Earth Spirit Herbal Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship Overview

WHAT TO EXPECT

FORAGING SKILLS:

Learn to easily identify edible and medicinal plants growing freely and abundantly in wild spaces.  Includes an introduction to botanical terms and field guides, safety, plant look-alikes, tools of the trade, and of course, plant walks.​

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HERBAL GARDENING:​

Get your hands in the soil and get to know your herbal medicines as they grow!  Learn best harvest practices for plants at every stage of growth.

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HERBS AS FOOD AND MEDICINE:​

Many herbs straddle the divide between food and medicine.  Food-herbs often have a high safety profile and can be consumed in larger quantities.  We will focus on herbs that, depending on how they are prepared/consumed, work both ways.  These herbs provide an array of phytonutrients and compounds simultaneously, supporting both our body's nutritional needs while also providing therapeutic support for healing imbalance(s).

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HERBAL MEDICINE SKILLS:

Learn herbal terminology for understanding the ways in which plants work to support human physiology.

Learn various preparation methods for extracting and concentrating herbal medicines.  *We will work with a variety of menstruums, including water, vinegar, honey, glycerine & alcohol.

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*I understand there are folks who choose not to consume some of the above mentioned menstruums for health reasons.  Please be sure to mention that on your application when it is asked (no explanation needed), as it is essential in my planning.

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SEASONAL ATTUNEMENT:​

While this apprenticeship centers around plants, it is more than just learning about how herbs support us.  Equally as important, are our relationships with the plants, land, wildlife, sun, moon, stars, ect, that supports our very existence.  How can we be in reciprocity?  Can we become quiet enough, still enough to hear the voices of the plants and lands that sustain us?  How are we living / giving back to reduce harm and destruction?

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We will be learning embodiment practices at each gathering (breathwork, guided meditations & deep nature connection activities).  My hope for each apprentice is in supporting a regulated nervous systems, a (re)discovering of your sense of belonging and the ability to quiet yourself enough to experience your interconnectedness to the greater web of life.​  We are not separate, but rather a piece of a unified whole.

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We will observe and celebrate together, the summer solstice and fall equinox.  We will celebrate/observe winter solstice if we choose to extend beyond the first 6 months.​​​

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FLOW OF THE DAY FOR EACH GATHERING:​

I'm a big fan of relaxed, experiential learning.  We will balance periods of focused brain and body "work" (learning about herbs, practicing foraging and gardening skills and making remedies) with relaxed, receptive heart-centered embodiment and meditation-type practices.  While the flow of each day will vary based upon our learning content and weather, here is an example of what you can expect:

Arrival - Prepare our space (indoors or out) & make an herbal beverage (learned from the previous gathering) to enjoy together during the day's gathering.

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Settling in - A short activity for bringing our hearts and minds together.  This could be a game, some gentle movement or a meditation.

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Herb Study - This could be seated together learning about herbs, going out on the land to forage &/or garden and making herbal remedies.  This will take up a large chunk of our time

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 Lunch - break (timing is flexible based on needs)

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​Earth Connection/Seasonal Attunement Activity - Getting to know plants/land/wildlife through the lens of reciprocity.

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Debrief = learning goals discussion & closing circle - A sharing circle followed by discussion of required reading and homework in preparation for next gathering.

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