Registration Requirements: Preregistration required.

Intended Audience: This program is designed for adults.

Program Description: Explore the origins of root beer with us as we work together to make our own from scratch. In this interactive program, we will be using dried sassafras bark collected from sick or downed trees to make this delicious drink. During the brewing process, we will discuss the history and science behind the drink and the importance of the tree it is made from. At the end of the program, guests will take home a bottle of the root beer they helped to create.

As the tea cools, we will go foraging for our own roots and bark in the forest, using techniques that will leave the forest healthier than we found it.

What to Expect: This is a hands-on class with an optional gathering in the field portion.

• This program is half indoors (in an unheated barn) with a cooking portion and half outdoors with a hike and gathering portion.
• Trails/areas used during this program are rated as accessible (packed gravel trails, mild hills) for a planned distance of 0.25 mile at a slow pace.
• Restrooms are available at the start and end of the program. Restrooms are not available on the trails.
• Program runs rain or shine.

What to Wear: We will be digging in the ground to gather roots after hiking, so please wear clothes you feel comfortable working and standing in.

Where to Meet: Registered participants will meet at the Creekside Barn at our Long Branch Farm & Trails location. (6926 Gaynor Rd, Goshen, OH 45122)

Cost: Ticket fees include daily admission.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does safrole cause cancer? The study most people have heard about was from the 1960s when rats were fed enormous quantities of safrole. It's partly an issue of dose -- we should consume any plant (including supermarket spices) in moderation. Too, safrole breaks down to negligible levels with drying or cooking (we are using dry root bark in this class).

Check your email for registration information regarding this transaction. SAVE A TREE, please retain your order number or save an electronic copy of the email acknowledgement as a receipt. You may be asked for your order number from your transaction to gain entry at the gate/to attend your program. Visitor Services associates can also verify your etickets from the order number or by name.

Please note that our program and cancellation policies vary. By completing registration for this program, you agree to the following general program policies.