Cultural preservation days and KVANN

28 July 2025

In connection with the Cultural Preservation Days, KVANN (Knowledge and Protection of Useful Plants in Norway) in collaboration with, among others, Museum Nord will arrange a number of events at the Cultural Preservation Days in 2025.

During this tour, Mari Marstein from Schubeler’s gardens in KVANN and Mari Jerstad from the herb guild in KVANN will give lectures, workshops, adventure time and garden walks. There will be three different events, all at Melbo Manor.

Event 1: “Herb heritage and love”

In this lecture, we will talk about the herb heritage in Norway. We would like to invite reflection on our own traditions, and refer to mapping and findings so far. Particular emphasis will be placed on love in this talk. Both love of place in connection with gathering and cultivation, and love for oneself and one’s fellow human beings in the use and tradition of herbs. Cultivation and gathering can bring us closer to where we are, whether we have grown up locally or if we are visitors. There will also be talk about some specific plants and traditions.

Place and time: Melbo Hovedgård 31 August at 18:00 – 20:00

Event 2: “A tour of local flavors”

We start with a creation myth, and have a dialogue about different understandings we have in society about how everything came to be. Then we talk about some trees that were told about in the creation myth. We have a dialogue and drawing time where we reflect on which stories shape how we ourselves view local nature. After a break where the children get to taste juice made from local plants, we go out. We identify trees in the local environment. After the trip, the children themselves summarize what they have learned.

Place and time: Melbo Hovedgård 1 September at 09:00 – 12:00

The event is open to everyone. It is suitable for both children and adults. The event is a collaboration with Melbo Hovedgård (Museum Nord), local school and sanitation association.

EVENT 3: “exchange and herbal vinegar” – a multicultural herbal workshop

We invite students at the adult education center and local people to come to a workshop where we make extracts of local herbs in vinegar. Here we learn quite practically how to make vinegar extracts, why make vinegar extracts, and some of the local garden plants and wild plants that may be relevant for vinegar extracts.

After we have finished making extracts, we invite people from the adult education center to share traditions from their countries regarding the use of local herbs. This is something adult education has prepared them for in an assignment in advance. Three groups present a plant each from their homeland. Finally, there will be a discussion between local people, course leaders and people in adult education about herbs and traditions.

Place and time: Melbo Hovedgård 1 September at 17:00 – 19:00

The event is a collaboration between Melbo Manor (Museum Nord), Adult Education in Hadsel and the Refugee Service in Hadsel.