Herbalist Lifestyle Program
2024 Program is now FULL!
Hands-on Approach
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By “studying herbs”, we don’t mean watching a video!
Despite the rush to online classes,
we believe the most effective herbal studies occur
in person, hands-on, and in nature.
Our students learn through:​
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Herb walks and field trips~ forest and creek areas
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Demo & discussion by enthusiastic professionals
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Supervised harvesting: ethically and in gratitude
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Hands-on medicine making in class
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Take-home medicine samples and assignments
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Community building and sharing experiences
"My heart and my Head are full of love for plants,
for these teachers, and for this wonderful journey!"
V. Hanson
Course & Syllabus
• 72 HOURS OF HERBAL LEARNING:
Creates your foundation in herbs with Materia Medica of 25 local herbs. Hands-on classes familiarize you with herbs to safely use with family and friends, prevent common illness, treat injury, and boost nutrition.
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• FOCUS ON 25 LOCAL MEDICINALS:
Selected by our faculty for 1)safety, 2)ease of identification, and
3)usefulness, these plants will be studied in terms of scientific names/ common names, botanical identification, part of plant harvested and used, preparation/dosage, actions/indications, and safety/contraindications.
• HERBAL ENERGETICS:
We will visit the herb growing in its outdoor habitat, learn to connect with the plant’s energy, handle it, smell it, taste it, and prepare its medicine together.
• HANDS-ON MEDICINE MAKING:
Finish the course with your own home apothecary! You will take home samples of class-made herbal decoction, infusion, maceration tincture, infused oil, salve, lotion, syrup, and vinegar.
• WORLD HERBAL TRADITIONS:
Our professional staff presents these traditional herbalism introduction classes with respect and enthusiasm. We include Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Native American traditional herbalism as well as Appalachian folk traditions
• BOTANY/ PLANT IDENTIFICATION:
An important herbalist skill for safety reasons, we cover botany and taxonomy as well as plant communities and relationships with other flora/fauna.
• WILDCRAFTING & STEWARDSHIP:
The art and ethics of plant harvesting guide us so that we protect at-risk species and live in right relationship with the natural world. How do we harvest safely, effectively, and in consideration of plant life and needs of other species?
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Although we all came in with varying degrees of knowledge (understanding) of the topics, there was no shortage of help with those that may have needed assistance.
—Henry Layne Jr.
HERBalachia Faculty
Our all-star faculty are the cream of the crop and get rave reviews every year!
Our team includes Master’s degree herbalists, botany professor, Native American medicine woman, mushroom and herbal propagation experts, among others.
Most of our instructors have been with us since the school's beginning in 2016.
Their enthusiasm and generosity in sharing their Wisdom is unsurpassed!
Program Schedule 2024
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Weekend format: Sat & Sun, 10am - 5pm
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Apr 20, 21
May 18, 19
Jun 22, 23
July 20, 21
Aug 17, 18
Sept 21, 22
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Please note: Approximately 3-4 hours per week of home projects and reading are required in addition to class hours.
If you would like to spend the weekend at Blackberry Blossom Campground,
make your reservations now!
Tent camping, cute travel campers, and a luxurious AirBnB suite are available.
COVID POLICY:
When necessary, we adapt our program to follow CDC guidelines, and our ‘COVID pivots’ have been given rave reviews by students.
We are committed to doing whatever it takes to SAFELY enjoy our time together.
2024 Herbalist Lifestyle Program
Tuition $1950
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Application and payment
Option 1:
Complete your online application and PAY TUITION IN FULL $1950
OR
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Option 2:
Complete your online application and PAY DEPOSIT of $650.
This holds your place in our 2024 program and our Program director will contact you to set up your payment plan.
Full tuition is due by March 31, 2024.
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NOTE: Deposit is non-refundable.
No refunds will be made after the first day of class, April 20, 2023.
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Please budget an additional $200 for books and class supplies.
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For questions, please contact Michelle Bouton: Michelle@HERBalachia.com