NEW GLOUCESTER — The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village will host its annual “Herb Fest and Plant Sale” from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 7. A chair-caning workshop will also be held.

Since 1783 the Shakers have been active in the cultivation of herbs and the production of herbal products. The tradition continues and supplies widespread holistic culinary and gourmet interests.

Learn about the Shakers’ heritage and gardening traditions, and join Master Gardener and Shaker Village herbalist Betsey-Ann Golon for a series of four workshops/demonstrations.

Topics will be Making Lavender Sugar and Rose Sugar, 10 to 11 a.m.; Using Herbal and Floral Waters in Culinary, Medicinal and Cosmetic Preparations, 11 a.m. to noon; Pruning Lavender, Sage and Other Woody Perennials, noon to 1 p.m.; and the Mint Family and Lavender, Basil and Lemon Balm: Growth, Harvest, and Use, 1 to 2 p.m.

All classes are free and open to the public in the Shakers’ historic gardens. Rare and common herbs will be potted and offered for sale.

A chair-caning workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 7.

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The finest chairs produced by the Enfield Shakers (N.H.) are mid-19th century examples of cane seats. Instructor Bill Ambrose, owner of Walnut Hill Antique Chair Restoration, will teach the seven steps of chair caning, and he will provide the supplies needed to re-seat a chair.

Participants need to bring their own clean, sound chair with a missing hand-woven cane seat. The chair can be identified by the holes that are drilled through the chair seat frame. Ambrose will be available the following Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to noon, for a follow-up session.

To register, call 926-4597. Cost is $65 a person.

Shaker Village, home to America’s only living Shaker Community, is located at 707 Shaker Road, 15 minutes from the Maine Turnpike. For more information, call 926-4597, visit www.shaker.lib.me.us or email usshakers@aol.com.


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