Roots of Herbalism

ROOTS OF HERBALISM 2025

March 18 – November 6, 2025
CLASSES MEET EVERY WEEK TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY FROM 9:30AM TO 3:30PM

$7595.00

CORE STAFF

ABI HUFF, AUTUMN SUMMERS, BRYAN BOWEN, DAVID HOFFMANN, ISABELLA DECREDICO, JEN BREDESEN, KATE AUGUST, LINDSEY BURNELL & ROBIN LANDER.

GUEST TEACHERS

CHRISTA SINADINOS, CLAIRE CARLOMAGNO, COLLEEN BINGHAM SOLIS, CRIS AMARILLAS, CYNTHIA BELEW, JESSICA CLARK, KATHLEEN HARRISON, LARKIN MORGAN, MITCHO THOMPSON, SAGE LA PENA, SARAH KATE BENJAMIN, SUMMER SINGLETARY, SUSAN BLANC, TAMARA WILDER, VIOLET THORNS, 7SONG, & MORE

THIS INTENSIVE FOLLOWS THE SEASONS FROM EARLY SPRING THROUGH LATE AUTUMN. THE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO IMMERSE THE BEGINNING OR INTERMEDIATE STUDENT IN THE WORLD OF HERBALISM. THE SPECIAL STRENGTHS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE ROOTED IN ITS THOROUGHNESS AND BREADTH OF SCOPE. IT COVERS EVERY ASPECT OF WORKING WITH HERBS THEMSELVES (PLANT IDENTIFICATION, WILDCRAFTING AND CULTIVATION, DRYING, AND MEDICINE MAKING), WHILE PROVIDING A FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE FOR USING THEM AS MEDICINES (HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, MATERIA MEDICA, THERAPEUTICS AND FIRST AID).

IN ADDITION TO COVERING THIS CORE MATERIAL, THE COURSE EXPANDS TO INCLUDE MANY DIVERSE WAYS OF WORKING WITH PLANTS (COSMETICS, CRAFTS, AND PLANT-SPIRIT COMMUNICATION) AS WELL AS OTHER APPROACHES TO HEALING THAT CAN COMPLEMENT HERBALISM (NUTRITION, AROMATHERAPY, AND STANDARD PRACTICE MEDICINE). OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A WELL-ROUNDED UNDERSTANDING OF WESTERN HERBALISM DESIGNED TO BRING HERBS BACK INTO THE HOME AND COMMUNITY WHERE THEY HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN USED.

ALTHOUGH MUCH OF OUR FOCUS IS ACADEMIC, STUDENTS WILL ALSO LEARN THE ART OF HERBALISM DIRECTLY FROM THE PLANTS. THIS KNOWLEDGE IS IMPARTED TO US THROUGH THE HEART AND SENSES, AS WELL AS THROUGH WORDS AND IDEAS. TO HELP STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THIS, THE COURSE INCLUDES TWO CAMPING TRIPS TO CALIFORNIA NATIONAL FORESTS AS WELL AS TIME IN THE MEDICINAL PLANT GARDEN AT CSHS AND OFF-SITE HERBAL EXPLORATIONS IN OUR LOCAL AREA. STUDENTS STUDY HARD, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE PLANT WORLD IN BOTH WILD AND CULTIVATED NATURAL SPACES.

THE TWO SEMESTERS SPAN THE YEARLY CYCLE OF THE GARDEN FROM NEW GROWTH THROUGH ROOT HARVESTING AND SEED SAVING. WE BEGIN IN MARCH AS SPRING WILDFLOWERS AND THE SCHOOL GARDENS COME TO LIFE. THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR HANDS-ON INTERACTION WITH PLANTS AND MUCH TIME IS SPENT ON PLANT IDENTIFICATION, WILDCRAFTING, GROWING PLANT MEDICINE, MEDICINE MAKING AND HERBAL CRAFTS. STUDENTS ALSO BEGIN THEIR STUDIES WITH BODY SYSTEMS AND HERBAL THERAPEUTICS, ALONG WITH HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND MATERIA MEDICA. THE FOCUS IS ON UNDERSTANDING THE VITALITY OF THE HUMAN BODY, WHAT CREATES HEALTH IMBALANCES, AND HOW TO MAINTAIN WELLNESS IN EACH BODY SYSTEM.

THE SECOND SEMESTER STARTS IN JULY WITH STUDENTS CONTINUING TO REFINE THEIR SKILLS IN THE GARDEN, NATURAL PLANT COMMUNITIES, AND THE HERBAL LAB. MORE INTENSE FOCUS IS SPENT ON HERBAL THERAPEUTICS. WE WILL MOVE BEYOND THE CONCEPT OF "THIS HERB FOR THIS DISEASE" AND TEACH STUDENTS TO SUPPORT AND TREAT EACH INDIVIDUAL. WE TEACH A MODEL OF HERBALISM THAT EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO EMPLOY PLANTS CREATIVELY, IN CONTRAST TO MEMORIZING STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES AND FORMULAS.

WITHIN THE COURSE OF ANY LECTURE A SUBJECT MAY TOUCH ON SEVERAL OTHERS
HOWEVER THIS IS OUR ESTIMATED BREAK DOWN OF CURRICULUM HOURS.

EXTRA ACTIVITIES THAT EXTEND OUTSIDE OF THESE HOURS MAY INCLUDE:
• LUNCH TIME CLASSES IN THE GARDEN
• STUDENT-LED HERB WALKS
• BEFORE-SCHOOL HARVESTING OPPORTUNITIES BOTH OFF-SITE AND AT THE CSHS GARDEN
• AFTER-SCHOOL GUIDED ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS HERBAL MOVIES, POTLUCKS, AND STUDENT-LED CLASSES
TOURS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES- DISTILLERIES AND MEDICINAL MUSHROOM FACILITIES

STUDENTS SHOULD ALSO EXPECT TO SPEND AN ADDITIONAL 10-15 HOURS EACH WEEK ON THEIR OWN PROJECTS, READING ASSIGNMENTS, AND HOMEWORK.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL US. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025 ROOTS OF HERBALISM COURSE ARE CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE APPLY BUTTON BELOW AND WE WILL CONTACT YOU TO SET UP AN INTERVIEW.
DEPOSITS ARE REFUNDABLE IF YOU ARE NOT OFFERED A SPACE IN THE PROGRAM.
THANK YOU.

APPLY NOW

MAKE A PAYMENT

WE DO NOT HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND REQUIREMENT. WE ARE LOOKING FOR COMMITTED, MOTIVATED, AND HARDWORKING STUDENTS WHO ARE EAGER TO LEARN. STUDENTS MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD.

TUITION INFORMATION

TUITION IS DUE BY FEBRUARY 3, 2025. IF CLEARED IN ADVANCE WITH US, IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO FINANCE $3000.00 OF YOUR TUITION. IN THIS CASE, $4000.00 IS DUE ON FEBRUARY 3, 2025 AND A TIME PAYMENT SCHEDULE IS ARRANGED FOR THE BALANCE.

REFUND POLICY

1. THE $595.00 DEPOSIT IS NON-REFUNDABLE UPON ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM.
2. A FULL REFUND OF TUITION (LESS THE DEPOSIT) WILL BE PAID TO THE STUDENT IF THEY WITHDRAW (IN WRITING) BEFORE FEBRUARY 3, 2025 AT 5PM PACIFIC TIME.
3. IF A STUDENT CANCELS AFTER FEBRUARY 3, 2025, 5PM PACIFIC TIME, BUT BEFORE FEBRUARY 10, 2025, 5PM PACIFIC TIME, AN ADDITIONAL $1000.00 FEE WILL BE RETAINED. CANCELLATIONS AFTER 5PM, FEBRUARY 10, 2025 WILL FOLLOW THE DATES BELOW TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE REFUND. THESE REFUNDS WILL BE CALCULATED USING PERCENTAGES OF THE POST-DEPOSIT TUITION, $7000.00.
4. IF A STUDENT WITHDRAWS FROM ROOTS OF HERBALISM & FOUNDATIONS OF HEALTH, A REFUND CALCULATION WILL BE PERFORMED WHICH WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING:
less than 10% OF COURSE COMPLETED = 50% REFUND
>10 % < 25% OF COURSE COMPLETED = 25% REFUND
>25% < 48% OF COURSE COMPLETED = 10% REFUND
>48% OF COURSE COMPLETED = 0% REFUND

REQUIRED MATERIALS

STUDENTS MUST HAVE REGULAR INTERNET AND PRINTER ACCESS. WE RELY HEAVILY ON EMAIL COMMUNICATION FOR THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF EACH COURSE. THE REQUIRED BOOKLIST WILL BE SENT OUT IN ADVANCE OF CLASS. STUDENTS MUST HAVE A PAIR OF GARDENING CLIPPERS AND A HORI-HORI OR OTHER DIGGING TOOL.

HOUSING

CSHS DOES NOT PROVIDE NOR SECURE HOUSING FOR OUR STUDENTS. HOWEVER, WE DO SEND OUT A LIST OF POSSIBLE RENTALS IN THE AREA ABOUT 4-6 WEEKS BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN. IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT STUDENTS CHECK WITH OTHER RENTAL SOURCES AS WELL AND ALLOW THEMSELVES TIME TO FIND A HOME. MORE INFORMATION ON HOUSING WILL BE SENT ALONG WITH ACCEPTANCE PACKAGES.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF ALL ASSIGNMENTS, INCLUDING MATERIA MEDICA REPORTS, MEDICINE MAKING, FIRST-AID KITS, BOTANY ASSIGNMENT AND MANY MORE. 2. MAINTAIN AT LEAST AN 85% ATTENDANCE RECORD WITHIN EACH SEMESTER. 3. ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN CAMPING TRIPS. 4. PAY TUITION IN FULL.

PLACEMENT

AT CSHS WE EMPHASIZE THE SKILLED USE OF HERBALISM IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS THE PERSPECTIVE FROM WHICH WE TEACH. WE DO NOT SEEK OR GUARANTEE PLACEMENT OF OUR GRADUATES. HOWEVER, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR CSHS RECEIVES NOTICES OF APPRENTICESHIP AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH ARE POSTED AT THE SCHOOL. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS GO ON TO FIND EMPLOYMENT IN THE HERBAL WORLD IN A VARIETY OF AREAS INCLUDING: HERBAL MEDICINE MAKING, EDUCATION, AND MANAGING HERBAL BUSINESSES. OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY INCORPORATED HERBALISM INTO THEIR PRACTICES. MANY OF OUR GRADUATES HAVE GONE ON TO CREATE THEIR OWN HERBAL BUSINESSES. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLEASE SEE OUR POLICIES AND INFORMATION PAGE.

EACH YEAR CSHS ACCEPTS A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS INTO THE GARDEN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE ROOTS OF HERBALISM PROGRAM WHO APPLY FOR, AND COMMIT TO, AN ADDITIONAL 6-8 HOURS A WEEK. THESE STUDENTS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE STAFF TO CARE TAKE THE SCHOOL GARDENS. GARDEN APPRENTICES WORK FROM APPROXIMATELY 4PM - 6PM ON WEDNESDAYS AFTER SCHOOL, AND FRIDAYS FROM 9:00AM - 3:00PM.

THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT AND INTIMATE OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASIZE THE GROWING AND COMMUNITY INVOLVED ASPECTS OF HERBALISM WHILE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR GARDEN STAFF. BEING A GARDEN APPRENTICE IS BOTH HARD WORK AND VERY REWARDING.

TO APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM YOU WILL NEED TO SUBMIT TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND HAVE A SEPARATE INTERVIEW WITH THE GARDENING STAFF. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO VISIT AND INTERVIEW FOR THE ROOTS OF HERBALISM PROGRAM AND ARE COMING FROM A LONG DISTANCE PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN THE GARDEN APPRENTICE PROGRAM AND WE WILL TRY TO HAVE BOTH INTERVIEWS SCHEDULED INTO THE SAME VISIT.