9 Month Herbalism Program 2024 @ Kern Family Farm
9 Month Herbalism Program 2024 @ Kern Family Farm
Join us for our “Mountain Medicine Herbalism Program” here at Kern Family Farm. This course is a 9 month botanical medicine program that meets one weekend per month from March through November. Saturdays are our “Therapeutic Herbalism” topic, and Sundays are our “Herbal Medicine Making” topic. We will integrate medicinal herb cultivation into each weekend as well. Please see the detailed descriptions below for each of these.
Therapeutic Herbalism (Saturdays) dives deeply into the different organs systems of the body and therapeutic herbalism to support these different organ systems. This course spans the spring, summer, and fall seasons and will integrate organic herbs growing on the Kern Family Farm. At the end of this course, students can expect to have a thorough understanding of the different organ systems, anatomy and physiology for herbalists, therapeutic herbalism for the organ systems, energetic qualities of imbalances and herbs covered in this course, seasonal influences on our health, and Materia Medica.
Tuition includes participation in our in-person class on our beautiful farm in the Sierra Nevadas, all handouts and course materials used in class, as well as fresh herbs that students are invited to harvest monthly from our certified organic fields for additional practice making herbal medicines at home.
Please note: In the event of unexpected smoke or weather events that are unsafe for gathering outdoors, we may need to reschedule class days. Students will receive emails prior to any changes.
Outline of Topics Covered in our Program
Saturday class meets from 9:00am-4pm, Sunday class meets from 9:00-3:30. We have a 1 hour potluck lunch both days.
Class will be limited to 20 participants, early registration will confirm your spot.
March 2nd Therapeutic Herbalism: Introducing people and plants
Overview of course, introductions
Herbal Actions
Energetic qualities in herbal medicine
Seasonality of herbalism
Overview of the body systems covered throughout the series
The different types of body tissues, herbal actions on the tissues
Tour of the farm, classroom, and herbal processing facilities
Herbalism for the seasons: Early Spring
March 3rd Herbal Medicine Making: The Tastes
Overview of the tastes in herbal medicine making
Demonstration of using our tastes to guide our herbal medicine making process
Herbal Tea Making for early spring
Medicinal Herb Cultivation 101: Mint propagation
April 6th Therapeutic Herbalism: Digestive system
Overview of the digestive system, anatomy and physiology
Herbal actions for the digestive system
Materia Medica for digestive system: Dandelion, Burdock, Mint
Herbalists view of the liver & role of bitters
Herb walk to see botanicals highlighted in class
Herbalism for the seasons: Mid-late spring
April 7th Herbal Medicine Making: Aqueous extracts
Botanical constituents soluble in water
Types of aqueous extracts
Advantages and disadvantages of aqueous extracts
Exploration of water as an element in medicine making
Herbal Tea Making Workshop
Medicinal Herb Cultivation 101: Seeding
May 4th Therapeutic Herbalism: Integumentary System
Overview of the integumentary system: anatomy and physiology
Herbal Actions for the integumentary system
Materia Medica for the Integumentary System: burdock, calendula, chickweed
Herb Walk to see botanicals highlighted in class
Herbalism for the seasons: late spring
May 5th Herbal Medicine Making: Lipid Extracts
Constituents soluble in lipids
Herbal infused oil demonstration
Advantages and disadvantages of making infused oils and salves
Salve making workshop
Medicinal Herb Cultivation 101: Guilds and Polyculture
June 1st Therapeutic Herbalism: Nervous System
Overview of the nervous system: anatomy and physiology
Herbal Actions for the nervous system
Materia Medica for nervous system: chamomile, tulsi, catnip, lavender, lemon balm, milky oat
Herb Walk to see botanicals highlighted in class
Herbalism for the seasons: early summer
June 2nd Herbal Medicine Making: Ethanol extracts (tinctures)
Botanical constituents soluble in alcohol
Types of ethanol extracts
Advantages and disadvantages of ethanol extracts
Exploration of alcohol as an element in medicine making
Tincture making workshop using fresh herbs from the farm!
Medicinal Herb Cultivation 101: Harvesting Herbs
July 6th Therapeutic Herbalism: Muscular & Skeletal systems
Overview of the muscular & skeletal system, anatomy and physiology for herbalists
Materia Medica for muscular & skeletal systems: skullcap, St. John’s wort, fennel
Herbal actions for the muscular & skeletal systems
Herb walk to see botanicals highlighted in class
Herbalism for the seasons: mid summer
July 7th Herbal Medicine Making: Distillation
Types of plants suitable for distillation into essential oil and hydrosol
Farm walk to harvest our plant for distillation
Anatomy of the still: parts of the still, how it works
Complete distillation demonstration from start to finish, including separation of essential oil from hydrosol, and bottling it up to take home!
Medicinal Herb Cultivation 101: Drying Herbs
August 3rd Therapeutic Herbalism: Cardiovascular system
Overview of the cardiovascular system: anatomy and physiology for herbalists
Materia Medica for the cardiovascular system: rose, motherwort, hawthorn
Herbal Actions for the cardiovascular system
Herb walk to see botanicals highlighted in class
Herbalism for the seasons: mid - late summer
August 4th Herbal Medicine Making: Glycerine Extracts (Glycerites)
Botanical constituents soluble in glycerine
Introduction to glycerine as an element in herbal medicine making
Harvest and processing of herbs for glycerites
Glycerite making workshop
Medicinal Herb Cultivation 101: Seed Saving
September 7th Therapeutic Herbalism: Respiratory System
Overview of respiratory system: anatomy and physiology for herbalists
Herbal actions for the respiratory system
Materia Medica for respiratory system: angelica, elecampane, ginger
Herb walk to see botanicals highlighted in class
Herbalism for the seasons: early fall
September 8th Herbal Medicine Making: Herbal Vinegars
Using vinegar as an element in herbal medicine making
Botanical Constituents soluble in vinegar
Harvest and processing of herbs for herbal vinegars
Herbal vinegars workshop, including our annual “fire cider”
Medicinal Herb Cultivation 101: Fall Seeding, root harvest
October 5th Therapeutic Herbalism: Immune System
Overview of the immune system: anatomy and physiology for herbalists
Materia Medica for the immune system: echinacea, yarrow, elder, cleavers, reishi, eleuthero
Herbal Actions for the immune system
Herb walk to see botanicals highlighted in class
Herbalism for the seasons: fall
October 6th Herbal Medicine Making: Ethanolic extracts (cordials)
Review of constituents soluble in alcohol
Appropriate herbs and formulating for herbal cordials
Herbal cordial making workshop
November 2nd Therapeutic Herbalism: Conclusion of our program
Review of all body systems covered in the program
Materia Medica review/ “collection” of our experiences
Using honey as an element in herbal medicine making
Botanical constituents soluble in honey
Herbal infused honey workshop
Medicinal Herb Cultivation 101: What to do during the dormant season
November 3rd Friend & Family Event
Slideshow of our time together
Presentation of projects to friends and family
Certificate ceremony
Tour of farm for friends and family
Cordial tasting workshop
Getting Here/Camping Here
We are located 9 miles outside of North Fork, California on an off-grid certified organic farm in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains. Participants are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes prior to class times to settle in, walk the gardens, and be ready to begin. Students may camp over the weekend during appropriate months.
Payment Plan Options:
We offer a monthly payment plan option for those with financial hardship. Please contact program director Becca Kern at becca719@gmail.com if you are interested in the payment plan option.