Bioregional Herbalism 9-Month Immersion

Register by 1/31 for an Early Bird Discount

Learn to follow the seasons as an herbalist! In this immersive program we will integrate our bodies with the bodies of the land and learn what plant medicine can look like on seven acres in New England. We will follow the whole path of herbal medicine from seed, to harvest, to jar, to body.

We’ll learn from and work with three main areas of the farm: the woodland edges, weeds in the fields, and the herb garden we’ll tend. Each month we’ll make herbal preparations to bring home and share with our communities!

Quick info:

Where: Waltham Fields Community Farm
When: One Sunday per month, 11am-5pm with a lunch break (10am-4pm in fall for daylight)
Who: Herbal enthusiasts wanting to get your hands dirty!

Daily flow:

Each month we’ll start by walking the land, baskets in hand. We’ll take note of the plants that are thriving and those that need extra care. We’ll harvest those that are abundant and at their peak and bring them back to our medicine-making house where we’ll process them and infuse them in oil, vinegar, alcohol, honey, and more.

As we scrub roots and strip leaves we’ll learn all about the medicine of the plants we are working with. Who is this plant, and how can we work with them? What is their chemistry, and what are their traditional uses? How are they best extracted? Who are they best for, and who would do better with other plants?

We will balance hands-on learning with lessons on the foundations of herbalism so that we can build a stronger understanding of the ways plants interact with bodies in general.

Tentative Schedule (dates are set, curriculum subject to change):

Sunday, March 29th 11am-5pm

• Projects:
  • wild weed pesto
  • violet syrup
• Lessons:
  • starting herbs from seed (very different from vegetables!)
  • intro to plant ID
  • intro to human physiology
• Focus herbs: violet, nettle, cleavers

Sunday, April 26th 11am-5pm

• Projects:
  • digestive bitters
  • herbal “coffee”
• Lessons:
  • tincture making
  • propogating herbs from cutting and division
  • regulating the digestive system
• Focus herbs: dandelion, yellow dock, horseradish

Sunday, May 31st 11am-5pm

• Projects:
  • oxymels
  • flower essences
• Lessons:
  • the medicine of different plant families – working with a plant by knowing who they’re related to
  • low-till perennial gardening
  • cardiovascular wellness
• Focus herbs: hawthorn, rose, elder flower

Sunday, June 28th 11am-5pm

• Projects:
  • fresh herb tea blending
  • hydrosols
• Lessons:
  • herbal energetics
  • working with weeds
  • sleep, energy, and circadian rhythms
• Focus herbs: St. John’s wort, motherwort, anise hyssop

Sunday, August 2nd 11am-5pm

• Projects:
  • infused oils
  • elixirs
• Lessons:
  • herbal chemistry
  • effective extraction of plant constituents
  • regulating mood and stress
• Focus herbs: lemon balm, lavender, anise hyssop

Sunday, August 30th 11am-5pm

• Projects:
  • electuaries
  • infused honey
• Lessons:
  • connecting with our own ancestral plant lineages
  • drying and storing herbs for optimal freshness
  • herbal first aid
• Focus herbs: thyme, calendula, yarrow

Sunday, September 20th 10am-4pm

• Projects:
  • double extraction tincture
  • salves
• Lessons:
  • tincture formulation: parts and proportions for an effective formula
  • fall perennial care
  • allergies, hypersensitivity, and inflammation
• Focus herbs: goldenrod, New England aster, elderberries

Sunday, October 4th 10am-4pm

• Projects:
  • vegetable fermentation
  • wild basket weaving
• Lessons:
  • herbal safety in pregnancy + lactation
  • herb-drug interactions
  • the gut microbiome and how to regulate it
• Focus herbs: cattail, garlic, marshmallow

Sunday, November 8th 10am-4pm

• Projects:
  • syrups
  • medicinal broth
• Lessons:
  • building a home apothecary
  • colds, flu, and COVID
  • integrating our learning this year
• Focus herbs: burdock, elecampane, eleuthero

FAQ

Can I join even if I have no formal herbal training? Yes! This program is for herb enthusiasts who are in the beginning of their herbal journey. Maybe you’ve taken a couple of classes or made some medicine on your own, or maybe you are completely green and ready to dive in!

What if I have to miss one of the Sundays? No problem! Since this is an in-person program we won’t be recording the sessions, but I’ll send you the handouts and your classmates can share their notes. You may be able to go to the farm and harvest herbs to make medicine on your own time – TBD!

Will there be a lunch break? Yes! I recommend you bring a lunch since there aren’t a ton of close by options, but there are a few. We’ll have at least one potluck as well!

What if I don’t have a car? I don’t either! Waltham Fields Community Farm is a 30 minute walk from the Waverly Commuter Rail station and easily accessible by bicycle.

More questions? Email me!

The Details:

• The dates in one place (all Sundays):
  • March 29th 11am-5pm
  • April 26th 11am-5pm
  • May 31st 11am-5pm
  • June 28th 11am-5pm
  • August 2nd 11am-5pm
  • August 30th 11am-5pm
  • September 20th 10am-4pm
  • October 4th 10am-4pm
  • November 8th 10am-4pm
• Tiered pricing:
  • Receive a gift: $850 if you register before 1/31, $1000 after
  • Actual cost: $1050 if you register before 1/31, $1200 after
  • Pay it forward: $1250 if you register before 1/31, $1400 after
  • Payment plans available and qualify for the early bird discount!
• +$100 materials fee for your take home apothecary
• New to sliding scale? Learn more here
• Register here!