Classes at Sweet Willow
We offer hands-on workshops and customized events
Wellness is a lifelong journey. At Sweet Willow, we are committed to helping the people in our community lead healthier, happier lives. Join an upcoming scheduled class or reach out to request a custom event!
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Upcoming Classes
Shrubs!
Instructor: Dianna Diehl, Adam's Heirlooms
Date: Wednesday March 25, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Sweet Willow Herbals and Cafe
Cost: $45
Back by popular demand! Shrubs are also known as drinking vinegars. The term "shrub" comes from the Arabic word sharāb which means "to drink". But did you know you can cook with them, too?
Shrubs have a long history and have been used for a variety of purposes, including:
Preserving: Before refrigeration, shrubs were used to preserve fruits and vegetables.
Preventing scurvy: The British navy used shrubs in the 18th century to combat scurvy.
Alcohol alternative: Shrubs were popular during Prohibition as an alternative to alcohol.
Cocktail ingredient: Shrubs are commonly used in cocktails, especially with rum or brandy.
In this class with Adam and Dianna, you'll learn about the history and you'll get to sample a variety of options for using shrubs in your kitchen. This was one of our most popular classes last year, so don't wait to sign up!
Understanding Our Renal System with Dr. Laura Nelson
Instructor: Laura Nelson, MD, MPH
Date: Thursday March 26, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Sweet Willow Herbals and Cafe
Cost: $45
The renal system includes our kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. This system is known mostly for waste removal. However, the renal system is key for keeping fluid and electrolytes in balance, red blood cell production, and for regulating blood pressure and pH balance. Dr. Laura Nelson talk will focus on the kidney’s role in our health, and how we can keep this important organ healthy. We will also discuss a few of the commonly used herbs that help support kidney health such as cleavers, nettle, dandelion, juniper berry, pipsissewa, and burdock. We will discuss a family of herbs known as alteratives, are used to gently enhance normal elimination via the major eliminatory organs (liver, kidneys, bowel, skin, lymph, and lungs). These organ systems are interrelated, and these herbs can often act on these interconnected eliminatory systems.
Herbs for Lucid Dreaming
Instructor: Kathleen Ratteree, Ed.D., MPH
Date: Monday March 30, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Sweet Willow Herbals and Cafe
Cost: $45
Lucid dreaming occurs when we become conscious of the fact that we are dreaming. With practice, we can actively participate and shift the experience within the dream world. Not only is it an exhilarating experience, but it can also foster creativity, provide emotional release, and help with problem-solving.
So how do we do this? Our herbal allies are here to help us!
In this class we will create a delicious herbal beverage specifically crafted to elevate our dream experience. We will dive deeper into our favorite herbs such as mugwort, valerian, and blue vervain. Class participants will go home with a dream tea along with recipe. Come explore your dreams in a meaningful and wonderful way.
Tea Time and Tiny Masterpieces
Instructor: Dianna Diehl, Adam's Heirlooms
Date: Wednesday April 1, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Sweet Willow Herbals and Cafe
Cost: $45
Ready for a night of sweet comfort and creativity?
Gather your best girlfriends or beloved sisters for a truly unique and relaxing evening of creativity, history, and delicious treats!
Join us for a cozy hands-on class where you’ll learn the beautiful art of hand-painting traditional Springerle Shortbread Cookies from Dianna from Adam’s Heirlooms while savoring a selection of calming, gourmet teas from Sweet Willow Wellness.
What to Expect & What’s Included:
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Hands-On Cookie Art: Forget the stress of baking! Your exquisite Springerle shortbread cookies will be pre-baked and ready for their artistic transformation. We provide all the necessary edible paints, brushes, and supplies—just bring your creativity!
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Sip & Savor: Enjoy a warm, curated tasting of premium Sweet Willow teas throughout the evening, perfectly complementing the buttery sweetness of the cookies.
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The History of Shortbread: Dianna will share the heritage of these cookies. Learn how these shortbreads are traditionally hand-formed in pottery molds and baked with rich Pine River Dairy European-style butter before being individually hand-decorated.
Why Springerle are Special
Our Springerle cookies are a labor of love: a luxurious shortbread made with the finest ingredients. Each one is a work of art, molded, baked, & waiting for your brush to bring it to life. This class is the perfect blend of indulgence, creative fun, & historical appreciation—an unforgettable escape for a special ladies' night!
Gluten Free Sourdough 101 with Mamma T's Bakehouse
Instructor: Terri Kopitzke, Mamma T's Bakehouse
Date: Monday April 13, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Sweet Willow Herbals and Cafe
Cost: $45
Discover the art of gluten-free sourdough baking in this beginner class! Whether you're new to gluten-free sourdough or seeking healthy, homemade alternatives to store-bought bread, this class will guide you through the essential techniques and science behind making your own gluten-free sourdough starter and baking flavorful, gut-friendly loaves.
Perfect for anyone curious about gluten free sourdough or looking to improve their digestive health through fermented breads.
Leave the class with a ready-to-use starter and the knowledge to bake beautiful, naturally leavened gluten-free bread at home.
Terri's gluten free baking journey began about 15 years ago, with the art of gluten free sourdough capturing her interest for the past 4-5 years, after she developed an allergy to commercial yeast. In an effort to help others with gluten allergies and those interested in cleaner eating, Mamma T's Bakehouse was formed in September 2024.
Beeswax Wraps with Two Chicks Apiary
Instructor: Sarah Mueller and Jen Renfro, Two Chicks Apiary
Date: Monday April 20, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Sweet Willow Herbals and Cafe
Cost: $45
Discover the magic of beeswax in this hands-on workshop led by Sarah Mueller and Jen Renfro of Two Chicks Apiary in Green Bay. These expert beekeepers will guide you through the process of crafting a beautiful and practical beeswax food wraps while sharing fascinating insights about bees and their incredible wax.
No experience? No problem! Sarah and Jen believe "You're way craftier than you think!" By the end of the night, you'll have a beeswax wrap to take home and a newfound appreciation for nature's tiny architects.
Herbs for Women's Health 50+
Instructor: Kathleen Ratteree, Ed.D., MPH
Date: Monday May 18, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Sweet Willow Herbals and Cafe
Cost: $45
In different phases of life women face unique challenges and also can call upon different strengths. This class is a basic introduction to our favorite herbs that heal and support women through the 50+ stages of life. Herbs like wild yam, chaste tree berries, black cohosh, sage, motherwort, and blessed thistle help with increased libido, steady energy levels, hormonal balancing, hot flash taming, pain relief, and elevated mood. We will learn how herbs like have been used around the world for thousands of years to restore women’s bodies and replenish vitality. Finally, we will explore simple herbal preparations that you can easily make at home, from infusions to tinctures to salves! Aging brings a lot of changes - some we want to reverse, but many we should revere! This class is a celebration of women's incredible strength, creativity, and deep knowing during this time of life.
Teas and Bees
Date: Thursday June 11, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Two Chicks Apiary, Ledgeview, WI
Cost: $45
Sweet Willow and Two Chicks Apiary are teaming up once again! (Because, heck, its fun and we always learn a lot from each other!) Join us at the Apiary (bee yard) for this unique workshop led by herbalists. You will learn how to create custom nourishing tea blends and how to pair tea with different honey varieties. We will be serving a variety of teas and light hors d'oeuvres.
SOLD OUT - Soap Making with Valentine Gardens
Date: Monday April 6, 6-8 pm
Cost: $65.00 (per student)
Instructor: Mark Valentine, Valentine Gardens
One of our most popular classes! In this class we will learn from local farmer, educator, and soap maker Mark Valentine of Valentine Gardens, Green Bay. We will learn easy and safe ways to make homemade lye-based soap incorporating the amazing benefits of goat milk, coconut oil, and tallow. Goat milk makes a lovely, creamy, soap that is rich in moisturizing caseins and vitamins that balance the skin's pH and promote exfoliation. Goat milk makes a hard soap bar that is long lasting. When combined with tallow, a rendered animal fat, you get a beautifully conditioning bar that’s perfect for all skin types.
Making your own soap is fun, easy, more affordable and environmentally sustainable. Plus, you get to customize with your favorite scent! Each class participant will make 10 bars of lovely, sweet-smelling soap to take home,* as well as recipes to make again and again – these soaps makes great gifts for family and friends!
*Note: Depending on soap processing time, soap bars may need to be picked up the following day at Sweet Willow. Once home, the bars need to set for 6 weeks before use.