About Kathleen
Kathleen Gips has been growing, studying and writing about herbs for over twenty five years. Her areas of herbal knowledge include aromatherapy, herbal skin care, essential oils, teas and tea service, as well as culinary, horticultural and historical uses. Her main area of research has been the tussie mussie, or herbal nosegay, and the language of herbs and flowers. She owns an extensive collection of antique posy holders and floral dictionaries that compliment her research.
Ms. Gips is a frequent lecturer at garden clubs, herb societies and symposiums. She has been a speaker at the Cleveland Flower Show, the Herb Society of America, the International Herb Association and has instructed classes at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Kathleen was a featured speaker at the Teaching Garden Herb Faire at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Kathleen has appeared on the TV program “Morning Exchange”, was a guest on public radio and was featured in the garden section of the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper.
In 1994 she opened The Village Herb Shop located in her home, the vintage town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The Herb Shop is a Brick Victorian house filled with herbal products and gifts. The gardens feature thirteen themed teaching gardens. Her herb and specialty gardens have been featured in local and regional newspapers. The Village Herb Shop is known throughout the state and surrounding areas. This active store offers classes, workshops, events and features an Herb Club and Tea Tasting Club. Kathleen offers seasonal Herb Festivals as well as classes and workshops throughout the year. The annual Faerie Festival has gained in popularity with Ms. Gips lecturing to garden clubs, teachers and children on the subject.
She is a member of the Western Reserve Unit of the Herb Society of America, and the Greater Cleveland Botanical Garden, Revised September 2005.
Abbots, arbors and flowering meads:
A medieval garden of herbs
Speaking Topic for Kathleen Gips
As told by Lady Catherine of Lovain, 1429
Lady Catherine will arrive to your banquet hall in full medieval costume and character. She will curtsey to each guest while Gregorian chant music announces her arrival. The Lady is presented with the task of being a mentor to the group of young maids in the audience who desire to become proper ladies in the year of our Lord, 1429. The Lady of a medieval manor has a vast knowledge of herbs and uses them to promote the well being of her family and her home. Important herbs of this time period will be explained with instruction and practice required. Lady Catherine will come prepared to demonstrate her daily duties. Young maids from the audience will be asked to show their skills in various tasks as taught by the Lady including preparing the hall with strewing herbs, sprinkling the guests with rose water, combing the hair with a rosemary branch and beautifying the face with orris root powder. There will be a rosemary bride’s parade. The Lady will show how to dispel witches and prepare a proper “stew” or herbal bath for healing.
This program is light and humorous while being educational about herbs used in medieval times. Interaction with the audience through props and demonstration is a special feature. Lady Catherine is in character throughout the program until her final exit. After his she will answer any questions about gardening with herbs during the middle ages. She will explain her costume and talk about the research done for this program at Gaasbeek castle in the burgundy area of Belgium. This program is well suited to banquets, dinners and luncheons, and large groups as well as informal gatherings. Program will be 45 minutes long with extra time after for questions. Please call 440-247-5029 with any questions about fee and travel expenses for this presentation. Ask for Kathleen. Hand-outs to be copied will be sent in advance. They can be rolled into a scroll and tied with a piece of string or ribbon. Many groups will tuck a sprig of herbs into the scroll. Please ask for suggestions for refreshments will a medieval theme, if desired.
Kathleen will need assistance for this program:
- A person to read introduction: enclosed or will follow
- A person to turn music up and won at the appropriate clues. I will explain this on the day of the program
- These first two people will be coached on the day of the performance before we begin.
- A person to take items from Lady Catherine as she offers them to be passed to the rest of the group.
- Assistance gathering all items circulated during talk and turning them to program table at the end of the talk.
- A handout will be sent in advance to be copied for your group. All attendees will receive a scroll penned in Lady Catherine’s writing about the herbs used in the time period and her recipes for huswifery.
- A place to change into my costume
- Lavalier microphone if group size is over 50.
- One large table in front of room or on stage for display of props
Thank you for this opportunity to speak to your group.
Village Herb Shop Herbal Programs
Is your group looking for an herbal program and an interesting place to meet?
This past year we have held programs for many groups at the Village Herb Shop. We held a gift basket workshop for a gardening group from Pittsburgh. A Red Hat ladies group made their own fairy gardens. A Brownie troop and their mothers held a lavender program and workshop. We provided herb gardening instruction to a group of retired teachers, an aromatherapy workshop for a 50th birthday party andprivate programs for many garden and social groups from all over Ohio. All the ladies enjoyed the novelty of a to visit the herb shop and our gardens as part of their meetings.
We offer a large meeting room in our upstairs classroomwith seating for up to 50. These programs include a private meeting room, a pot of tea, and a presentation by Kathleen Gips,. And we do all the clean up! Theprograms are varied and can include workshops suited to your groups interests. Our meeting room is free and the speaking fees are discounted when groups meet at our shop. Please inquire about our programs the next time you are looking for an interesting meeting and an unusual place to meet. Gather up a group of ten friends and call for a private program just for your special group. We would love to have you. Please call Kathleen for more information or to schedule a date and time for your group. (See list of programs below).
Herb Programs By Kathleen Gips:
- Fairy Tales from the Herb Garden
- Tea Time in the Herb Garden
- Herbs for Flavor, Fragrance and Fitness
- Edible Flowers
- Aromatherapy Basics
- Natural Housekeeping
- Drink Green Tea for Health,
- Tussie Mussie and the Language of Flowers
- Programs on specific herbs including history, culture, varieties and uses. Choose your favorite topic: Rosemary, Lavender, Sage, Mint, Basil, Thyme, Scented Leaf Geraniums.
Kathleen also performs two in-character programs for special events:
- Medieval Garden of Herbs with Lady Catherine of Lovain, 1429
- Grandmother’s Herbs and Simples, Williamsburg, 1700.
Call Kathleen at the Herb Shop for pricing and scheduling.