PRE-RECORDED CLASS
ALCOHOL-FREE BOTANICAL ZEITGEIST: WHAT EVERY HERBALIST AND HERB ENTHUSIAST NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT NON-ALCOHOLIC HERBAL MEDICINE AND WHY THEY SHOULD BE MAKING MORE OF IT!
PRE-RECORDED 5 HOUR CLASS - Recording, handouts and slides sent upon registration
WITH DREA MOORE $60
For decades, many books, teachers and pop-herbalist influencers have summarily discredited the potency and preservation of alcohol-free herbal extracts in favor of a limited homogenous apothecary. Comprehension of the other solvents (glycerine, vinegar, honey) available for making herbal extracts has wained and so has the breadth of possibilities and the depth of practices among many herb lovers. In this class, we will disrupt this stagnant paradigm and experience a new radical practice of deep embodiment and communication with our co-evolved species of plants. We will deconstruct the language, concepts and practices in herbalism that limit rather than liberate our ability to communicate with the plants, our bodies and each other. We will learn how to make potent alcohol-free medicine with confidence and creativity. Paradoxically, as you learn how to trust and make strong medicine without alcohol, you radically expand your grasp of medicine making/thinking—you boldly go beyond what you know and have been taught about herbal medicine. This class moves through the senses, back in time, across landscapes, through patterns of energy and relationships of tremendous healing capacity to arrive at a new set of operating principles which integrate both science and spirit. This class is designed for herbalists and herb enthusiasts who are beginning or experienced with herbal education, are sober, sober curious, want to support folx with alcohol-free herbal medicine, or just want to experience a safe space where solid information about alcohol-free medicine can be shared with positive energy and integrity.
This class is taught by a sober alcoholic clinical herbalist and offers students the opportunity to build a stronger and more conscious set of herbalist practices. By open-mindedly including and experimenting with solvents other than alcohol in medicine making practices, by increasing skepticism and curiosity and endeavoring to learn a more embodied methodology in plant medicine, the herbalist can serve more people, understand plant medicine more contextually and review personal practices and languaging with the goal of accessibility, inclusivity, and equality.
WESTERN HERBS IN CHINESE MEDICINE - THE FIVE ELEMENTS
6 SATURDAYS - April 6, May 11, June 22, August 3, September 7, October 5, 2024
10AM - 1PM
Live Online Class
WITH KATE AUGUST
$295
20% of all course proceeds will be donated to Stop AAPI Hate- a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating hate and racism against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
The five element (or five phase system) is a foundational component of classic Chinese medicine. It examines the relationship between our bodies and our environment, how our energetic and physical wellbeing can be reflected in the macrocosm and change of the seasons. This course will take a closer look at the five phase system. By studying each phase with its respective time of year, we will focus on disharmonies that may arise within each elemental shift. Our focus will be on utilizing western herbs through the dynamic lens of the five elements. The first class of the series will set the foundation. Each class thereafter will focus on the phase that correlates with the season -discussing energetics, corresponding organ systems, emotional and physical imbalances within each cycle. We will cover a materia medica of Western herbs for each phase, as well as foods and exercises to support each transition. This 6 class series is open to all levels, but it is recommended that students have some western herbal experience. This course will be a valuable addition to the toolkit of any student or herbal clinician.
Class One: Introduction to Five Phase Theory, Yin & Yang and the Eight Principles
Class Two: WOOD ELEMENT: Spring Liver and Gallbladder Righteousness & Anger
Class Three: FIRE ELEMENT: Summer Heart and Small Intestine Desire & Elation
Class Four: EARTH ELEMENT: Late Summer Spleen and Stomach Thought & Pensiveness
Class Five: METAL ELEMENT: Autumn Lung and Large Intestine Release & Grief
Class Six: WATER ELEMENT: Winter Kidney and Urinary Bladder Will Power & Fear
SPRING HERBAL ESSENTIALS 2024
5 CONSECUTIVE MONDAYS
April 22, 29, May 6, 13, & 20, 2024
1-5PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH KATE AUGUST
$400
Herbal essentials is an entry level course focused on the healing power of herbal medicine. Each week is a blend of lecture time, garden walks and plant id, and medicine making. Our focus is on self-care with herbs, diet, and lifestyle to support the body for daily well-being. We will discuss and create herbal remedies to support healthy digestion, allergy prevention, wound care, flower essences, and much more. We will connect with the power of herbs as food and medicine to promote greater vitality all year long. You will leave this 5 week course with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of herbalism, and with hands on knowledge to better practice basic medicine making with herbs. This class is designed for the beginning student, though all levels are welcome.
• Some of the plants discussed include: artichoke, calendula, comfrey, mint, nettle, plantain, rosemary, and more!
• Learn to identify, harvest, and use medicinal plants.
• Demonstrations and hands on learning is emphasized in this course. You will learn to make herbal infusions, tinctures, glycerites, salves, and more!
• Demonstration of hydrosol and essential oil distillation.
• Culinary uses of herbs for daily well-being
It is intended for students to take both Spring and Fall Essentials, as the information in each course is different and relevant to the seasons.
GARDEN VOLUNTEER DAY
April 26, 2024
9:15AM-12:30PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH BRYAN BOWEN
FREE
Come volunteer and help us tend our new farm down the road from the CSHS campus west of Forestville. Come see the project in action and help us prep the garden beds for planting and get your hands dirty. Directions and details will be sent after you register.
HERBAL MEDICINE MAKING FOR BEGINNERS
April 27 & 28, 2024
10AM-4PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH TERRI JENSEN
$225
Why buy expensive herbal products when you can make them yourself? Now more than ever we should take steps to take care of ourselves and learning the basics of herbal medicine making is the perfect place to start! Learn from a professional herbal medicine maker with 40 years of experience. We will instruct and guide you in the process of herbal medicine making utilizing live demonstration and ample time for your questions. Curriculum covered will include ethical harvesting, drying, preserving, and preparing medicinal plants. Learn specific techniques for making medicinal teas, infused oils, salves, tinctures, vinegars, glycerites and more.
NATURAL PERFUMERY WITH ESSENTIAL OILS
May 11, 2024
10AM-4PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH ROBIN LANDER
$90
Creating your own fragrances with pure, natural essential oils is a sensual art and science that combines intuition, imagination, and a passion for aroma. Whether creating natural perfumes or scented body care products, understanding the composition of perfumery blending can help bring your creations to new heights. In this experiential class we will discuss basic blending guidelines for top notes, middle notes, and base notes, dilution ratios, how to use accessory notes, odor intensity, and more. Everyone will have an opportunity to formulate with over 22 different essential oils and absolutes and make 2 solid perfumes to take home.
GARDEN VOLUNTEER DAY
May 17, 2024
9:15AM-12:30PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH BRYAN BOWEN
FREE
Come volunteer and help us tend our new farm down the road from the CSHS campus west of Forestville. Come see the project in action and help us prep the garden beds for planting and get your hands dirty. Directions and details will be sent after you register.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SUPPORTING LIBIDO & RESTFUL SLEEP
June 1, 2024
10AM-4PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH ROBIN LANDER
$90
The aroma of certain plants and flowers can excite us, lower inhibitions, and enhance sensuality and creativity. Others can help calm us, encourage relaxation, and lull us into tranquility. In this aromatic exploration, we cover how to use essential oils to support two of the biggest concerns of our time – libido and sleep – including popular methods of use, dilution ratios, specific recipes, and more. Everyone will have an opportunity to craft a customized blend.
GROW YOUR OWN HERBAL MEDICINE
June 2, 2024
10AM-4PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH AUTUMN SUMMERS
$85
Learn how to grow medicinal plants from seed and cuttings in this class designed for the beginning gardener. We will focus on medicinal plants that grow well in California, including calendula, yarrow, chamomile, ashwagandha, holy basil/tulsi, elderberry, echinacea, angelica, yerba mansa and many more. This class will include hands on demonstrations of various techniques of growing and seeing the plants in person in the cshs garden showing where they thrive and how to grow them successfully. You will go home with seeds and plant cuttings.
GARDEN VOLUNTEER DAY
June 14, 2024
9:15AM-12:30PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH BRYAN BOWEN
FREE
Come volunteer and help us tend our new farm down the road from the CSHS campus west of Forestville. Come see the project in action and help us prep the garden beds for planting and get your hands dirty. Directions and details will be sent after you register.
KITCHEN MEDICINALS - COOKING THROUGH THE SEASONS SPRING AND SUMMER FOODS
June 22, 2024
10AM-1PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH DIANA DeLUCA
$60
Spring and Summer Foods Join Diana DeLuca for a taste sensation and learn to cook with the seasons. She will share her decades of cooking experience to bring new life into your home kitchen! Recipes and tips in this project packed class will cover luscious elixirs, cool infusions, syrups, sodas, fruity shrubs, hydromels, summer soups, plant milks, and floral and leafy delights. We will cover basil, dandelion greens, mustards greens, fennel, nettle, rose, elder flower, burdock, raspberry, passionflower, artichoke leaf and more! Samples and nibbles of everything will be provided!
LAVENDER HARVEST AND
DISTILLATION DAY
June 23, 2024
10AM-3PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH AUTUMN SUMMERS
$90
Our Lavender immersion will begin with meeting at CSHS and carpooling to our herb farm a few minutes away. We will spend the morning harvesting fresh Lavender and the afternoon at CSHS distilling our harvest, learning about the many uses of Lavender and making Lavender wands. You will go home with a freshly distilled Lavender hydrosol and what you harvested for your own use.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SUPPORT WITH ANXIETY & DEPRESSION
September 7, 2024
10AM-4PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH ROBIN LANDER
$90
It’s no coincidence that for thousands of years people have given flowers to boost the mood and calm the spirit. The aroma of particular plants is welcomed by our brain chemistry and helps us feel GOOD! In this interactive exploration, we cover aromatherapy for supporting mood, particularly during times of distress, worry, nervousness, anxiety, and depression, including popular methods of use, dilution ratios, specific recipes, and more. Everyone will have an opportunity to craft a customized blend.
FALL HERBAL ESSENTIALS
September 9, 16, 23, 30 October 7, 2024
1-5PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH KATE AUGUST
$400
Fall Essentials will focus on herbal approaches to health for the fall and winter seasons. From the perspective of the western constitutional model of health-care and aromatic medicine, we will discuss the physiological function, and patterns of imbalance, of the respiratory and immune systems. We will demonstrate seasonally appropriate medicines and study basic herbal actions, therapeutic strategies and what must be included in your essential herbal medicine chest for fall and winter. This course is appropriate for those who have already taken the spring essentials courses, and for those new to herbalism.
• Empower yourself with the knowledge of seasonal western herbalism.
• Herbal teas and tinctures for cold and flu season and delicious nourishing tonics for prevention and protection.
• Learn to identify, harvest, and make medicine with fall medicinal plants.
• Demonstration and introduction to basic medicine making and cooking with medicinal herbs that boost immunity.
• Demonstration of hydrosol and essential oil distillation. It is intended for students to take both spring and fall essentials, the information in each course is different and relevant to the seasons.
HOW TO MAKE LOTIONS, CREAMS & CLEANSERS
September 12 & 19, 2024
Two Thursday evenings 6PM-8:30PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH COLLEEN BINGHAM SOLIS
$125
As the demand for herbal skin care grows, so grows the options of natural and naturally derived surfactants (aka emulsifiers). How do you choose? How much do you use? How will the surfactant perform? In this 2-day course, you will learn all about how to leverage your surfactants to make luxurious cleansers, creams, and lotions. Take your natural skin care recipes to the next level with formulator Colleen Bingham Solis. With 10 years of experience owning an herbal skincare line and consulting with companies across the country, Colleen will walk you through her process from concept to finished product. Day 1 will cover how to choose your ingredients, incorporate botanicals, and build your formula. Day 2 you'll get a glimpse of a day in the formulation lab and watch a formula made from start to finish. From tools to processes, you'll walk away ready to elevate your herbal skincare formulations and create next level cleansers, creams, and lotions with confidence.
KITCHEN MEDICINALS - COOKING THROUGH THE SEASONS FALL AND WINTER FOODS
September 28, 2024
10AM-1PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH DIANA DeLUCA
$60
Join Diana DeLuca for a taste sensation and learn to cook with the seasons. She will share her decades of cooking experience to bring new life into your home kitchen! Nourish yourself with healthy grounding fall and winter foods. Recipes and tips in this project packed class will cover broths, stews, cordials, winter wines, zesty chesses, ginger ale and spiced sweets. We will cover cinnamon, ginger, seaweeds, ginkgo, cayenne, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, cloves, cacao, pine and fir needles, mustard seeds, and more! Samples and nibbles of everything will be provided!
FORAGE-to-FERMENT Experiential botanical fermentation class for all ages and skill levels
September 29, 2024
12-4PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH THOMAS BOYD & DEANNA DENNARD
$80
Join Thomas Boyd & Deana Dennard of “the Kefiry & Enlivened” for an afternoon you won’t forget! We bring everything you need to identify, harvest, process, and learn to ferment with fresh seasonal herbs, flowers, roots, and more. During class we will forage & infuse a batch of sweet apple botanical kefir to drink while we work on harvesting and preparing ingredients for a ½ gallon probiotic fermentation for each student with full-spectrum “mother culture”. You will bring your creation home to enjoy and add to over time. This experiential class is focused on creating confidence and a deeper connection with the plants and probiotics we love. Learn to enhance the nutritional power of wild and cultivated plants, and other elemental ingredients from Nature.
HARVESTING MEDICINAL ROOTS
October 26, 2024
10AM-3PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH AUTUMN SUMMERS
$80
Fall is one of the best times to harvest the roots of medicinal plants. Come to the CSHS garden and learn how to properly harvest and process herbal roots for their optimal medicinal properties. Class includes hands harvesting of echinacea, comfrey, elecampane, burdock and more. After harvesting we will discuss some of the ways to utilize these fresh roots for medicinal preparations.
THE MAGIC AND SCIENCE OF MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS
October 27, 2024
10AM-4PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH TERRI JENSEN
$85
Join us as we delve into the amazing world of medicinal mushrooms and how to turn them into medicine. We will start by exploring mushrooms in general, looking at growth behaviors, environmental relationships, and clues to proper identification. We will have many interesting samples on hand to help us learn to ID. We will focus on some of the common medicinal mushrooms (Reishi, Turkey Tails, Lion’s Mane, Oysters, Maitake, Cordyceps ) discussing both traditional uses and contemporary research on each. Making medicine with mushrooms is a specific process. We will teach you the most effective extraction methods for each (tinctures, double extractions, teas, powders, etc.) This will be a wonderful day to get you ready for the upcoming mushroom season.
HERBAL HOLIDAY GIFT MAKING
December 7, 2024
10AM-4PM
In Person at CSHS
WITH AUTUMN SUMMERS
$95
Handmade holiday gifts are a valued treasure! Create holiday magic with unique and inspiring hand crafted herbal based gifts. Learn how to create decadent and cost effective gifts for the entire family that will have them begging you to make more year after year! You will learn how to make: herb infused oils, lip balm, hand cream, herbal cordials and more. Sourcing and samples will be provided.