Module 4: Growing Sacred Gaian Herbalism (April 2021- Sept 2021)
• Dates: 4/1, 4/15, 5/6, 5/20, 6/3, 6/17, 7/8, 7/22, 8/5, 8/19, 9/2, 9/16
• Class: 3-6 pm, outdoors and (if necessary due to COVID) digitally at times. Please note that we do not have WI-FI in the woods and far gardens, so in-person learning is our preferred way of teaching this course.
This apprenticeship takes place outdoors, with a focus on plant cultivation, deep ecology, permaculture, wildtending and wildcrafting, stewardship, and growing and tending our community.
You’ll spend lots of hands-on time here preparing herbs for remedy, food, body care, natural dyeing, beverages, and art, as well as how to dry them and use them fresh, save seeds, propagate cuttings, and establish and maintain optimal habitats for wildlife (even if you live in an apartment, condo, dorm, your car, etc).
We will learn more about sea vegetables, mushrooms, and forest plants, and spend lots of time working in the gardens, trails, and Botanical Plant Sanctuary here, and in your own or others’ gardens, learning to cultivate herbs both domesticated and in the wild, how to deal with pests, changing climate, etc., and how we can be good stewards of the land and waters. You will help grow, gather, and prepare herbs for our growing community apothecary, as well as for your own social justice endeavors, as you use your newfound knowledge and passion to create remedies and foods to share with those in need.
We will meet with guest teachers, go on field trips, start interning with other gardeners and herbalists (and bring back knowledge to share with the group), share our experience with the greater community through plant walks, attend (and host!) enrichment classes and programs, and start to hone your personal passion and direction as an herbalist.
As you work to re-wild medicinal and at-risk plants, you will also be deepening your sense of Place and Purpose, and connecting with special spots and ecosystems that are dear and holy to you.
Ready to join? Hooray!
Check it out below and read the Application Letter carefully. Due to the changing times, we have updated the course and contract with some changes as of 10/01/2020.
If it all sounds good, fill out this form.
We’ll get in touch with you to schedule a phone interview.
Upon acceptance into the program, you'll reserve your spot with full or partial payment, and I will send you a course list of required books and suggested tools and materials to begin your path as a Sacred Gaian Herbalist!
Tuition
I offer this program at a low cost with the goal of making this wisdom available to more people. In return, I ask participants to agree to share some of what they learn with others, (especially regarding where the plants and practices originate and which cultures are the traditional wisdom holders), to ensure the ethical knowledge of wellness spreads.
Guided Independent Study (In-person and/or Distance Learning): $700 per course (not including materials) includes up to 10 hours of direct training, support, project review, and mentorship tailored around your prior experience, needs, and learning style, with additional training available at $65/hour. In-person, digital, and/or phone sessions.
Single Apprenticeship: $600-700 (sliding scale) per course, not including books and materials.
Full Year Long Program: $200 discount, not including books and materials.
Social Justice Scholarship for Native Americans, People of Color, and Trans folk: Prospective apprentices who this applies to may apply for a 50% off scholarship. This scholarship seeks in a small but meaningful way to replace systemic injustice with the skills necessary to heal and nourish all community members.
Extra Benefits
Co-working: If you would like a quiet place to come and work on your own stuff (including homework) when I don’t have clients, you are welcome to arrange times to do so! I tend to work better with some quiet company nearby, as long as you’re self-sufficient, and we can occasionally break for a communal quick walk, some yoga, etc.
Garden/Permaculture/Carpentry Skillbuilding: Interested in getting your hands even dirtier and leaving your mark? Talk to me about helping out with infrastructure projects like making garden beds, building projects, laying trails, etc. Intrepid intermediate apprentices can request to take on a specific crop/area to cultivate, including silviculture.
My Library: you are welcome to arrange times to come and browse through my book collection. I do not lend them out, but you can curl up with them here!
Buying Books: The ones in the apothecary are always 10% off the cover price. Once or twice a year I place a large book order, and you are welcome to look through the catalog ahead of time and add to the order.
Materials: The apothecary is stocked with hundreds of freshly dried local herbs, spices, oils, beeswax, honey, bottles, jars, etc. for all your remedy-making needs! If you’re looking for something specific, feel free to call/text me and I’ll put it aside for you.
Vitamins and Supplements: Every few months I restock supplements through my distributor, Emerson Ecologics, and you are welcome to add items onto my wholesale order (typically they will be 50% off retail prices). You can see what they have in stock by signing up for a free Wellevate account, and you can also order supplements/vitamins directly that way. Wellevate is a professional program for practitioners (it is not an MLM), and I use it for my online dispensary because they ship directly to client’s homes so I don’t have to keep supplements in stock, and because they let me set a 20% discount on everything so more folks can afford their vitamins. Feel free to share the link.
Bulk Herbs: You can coordinate within the FB group to place a large order through Mountain Rose (we receive a 10% discount). I have a wholesale account with several organic (dried and fresh) herb companies and growers, and will typically place an order 1-2 times a year. Let me know if you are interested.
The New Hampshire Herbal Network’s Annual Herb and Garden Day: Volunteers work for several hours and can attend for free. Want to team up with other apprentices and have an apprentice table to vend your herbal creations? Let me know!
United Plant Savers: Blackbird’s Daughter Botanicals apprentices are eligible for a $20 membership through United Plant Savers Partners In Education Program. Simply let me know if you’re interested in the first class.