Delve into the ancient art of mixing honey–the nectar of flowers gathered by the bees–with local fruit, flowers, roots & herbs to create divine expressions of beverage bliss. In this hands-on event, participants will visit the kitchen & yarden of a mad fermenter and be guided through the process of harvesting ingredients and preparing them for mead, discussing basic qualities of flowers, fruits, roots, etc. & how to best work with them. We’ll then blend these things together with water & honey, feeding the wild yeasts, to create the beginnings of a most delightful beverage! This is a beginner’s class, so we will discuss ratios of sweetener, the qualities of various sugars, and have an overview of wild, open and cultured fermentation. We will end with a brief discussion on racking, bottling, and storing your brews while sampling a few lovely examples of fermentation and alchemical magic! Students will leave with an in-depth handout and the knowledge and confidence to go home and create their own lovely libations! This is a 3 hour class, limited to 15 participants. There will be plenty of time for all questions to be answered.