2024 Tea 101 & Tea Wellness Workshop (Group Class)

Date

2024 Class schedule below

This is a 90 min workshop (or 3 hour adventure if you choose to add-on the tour afterwards) is a combination of rich content from our Tea 101 class  (the basics) and Tea Wellness class (head- to- toe reasons why you should be drinking tea!).

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Come learn about this miracle of agriculture we call "tea".

Tea has so much going for it, and you'll have so much fun slurping and exploring!

Light of Day Organics, located here in the Leelanau Peninsula of Northern Michigan, is the only USDA Certified Organic and Certified Demeter Biodynamic grower of Camellia sinensis (tea) in North America. You'll learn why this is.

Tea 101 Content: This very popular class size is limited intentionally to keep this experience intimate within our beautiful yurt classroom, so please make your reservation as early as possible. 

The class covers the basics:

  • Biodynamic farm orientation
  • short history of tea
  • preparation instructions
  • expansive tea tasting & sensory education of 6 loose leaf Teas (1 from each primary tea category) & Tisanes (naturally caffeine-free herbals), a Matcha green tea smoothie “shot” 
  • Light of Day tea cupping notepad

In this 1.5 hour introductory to tea class, you'll:

    • Be welcomed and oriented to our seasonal Retail Tea Shop prior to being led as a group to our Yurt classroom. We will remove our shoes and enter in sacred silence into this special place.
    • You will learn the history of tea in America, worldwide, and come to understand why Light of Day Organics is the only certified Organic and Demeter Biodynamic grower of Camellia sinensis in N. America.
    • You will learn the difference between, and most importantly TASTE  ("cup",)  White, Green Oolong, Black, Tisane/Herbal Teas & Matcha Green teas in a wonderful, unique setting on our farm.
    • Tea has so much going for it…and you’re going to have fun slurping your way through this wonderful and memorable class!
    • Bring someone special to share this experience with....this is a positive memory-making experience that you'll want to reflect on for years to come!

Get ready for a wonderful experience!

AND ALSO THIS CONTENT:

 "Wellness Through Tea "Class Content:  Tea is a part of every culture around the globe, and is second only to water in worldwide beverage consumption. This very popular class is intended to teach you about the importance of reducing inflammation so that you can enjoy the very highest quality of life. This is a “game-changing” class for those in need of the “fast track” to wellness. You will be introduced to integrative holistic health principles that support a high quality of life. Joyful and powerful holistic healing tools will be demonstrated to help you effectively shift your suffering to peace through a daily “grounding” exercise, “forgiveness” exercise, and “asking” exercise. 
During the farm tour, you will be inspired to broaden your awareness of naturally occurring cycles and rhythms, heighten your sense of appreciation for the world around you, be more compassionate, understand the difference between conventional, organic and regenerative Biodynamic agriculture, and hopefully increase your respect & reverence for all life, and marvel more deeply in its interconnectedness. Several product ingredients grown on the farm will be harvested during the tour (optional $20 add-on after class, beginning promptly at 1pm);  prepared, tasted and explained during the class. 
It is time to wake up, absolutely radiate love, and realize/ remember your full power as the magnificently created human being that you are.
Please come with an open heart, a clean palate, and wearing comfortable clothing. 

Important: Bring a water bottle and pack a lunch/ snacks to enjoy during break, since we just have snacks on site for sale within the tea shop.

Tea has so much going for it…and you’re going to have fun slurping your way through this wonderful and memorable class!

Private groups of up to 12 welcomed by reservation. Yurt classroom occupant capacity is 21.

Taught by Angela Macke, R.N and Horticulturalist- Founder of Light of Day Organics

     About your Tea Guide, Angela Macke, R.N, B.S, MG-A

    West Michigan native and Traverse area local since 1996, Angela Macke has almost 30 years of experience as a holistic Registered Nurse and Horticulturalist. In December 200e, she established Light of Day Organics, a popular small-batch Certified USDA Organic and Certified Demeter Biodynamic tea farm in Leelanau County. Angela is one of a handful of licensed practitioners specializing in homeopathic and energy-based Biodynamic Agricultural practices. These physically, mentally, and spiritually intensive efforts enhances soil vitality, botanical quality, and the interconnected life of which each of us is an essential part. She passionately teaches about the importance of preventing chronic diseases and decreasing inflammation in the body. Angela believes that by eliminating physical and emotional suffering, the human being is best supported in their expansion to their full potential. With the benefit of her own life experience from disease to wellness, she shares a wealth of information on the practical implementation of sound holistic principles. Angela is a licensed RN and holds certifications as a Specialty Tea Institute Graduate, Advanced Master Gardener and Mentor, and Healing Touch Program practitioner. Professional Memberships: American Holistic Nurses Association, U.S Tea Association, Biodynamic Association, Michigan Nursery, and Landscape Association, United Plant Savers, Michigan State Medical Society Alliance, Traverse City and Leelanau County Chambers of Commerce, Michigan Food and Farming Alliance, and The Michigan Agri-tourism Association. She is a dynamic speaker with a thorough understanding of alternative and conventional therapies. Angela is committed to igniting inspiration and hope in our individual abilities to improve and maintain our whole-body health.

     

    INSPIRING REFLECTIONS FROM GREAT LAKES CULINARY STUDENTS AFTER CLASS:


    “First off, Angela is the most sweet and enlightened soul. I’ve never left somewhere feeling so relaxed. She is such a sweet and kind person. Being in the tasting room and listening to her talk was so peaceful and beautiful. Another person I could listen to talk all day. Tasting all the teas the proper way as she talked about them, really opened up all my senses.”

    “This was another unique and wonderful experience that we had with Angela from Light of Day Organics.”

    “Angela from Light of Day delivered her lesson with passion and knowledge. I fell in love with their farming practices and would love to learn more about Biodynamic Farming. The tea was wonderful and I was excited to learn that there is no wrong way to brew or drink tea. I found the entire training peaceful and calm.”

    “I really enjoyed our visit to LOD.  Angela's passion for her business and tea in general was refreshing and contagious.  Her suggestions on how to extend tea use beyond a straight beverage was inspiring and got the creative wheels moving in my head.”

    “This was an exceptionally impactful experience for many reasons, namely due to the fact that I have been attempting to cut back my caffeine consumption for quite some time, but have never been successful due to having no suitable alternative. The amount of dedication and care that goes into the product Angela grows and processes on this farm really shows in all aspects of the finished product, and I hope to revisit the farm very soon to show more people just how remarkable tea really can be.”

    “Chef I have to say thank you so much for getting us the opportunity to have the tasting and tour at Light of Day, it was one of the coolest things I’ve done. I really enjoyed listening to everything Angela had to say and how tea has a big impact health wish for us. Angela has inspired me to give drinking tea a try for all the awesome health benefits I could get.”

    “ Light of Day is really an amazing place in North America and Traverse City is blessed to have such a wonderful and environmentally safe business.  This is a business that I will be certainly looking up to.”

    “I have been patiently waiting two years for this specific tea training. When I found out back then that the Restaurant class got to visit and train with her, I knew that it was going to be an amazing experience. Angela opened my eyes to the amount of work that should be going into the foods that we serve.”

    “I was so pumped when I heard we were going to learn about tea at an actual tea farm, it was definitely a highlight of my time here at GLCI. I was shocked to hear that Angela’s tea farm is the only Organic certified and Demeter tea farm in all of North America. She really creates a quality product, each one was more flavorful and aromatic than any tea bag I would purchase at the grocery store.”

    “Visiting Light of Day Organics was by far the most eye opening tour I have ever experienced. Angela was such an amazing, inspiring women, owner, mother, nurse, human and I aspire to be more like her. It was such a calming experience.”

    " I had the pleasure of attending your instructional tea class for the GLCI this afternoon. Let me just start by saying I am incredibly grateful to have been able to tour your farm today, and thank you so very much for all of your hospitality. It was an experience that has stuck in my mind as one of the most uplifting things to have happened in my life this year, and my loved ones cannot wait to visit the grounds as the flames have been sufficiently fanned by stories of this ethereal place."

    Customer Reviews

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    S
    Sarah and Mallory
    Class thoughts & feedback

    Dear Angela.

    I have been processing all the information from the class and tour on Saturday. I came to the class because I knew my daughter, Mallory, really wanted to come, and I wanted to support her. What I didn’t expect was how much I got out of it.

    Back at our Airbnb on Saturday night, Mallory and I shared three take-aways from the day.

    Mine were:
    I felt like I finally found my tribe. The people from the class that also went on the tour, they are my people. Here in West Michigan, those people are hard to come by. If I could, I would come to class every Saturday just to be around people like that.
    Matcha. I feel that will be a life changer. And since I am 55, I will be doing it twice a day :)
    I want to make a difference with my life.

    I am mainly writing to say the biggest thank you I can express in an email. Mallory and I had an amazing weekend, and I am so glad that you and your farm were a major part of that.

    Also, what is the name of the book you read from at the end? When you read that I saw a strong wind, or fire, blowing things away, changes ahead in life. Good changes. It was almost like a cleansing wild fire. (The book was "Opening Doors Within")

    I will help spread the word about your farm any way I can. Told someone about it just today.

    With deepest gratitude.

    Sarah H

    S
    Sarah and Mallory
    Class thoughts & feedback

    Dear Angela.

    I have been processing all the information from the class and tour on Saturday. I came to the class because I knew my daughter, Mallory, really wanted to come, and I wanted to support her. What I didn’t expect was how much I got out of it.

    Back at our Airbnb on Saturday night, Mallory and I shared three take-aways from the day.

    Mine were:
    I felt like I finally found my tribe. The people from the class that also went on the tour, they are my people. Here in West Michigan, those people are hard to come by. If I could, I would come to class every Saturday just to be around people like that.
    Matcha. I feel that will be a life changer. And since I am 55, I will be doing it twice a day :)
    I want to make a difference with my life.

    I am mainly writing to say the biggest thank you I can express in an email. Mallory and I had an amazing weekend, and I am so glad that you and your farm were a major part of that.

    Also, what is the name of the book you read from at the end? When you read that I saw a strong wind, or fire, blowing things away, changes ahead in life. Good changes. It was almost like a cleansing wild fire. (The book was "Opening Doors Within")

    I will help spread the word about your farm any way I can. Told someone about it just today.

    With deepest gratitude.

    Sarah H

    C
    Carla DeKoninck
    Wonderful, educational, awesome!!!

    My sister andI I attended your class yesterday! We were amazed by all the helpful information that you provided.!! Your holistic approach is something that everyone should know! You are beautiful inside and out!! We plan to have our sisters from New York and Florida come for our next visit. I will never forget your incredible thoughts on a better life that healthy eating and drinking can provide!! DRINK UP !!! I will never look at a teabag the same again!

    E
    Ellen Moore
    The best farm day ever!!

    I participated in the Light of Day Tea Wellness workshop and farm tour. It was amazing!! Angela is so sweet and educated on how to use teas for helping your body. She is very passionate about what she does and how she does it. It is incredible that every tea she sells has been hand touched by her. The class was attended by all ages of people and we all thoroughly enjoyed the samples and information. We also took the farm tour which was great to understand the ingredients that go into the tea but also how the biodynamic growing process works. It was my favorite day to my summer vacation.

    C
    Carla DeKoninck
    Wonderful, educational, awesome!!!

    My sister andI I attended your class yesterday! We were amazed by all the helpful information that you provided.!! Your holistic approach is something that everyone should know! You are beautiful inside and out!! We plan to have our sisters from New York and Florida come for our next visit. I will never forget your incredible thoughts on a better life that healthy eating and drinking can provide!! DRINK UP !!! I will never look at a teabag the same again!

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