fundamentals of community herbalism
weekend Hybrid program
We are thrilled to announce that in 2027 we are offering an in-person certificate program for the first time since 2019. This weekend hybrid program will follow the outline of our Fundamentals of Community Herbalism program, meeting over the course of 9 weekends with monthly supplemental videos provided to round out the program. The course will be based in the Southern Appalachians of Georgia in Rabun County. This area is approximately an hour and a half from Atlanta, Greenville, Asheville, and Athens and provides us with a rich biodiverse ecosystem in which to study plant medicine. You’ll find the full details below.
Our Fundamentals of Community Herbalism: Weekend Hybrid combines the best of online learning with the irreplaceable experience of learning in-person together with other students. Each month, we will meet to make medicine, discuss the human body, study botany and learn directly from the plants out in the field. In addition to these in-person classes, the weekend hybrid course includes supplemental monthly video lessons, as well as homework for applying the material. We will learn together, working through the curriculum, weaving our herbal studies into our everyday lives.
You’ll benefit from real-time guidance and connection with our Terra Sylva instructors, who will facilitate in-person sessions to deepen your understanding and practice your skills. These sessions are supplemented by approximately 8 hours of video lessons per month and 12 hours of assignments and self-study. This structure is designed to provide a balance of flexibility and accountability as you grow your skills in community herbalism.
To foster an intimate and interactive learning environment, this course features an application and admissions process. While we can’t accept everyone who applies, we carefully select a cohort of students whose interests and goals align with our curriculum, ensuring a group dynamic that fosters collaboration and mutual growth.
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNITY HERBALISM WEEKEND HYBRID PROGRAM INCLUDES:
9 in-person instructor-led weekends
30+ hours in the field learning botany, practicing plant identification, and harvesting plants
Hands on medicine making experiences
Immersive materia medica
Monthly supplemental pre-recorded video lessons
Homework assignments including “Herb of the Month” immersions
Ongoing embodied herbal practices
60+ detailed printable plant monographs
305-hour Foundations of Community Herbalism Certificate upon completion of all requirements
Essential info
Dates: March 27th - November 14th, 2027
Tuition: $3000 for the full year
$300 deposit (non-refundable)
Payment plans available on request: 10 monthly payments, no application, no extra fee.
Format: Monthly in-person weekend classes + monthly video lessons
Certificate (305 hours) awarded upon completion of all assignments, final exam, and attendance requirements
DETAILS
Dates: Our 2027 Fundamentals of Community Herbalism Weekend Hybrid program runs from March 27th to November 14th.
Format: a 305-hour program, consisting of approximately 120 hours of in-person instructor-led education and 65 hours of recorded video classes, all supported by approximately 120 hours of self-study, homework, and hands-on practice.
The program will meet once a month in-person in Rabun County, Georgia for a blend of lecture, immersive plant experiences such as medicine making and tea tastings, time spent in the field practicing botany and plant identification, and interactive exercises designed to expand learning. During the rest of the month, students will have access to our online classroom where they will receive videos to supplement and enhance their in-person learning. Students can expect to watch approximately 8 hours of video material each month as well as spend at least 12 hours each month working on exercises and immersive practices.
Students who meet attendance and participation requirements will receive a certificate affirming successful completion of our 305-hour Fundamentals of Community Herbalism training program.
Faculty & Support: Our core faculty—Jen Stovall, Dave Meesters, and Janet Kent—are actively involved throughout the program. Faculty review assignments, offer guidance, and facilitate in-person sessions.
In addition to in-person and recorded instruction, students receive:
More than 60 detailed plant monographs
Handouts, readings, and practical assignments
Class dates: In-person weekends will be held on the following dates: March 27 & 28, April 24 & 25, May 22 & 23, June 26 & 27, July 22 & 25, August 21 & 22, September 25 & 26, October 23 & 24, November 13 & 14.
Class will be held from 10am-6pm on Saturdays and from 9:30am-4:30 pm on Sundays. Both days include a 1 hour lunch break.
Location: The weekend hybrid program will be held in Rabun County, Georgia. This area is known for its abundance of protected waterways and plant biodiversity. It is located in the NE corner of Georgia, close to both North Carolina and South Carolina. Atlanta, Greenville, Asheville, and Athens are all approximately one and a half hours away.
Lodging: Rabun County has an abundance of campgrounds and wild dispersed camping as well as hotels and vacation rentals. Lodging is not included with the program.
Tuition: Tuition for the online guided Fundamentals of Community Herbalism Program is $3000, which includes a $300 non-refundable deposit.
Payment plans, no questions asked: Anyone accepted to the program can pay the remainder of their tuition (after the deposit) on a 10-month payment plan with no extra charge. You don’t need to apply or to explain why.
Additional costs: two required textbooks, medicine making supplies. (Kitchen scale and measuring cup required for medicine making.)
Bioregional Intensives: For our students interested in further hands-on learning in other areas of the Southern Appalachians, there is an in-person field trip component that can be added to the program. You can find more information about the Bioregional Intensives here.
Accessibility:
Pace & Travel: Meeting one weekend a month accompanied by online classes that can be done at your own pace allows students to have the rest of the month to work, tend to families, and take time for yourself but does require students to travel to the class location in a vehicle and stay overnight nearby.
Mobility: Meeting in-person allows us to spend a lot of time outdoors with the plants, who are always our best teachers, but this does limit accessibility for some. We will be spending time outdoors each weekend in the elements and though we will not be hiking very far each month, we will be on uneven terrain & ascending and descending in elevation.
Technology: Students will need access to internet and a laptop, desktop computer or tablet to view video classes and course materials. The device and the internet bandwidth must allow for video streaming in order to access supplemental material. We understand this may limit accessibility but it allows us to provide more material than we can cover in one full weekend per month.
OUR FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAMS ARE FOR YOU IF:
You want to learn an in-depth, systematic approach to holistic herbalism.
You want to be the person your friends, family, and neighbors can come to.
You have been studying herbs on your own or have attended a more general course but lack a cohesive system to apply your knowledge. OR you are beginning your herbal studies and want to start with a strong, comprehensive foundation.
You want practical skills for caring for yourself and your community.
You want to learn to make consistent, high quality plant medicine.
You want to learn embodied practices for working with plants.
You want to learn an approach to health that emphasizes collective responsibility and connection.
You are interested in the ways societal forces impact individual health, including various forms of oppression and their intersections.
You want to learn in an environment informed by feminist values and is not gender-essentialist.
You have reliable internet access.