Herbal Apprenticeship Circle:  2024!

 Recognized as the oldest system of healing on the planet, herbal medicine traces its roots back to the earliest civilizations. Today, herbalism continues to flourish as a people's healing art.  Even with the amazing technological advances of conventional medicine, herbalism — the art and science of healing with plants — is still widely popular. And its popularity is gaining, not waning. According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of the world's population used some form of traditional medicine in 2008, and its rate of affordability, availability and accessibility is surging.  --from Mother Earth News

The 2024-2025 Herbal Apprenticeship Circle will open for enrollment in February, 2024. 
Apprenticeship workshop days scheduled to begin in March 2024.
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Herbal tinctures and honey

Come and learn the ancient art of Herbal Medicine, based on the Wise Woman Tradition.  This Herbal Apprenticeship Circle is a hands-on, out-in-the-field, up-close-and-personal relationship with our green plant herbal allies.  The plants are our teachers, and they will share their wisdom when we approach them with mindfulness and an open heart. 
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What is an Herbal Apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a ‘hands-on’ way of passing down knowledge from the experienced to the new.  Historically, this is how herbalists were trained.

Consider our Herbal Apprenticeship Circle if you:
- are called to work with medicinal botanicals
- feel the pull to connect with our herbal allies on a deeper level
- yearn to learn the benefits of the plant world around us
- seek to expand your innate stewardship of our beautiful blue-green earth
- endeavor to make your own herbal plant medicine 

Commitment
This is a limited enrollment opportunity, year by year, in a 2-year program. The revised minimum commitment is one year at a time, broken down into three 3-month increments (quarter/season).
 
Each class builds on the previous one, so your Herbal Apprenticeship commitment requires consistent attendance on the workshop days, dedication to practicing at home, participating in the monthly conference calls, and actively attending the full scope of classes each year.
Working together with our green plant herbal allies, we create a mutually supportive community, so please be mindful of your circle-mates and responsible in your commitment to attend.
 
2024: Dates:  Mar 23, Apr 20, May 4, Jun 22, Jul 20, Aug 17, Sep 14, Oct 19, Nov 16
2025: Dates:  TBD by January 31, 2025.  Classes run March through November.

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​Curriculum
This six-trimester 2024-2025 Herbal Apprenticeship includes the following topics:  basic principles in herbal and alternative healing; introduction to the Wise Woman Tradition of herbal medicine, western herbal medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, including facial, tongue and pulse diagnostics; extensive plant identifying and harvesting; in-depth study of the healing properties of approximately 100+ medicinal botanicals; traditional and ethno-botanical history of herbal medicine, definitions and terminology; introduction to formulas; introduction to medicine making such as tinctures, vinegars and salves, fermented foods, oxymels, shrubs, tonics; the use of food and spices as kitchen medicine; and much more. ​


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Making homemade capsules with bulk powdered organic herbs

Quarterly Payment/Investment Information:  Advanced Registration Required!
This is a limited enrollment opportunity.  Payment in full is expected at the beginning of each trimester, and is non-refundable.

Mar 23-Apr 20-May 4:
Materials Fee:  $60 + $240 for 3 classes.  Payment due by March 15, 2024.

Jun 22-Jul 20-Aug 17:
Materials Fee:  $60 + $240 for 3 classes.  Payment due by June 15, 2024.

Sep 14-Oct 19-Nov 16:
Materials Fee:  $60 + $240 for 3 classes.  Payment due by Sept 10, 2024.

​Payment options are cash, check or Zelle.  


​Conference Calls
Our monthly conference call helps us maintain our connection with our growing knowledge of herbal allies as well as with our circle group.   We use this time to bring up questions and to share personal experiences and discoveries.  It also serves to strengthen our Herbal Apprenticeship Circle community as a whole.
 
Conference Call Dates – 1st Wednesday of each month, 7:30-8:30PM:
Apr 3, May 1, Jun 5, Jul 3, Aug 7, Sep 4, Oct 2, Nov 6, Dec 4
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Lammas, 2003: Harvesting pearly everlasting with butterfly friend, Middletown, NY

2024 Dates:  (Saturdays):  
Mar 23, Apr 20, May 4, Jun 22, Jul 20, Aug 17, Sep 14, Oct 19, Nov 16
We will be outside, in the fields, working closely with the nature realm. 
(Weather appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear recommended!)

Time:  5 hrs (noon - 5pm)
Location: Vass Farmstead, Hardwick, NJ;
Investment:   Refer to Payment Options above

Apprenticeship Circle is limited to twelve(12) students. 

**Click here for an Application**
Contact Donna by email with any questions:  [email protected]

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Note: Any remedies or information listed on this web site are from historical references and used for teaching / educational purposes only. The contents are not meant to diagnose, treat, prescribe, cure or substitute consultation with a licensed health-care professional. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

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