making Medicine from Trees.” This course will show you how to make medicine from trees, what parts of the trees to use, what’s needed to make a tincture, a syrup or a tea. Participants will learn how and when to harvest and how to prepare White Oak, Wild Cherry, Tulip Popular, Black Walnut and Sassafras for medicine. Students will learn the skills needed and gain the confidence to go home and make medicine from trees themselves.

The class costs $50, $40 for museum members.

On Oct. 11, from 12-3pm, McGee will teach “Herbal Baby & Childcare”. This course will over using healing herbs to ease teething, fever, colic, diaper rash, colds, flu, sore throat, coughing and more in your little ones. Tuition is $50 or $40 for museum members. 

On Oct. 25, from 12-3om, McGee will present “Herbs for Winter Wellness.” This course will cover the herbs and herbal products you can make to prevent illness at the first signs of symptoms and what you can use when full-blown illness strikes. Did you know that thyme, common in many gardens, was used in hospitals as a disinfectant long before aerosol spray? Elderberry is used by many people to combat the flu.

Students will make their own safe-to-use hand sanitizer and room spray. It’s not only safe for you, it’s safe for the environment.

The class is $50 or $40 for museum members.

On Nov. 8, from 12-3pm, McGee will teach “Easy Herbal Medicine.” This course will cover making powerful, tasty natural herbal syrups. Officials say herbal syrups are one of the easiest methods of getting herbs into finicky kids. Students will learn common plants/parts used in making syrups, sample several herbal syrups and make a medicinal syrup to take home. The course is $60 or $50 for museum members. Tuition includes a detailed handout, recipes and instruction.