Course Delivery

Dandelion Flower in Grá Nádúr

Our training is delivered in two main stages:

1. Herbal Apprenticeship

The two-year Apprenticeship teaches people the competencies to become Community herbalists who wish to teach about herbs in their community and promote the use of herbs for wellness as part of health sovereignty in their community. The preliminary step, our introductory course, At Home with Herbs, is included in the Apprenticeship.

The first year of the Apprenticeship focuses on learning about plants and how to work with them because most people coming to study with us are keen to deepen this knowledge, which draws them to the course. This includes how to identify them, grow them, and make medicines and foods with them. We also teach about plant connection, natural resonances and ways to work with the plants relationally, using tacit knowledge and nonverbal communication to listen to them and understand their meanings.

In the second year of the apprenticeship, we start to explore the human condition, social justice, and psycho-emotional approaches to health, as well as matching plants and people.

2. Practitioner Training

A further 3-year practitioner training teaches the additional competencies needed for those who wish to become a Practitioner herbalist with the ability to diagnose and extemporaneously prescribe, formulate and dispense medicines to individuals after consultation.

Blended Learning

All our courses are in a blended learning format:

  • Face-to-face intensive workshops

  • Videoed lectures

  • Course notes

  • Live Zoom discussions for each stage of the course.

  • Live discussion forums

  • Individual guidance by mentors and tutors

  • Self-directed study with suggested exercises to help this

  • Students are supported to develop their own unique learning path and approach to becoming the best herbalists they can be

Our unique learning platform

We have developed a learning platform using the Invision Community system, which gives us comprehensive delivery facilities, an excellent forum, and internal communications. Their dedication to community values and great support enables us to provide a top-class service.

We have designed this flexibly so that individual students can progress through the materials in their own way without the linear reductionist formats so many online systems impose upon their students. We are also dveloping an optional facility for those who wish to track their progress in that fashion.