Court Square Cafe and a local herbalist, Magic Keller, are teaming up and creating a six-week course on herbalism, cooking, and nutrition. The classes start September 15, 2026, and will run through the end of October. Spots will fill up fast, so participants need to register early.
Location
All the classes will be held at Court Square Cafe in Alton, Missouri.
Registration
Each class costs $43. If you sign up for all six classes, the cost is $235. You can register at the Ozarks School of Botanical Medicine website. After each class description, there is a button to register; or after all the classes have been listed, there is a button to register for all the classes.
Who Can Do It
Anyone can take the classes, whether you live in Alton or not. Kids twelve and under can go free as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
What to Bring
Attendees don’t need to bring anything except themselves. Everything in the class will be provided.
Classes
The classes will be held every Tuesday from 6-8 pm beginning September 15th, and running through October 27th. [1] Participants can sign up for one class or all of the classes.
September 15th
The first class will be about pungent herbs and healing chicken broth. Participants will get to taste chicken thighs and broth; learn how to make broth; and taste and learn about different herbs including thyme, pepper, and sage.
September 22nd
The second class will be on September 22nd and will cover foraging, cooking, and healing with mushrooms. Jamie Stephens will be a guest speaker talking about mushroom foraging skills. [2] Individuals will get to learn different ways to cook mushrooms, and will also learn about the healing benefits of mushrooms.
September 29th
On September 29th, the class will cover salty herbs and nourishing minerals. Attendees will get to taste roast chicken and green veggies; sample herbal teas; learn how to use local plants as mineral sources; and discover how fiber helps digestion.
October 13th
The fourth class will be on October 13th and will be about sour herbs and fermentation. Participants will learn how to make sauerkraut; discover the probiotics fermented foods have; and learn about sour herbs and their benefits.
October 20th
On October 20th, participants will learn about herbs and hearty greens. Attendees will learn how bitter flavors help with digestions and learn about creating digestive bitter blends.
October 27th
The final class will be on October 27th and will cover sweet herbs and refined sugar-free desserts. Individuals will learn how to use fruits and veggies to naturally sweeten food; taste refined sugar-free desserts and sauces; and discover sweet herbs to build health.
