The 14th annual Bastyr University Herb and Food Fair puts the focus on global health this year with the theme "Restoration of Body and Planet." The free community event, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012, is expected to bring several thousand visitors to Bastyr University's 51-acre campus near the shores of Lake Washington.
Festival Activities
- Educational speakers and workshops
- Cooking demonstrations from nutrition and botanical medicine experts
- Live entertainment and music
- Nutritious and delicious homemade food
- Free acupuncture demos
- Special activities for children
- Garden tours
- Guided walks through the surrounding woods
- Relaxing herbal foot soaks and facials
Keynote Speakers
- Paul Stamets, is a mycologist who also is an internationally renowned author and speaker. Stamets has written six mushroom-related books, including Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World; Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms; and The Mushroom Cultivator, which are used as textbooks around the world by the specialty and medicinal mushroom industries. Stamets is an advisor to the Program of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Medical School, Tucson; on the Editorial Board of The International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms; and was appointed to the G.A.P./G.M.P. Board of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. Stamets is the sole source supplier and co-investigator of the first two National Institutes of Health-funded clinical studies using medicinal mushrooms in the United States.
- Jean Layton, ND, aka "Gluten-Free Doctor," uses her analytical skills as a a chef, doctor and author to address the ongoing goal, "There has to be a better way." One way she fulfills that goal is through education: teaching baking and detox classes, and helping companies understand how to keep gluten-free people safe when feeding them. Dr. Layton has a naturopathic medicine practice Bellingham, Washington, and has co-authored the book Gluten-Free Baking for Dummies. Her talk is titled "Eliminate the Negatives-Clean out your world and thrive."
- Heidi Bohan is an educator specializing in native plants and their uses, with a focus on Northwest Coast traditional knowledge and ethnobotany, traditional foods, medicinal plants, basketry, carving and weaving. She also designs and assists with native plant habitat gardens and restoration project. She is the author of The People of Cascadia, Journey Plant Medicine Cards and the Starflower Native Plant ID Cards. She works full time as an educator and consultant for Snoqualmie Tribe, as well as Northwest Indian College, Bastyr University and her own "Gatherer to Gardener" programs.
More Details
Other talks and workshops on herbs, nutrition and topics related to natural medicine and healthy lifestyles are scheduled throughout the day.
Fair participants will have the opportunity to meet regional and national experts in the natural health arts and sciences, including herbalists, culinary artists, nutritionists and educators. A variety of vendors will sell food, beverages, topical herbal preparations, dried teas, bath infusions, herb-related artwork and crafts. Herb and other plant starts from Bastyr's organic garden will be on sale, including medicinal and culinary herbs from around the world.
Proceeds from the Herb and Food Fair benefit Bastyr University students by contributing to the University's garden improvements and providing funding to purchase supplies for its herb- and food-cultivating classes.
Transportation and Parking
Event visitors can park for free at the Kenmore Park and Ride (at 7346 N.E. Bothell Way) and take the free Bastyr shuttle directly to the Bastyr Herb and Food Fair. The bus runs every 15 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Limited parking also will be available on campus for a $5 fee. Bastyr University is located at 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore, adjacent to St. Edward State Park. No event parking is permitted at St. Edward State Park.
