lindera... an person herbal intensive

with herbalist jim mcdonald in Michigan

information for the

july 12 & 13, 2025 weekend

july classroom day: the urinary system

Where & when are we meeting?

We'll be meeting Saturday from 11am to 6ish at the River Hawk Annex in Proud Lake Recreation Area.

Click here for directions (use only this link to get to the class, lest you be led to some other place in the park where we won't be).

You can also search these coordinates on whatever map app you use: 42.5706940, -83.5526012

Technically, a State of Michigan Recreation Passport is required. They are available at the main park office. Without a pass they will sometimes leave a "ticket" but its just for the cost of the daily park pass. If someone has a Michigan Recreation Passport entry license plate, there's no fee. Carpooling will make this a minimal cost.

What are we discussing?

We'll be applying what we've learned about energetics to the urinary system. I'll again attach the readings for my write up on the urinary system after class; in the meantime you can check out the links here for further insights by other herbalists:

Kidney support (MH-sharol tilgner)

Urtica semen reduces serum creatinine levels (jonathan treasure)

Interstitial Cystitis (michael moore)

To cover the physiology, do read the urinary/kidney/renal info in the Holistic Anatomy book if you got that.

Also, for you "see & hear" learners, another A&P video: Urinary (excretory) system click here.

(the left sidebar has more videos for each structure in the urinary system)

july herb walk

Where & when are we walking?

This months herb walk will be at Highland Recreation Area in the Silo Field Trial Area. The walk will be from 11am to 6ish. We will meet at the parking lot/pavillion.

Click here for directions (PLEASE USE THIS LINK: it shows exactly where we'll meet).

Or you can also search these coordinates on whatever map app you use:

42.638417, -83.595389

YOU MUST USE THESE DIRECTIONS to find out where to meet! Just typing in the name of the park will not get you to the right location, which would be a bummer.

Please do be punctual with walks, we may not always be easily findable for latecomers (unless someone brings popcorn to leave a trail). I do usually try to stick around the parking area til people make it and talk about stuff growing there, but arriving on time will ensure you can find us if we head off down a trail.

more important information:

BRING LOTS OF WATER to drink. Summer walks are usually hot and muggy, and we'll be in the sun ALL DAY, with very little shade. If you dehydrate easily, some electrolyte drink is a good idea.
At this walk, we WILL be able to get back to cars to eat, a pavillion and big old oak trees will provide some shade for us to cool off in.
Bugs: Please do a tick check after this walk. I've walked this park 3 times, and it so far has not been insanely buggy, and I didn't get bitten by chiggers or ticks. BUT: we WILL be out in a field surrounded by by tall grasses, and this is a habitat little creepy crawly bitey things like. So bring spray. If you're really concerned, you can consider treating your clothing with a Permethrin spray or wash. Permethrin will kill stuff that lands or crawls on it. 7Song wrote up a handout on treating clothes with permethrin; you can read it here.
Dress appropriately: this means that you've got clothes to keep you warm and dry, including shoes. Better to have these available than not: being wet and or cold can ruin a walk, not just for you, but the other participants too.
Understand that we will still go out even if its raining, UNLESS, there's tornado conditions (or some other intense weather situation). Walks are planned out to see things when they're up and in season to collect and use, rescheduling them is generally undesirable (especially since there's no guarantee about the weather for the next class). For light, mild or intermittent rain: umbrellas and waterproof outerwear will make all the difference in the world between comfy and very bummed out. Please check your emails and the Facebook group before leaving if weather looks to be an issue. Remember I am not reliably textable.
AGAIN: BRING WATER you can carry with you, and some to leave in your car, if it's very hot and hydration is very important. Bring a couple bottles at least. If you know you have a hard time in the heat/sun, you may want to also bring along some type of electrolyte drink. Please don't overlook this.
If there's been or looks to be rain, you may want to have something dry you can sit on.