Spring

Beit e’Shai presents: Herbs for Gut Health

~ rashatayeh

As you probably know by now, I launched an online tea house and apothecary late last year, called Beit e’Shai (House of Tea in Arabic, pronounced bayt eh shy).  Since its launch, Beit e’Shai hosted different events, tea parties and workshops.

This Spring, on Sunday October 14th 2018, Beit e’Shai will be hosting a workshop exploring Herbs for Gut Health, at Attuned Music Therapy studio in Preston.  Spring is associated with rebirth & renewal, making it a good time to cleanse, in this workshop we will be looking at bitter herbs, wild herbs and herbs that improve our digestion and general gut health.  We will also discuss the benefits of fermented green tea along with a practical introduction to Komboocha making.

I will be setting up a table with Beit e’Shai products during this workshop for attendees to purchase from the full range of my handmade blends (at an extra cost to the workshop fee, cash and eftpos available).

To book your spot for this workshop visit this link.

Herbs for Gut Health Workshop details are:

When: 2-3:30pm Sunday 14th Oct 2018

Where: Attuned Music Therapy, 5/27 Enfield Ave Preston VIC 3072

Cost: $30 Standard, $25 Concession.

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Spring News & Spicy Dinner Parties

~ rashatayeh

Sooooo…. a lot has happened since my last post here and my artist residency at Brunswick Mechanics Institute.  Firstly, I gotta admit, Im just not all that great at keeping up with this blog and social media… so forgive me! But I love that most of what I do is away from screens.  I’ve spent most of my winter in my studio creating, mixing herbs in my apothecary or cooking in my kitchen… and since Spring is (finally) here, gardening duties are calling!  The sun is out and the plants are waking up after a long and cold winter.

Secondly, I was invited to present Spice Trails at Footscray Community Arts Centre!  And what pleasure it was to come back to the Gabriel Gallery at FCAC to host an intimate dinner party over two nights in late August.

Spice Trails performance dinners on 24th and 25th Aug were a huge success. Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in this ever evolving live art project inspired by the Silk Road. And thanks to Footscray Community Arts Centre for making it happen & the chefs at Happy River Cafe for the delicious feast, and the talented crew at Pomp & Splendour for the gorgeous flower arrangements.

The next seating on 26th Oct is now SOLD OUT. But there is a waiting list at this link if you’d like to register your interest should tickets (or new sessions) come available http://footscrayarts.com/event/spice-trails/

Below is a slide show of some images from August’s seatings, taken by Felis Sarcepuedes.

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What I love about this project is that it always looks and feels different, depending on who is in the room!  The dynamic nature of live art and participatory art make every seating beautifully unique.  Since last year, Spice Trails has evolved into an immersive live art series of performative dinners and installations, inviting guests to explore and experience the cultural, social and political dimensions of contemporary food culture while drawing on important histories inspired by the spice trade along Silk Road.

This journey explores the development and destruction of great civilisations that has shaped the way we eat today. The narrative unfolds through a 5-course vegan meal with matching wine available, inviting the audience to become performers, sharing stories of merchants in multiple languages.  The route this year followed five stops along the (massive) Silk Road, starting in China’s Sichuan Province, travelling through India, Palestine, Southern Spain and finally, stopping in France for dessert. Spices at each one of these places weaved everything from flavours, colours and stories.

This year, I was really curious about experimenting with natural dying, and different textures of silk.  There is something special about exploring materiality through all of our senses.  You would’ve noticed in some of the images above the various colours of silks presented with the spices they are dyed with.  My personal favourite is the bright yellow of raw silk soaked in turmeric.  And as one of the notes read:

“In every apple you are eating Jupiter; in every plum, Saturn”

And with Turmeric you eat the sun.

I’m looking forward to hosting another seating next month!  For now, back in the studio to get on with it.

The Wellness Series

~ rashatayeh

I’m excited to announce the launch of The Wellness Series, which include four 1-hour workshops discussing practical ways to nourish the mind & body through nutrition, herbalism & mindfulness.

Workshop 1: Cleansing & Mindful Eating on Sat 14th Oct 2017.  The first instalment will discuss ways to cleanse & reenergise the body & support the immune system in time for the warmer months.

Workshop 2: Food & Mood on Sat 11th Nov 2017.  The second instalment will discuss ways to use food as medicine to promote mental health. Learn about foods & herbs that can support us through anxiety, depression or to generally lift the mood & support mental health & wellbeing.

Workshop 3: Food & Women’s Health on Sat 18th Nov 2017.  This third instalment will discuss how foods & herbs can support women’s health; including fertility, regulating menstrual/moon cycles, and ways to relieve symptoms of PMT & endometriosis.

Workshop 4: Healing the Gut on Sat 2nd Dec 2017.  The fourth & last instalment will discuss how we can heal the gut through food & fermentation with a practical introduction to Komboocha making.

You can book one workshop for $35 or ALL four workshops for $120
Each workshop runs from 11am – 12pm & is limited to 20 spaces

For bookings visit this link.

If you have any questions please contact rasha.tayeh[at]gmail[dot]com

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Rasha Tayeh is a holistic nutritionist, researcher & artist. Her practice is inspired by the seasons & ways in which we can enhance connections with our bodies, our communities & with nature. She combines principles of nutrition & herbalism in her wellness workshops. Rasha is a registered nutritionist with experience working in private practice, community health and academia. As an artist, she has exhibited nationally & internationally at various galleries including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image & the National Gallery of Victoria. For more visit www.rashatayeh.com

Spring Rhythm at the Flower & Garden Market

~ rashatayeh

I’ll be hosting another delicious workshop at the Flower & Garden Market on Sunday 9 October at Barkly Square in Brunswick.  You’re invited to balance and renew your energy with medicinal herbs from your home garden or pantry, and learn about the benefits of seasonal produce.

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As we enter the warmer months, support your body & mind into healthier rhythm and vitality, away from the sluggishness of winter.  The Spring Rhythm workshop will include an introduction to selected medicinal herbs commonly found in a home garden & pantry, along with a herbal infusion tasting.  And we will discuss some benefits of selected seasonal produce & have a tasting of a yummy Spring Cleansing juice.

This 45-minute workshop will run twice during the day, at 11am & 12.30pm.  Spaces are limited, so arrive early to book your spot in advance.

For more information visit Barkly Square’s website at this link.rasha-photos-10Also at the market, Ben Taylor CERES horticulturalist will be hosting gardening workshops & the Glasshaus’ pop-up nursery will be open.  There will be opportunities to learn about potting and caring for plants with propagation masterclasses, kids gardening, pot painting and terrarium workshops from the colourful creative team at Home-Work.  You’re also encouraged to bring your heirloom seeds & seedlings to swap with your neighbours.

Sounds like a pretty great day to me!  See you at Barkly Square on Sunday 9th October (located at 90 – 106 Sydney Rd, Brunswick).

 

Wellness Apothecary at Spring Fling Festival

~ rashatayeh

The annual 3000acres Spring Fling Festival is next Saturday 24th September & I’m super excited to be part of it!  Join us as we celebrate the warmer months & the start of a new growing season.

The day will be packed with free gardening and sustainability workshops, a huge pop-up plant sale, kids activities, live music & food stalls in the lush grounds of the Saxon st Community Garden in Brunswick.

I’ll be running a 30-minute workshop on the day, this Wellness Apothecary workshop will include tips on growing & preparing medicinal herbs & infusions.  It’s been a long & hard winter in Melbourne this year, so a little bit of herbal loving is just what some of us need to revitalise!

This workshop will be a free teaser for a course I’m currently designing, which will be launched this Spring/Summer (more on that soon!).

I feel honoured to be part of this festival & amongst this amazing lineup of workshops:

There are also some brilliant people selling their goods and spreading free advice, including: Pip Magazine, Brunswick Tool Library, BioFilta, FareShare, Youth Food Movement & Bee-Keepa.  The Community Grocer will have a pop up fruit and veggie stall for all your grocery needs and there’s also on-site bike servicing by donation with the guys from Bikes Please.  Plus a huge plant sale of indoor and edible plants.

There’ll be vegan baked goods from Von’s Vegan Bakehouse, Kombucha from The Good Brew Co, Baked Potatoes from Carmel Hill Farm and a bbq raising funds for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday September 24th, 12pm-4pm
at Saxon St Community Garden, 33 Saxon st Brunswick.

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