Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism
Courses for aspiring community herbalists
These introductory courses are designed for beginner through advanced* herbalists who are looking for a grounded, holistic foundation for herbalism as a lifeway. The programs are centered around kincentricity and reciprocity, meaning that throughout the program we will cultivate a relationship to place and approach herbalism as a lifeway. You'll receive in depth instruction on how to develop meaningful relationships with plants and expand your materia medica, and how to safely and effectively work with plants in your home and in your community. The bioregional program focuses heavily on land stewardship and the interrelation of the health of the land its inhabitants, as well as the many ethical, economic, and ecological issues that impact our work today, on a global and local scale.
We will trace the lineage of western herbalism all the way back to its origins and discuss crucial pieces of knowledge of herbalism practice. Discover lost ways of learning and how to obtain wisdom directly from the plants as well as the empirical science and research behind modern herbal knowledge. We will discuss the history and fundamental framework of the western herbalism lineage and honor the indigenous and other traditional medicine knowledge and lifeways that have contributed so much to that western lineage here on Turtle Island. Our work is centered around ecological and social justice and decolonial movements.
*Beginner students will establish the basics of holistic medicine and how herbs work, while gathering further knowledge around a place-based foundation. Intermediate and advanced students will have the opportunity to dive deeper into their direct relationships with plants as well as expand their thought processes and action around things like regenerative economics, justice work, and land stewardship.
No matter where your herbal studies take you, the Foundations of Herbalism program is designed to provide the tools to approach the land, the plants, and the people as medicine and continue learning and growing on the lifelong journey that is herbalism.
Two tracks are offered: ​
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The FOUNDATIONS OF BIOREGIONAL HERBALISM HYBRID track is an in-depth hybrid program (online and in person) in South Central Pennsylvania with the same focus as the all in-person track.
The FOUNDATIONS OF BIOREGIONAL HERBALISM ONLINE track is an all online program. This program is similar to the hybrid track but slightly abbreviated, with less focus on field botany and bioregional plants specific to the Mid-atlantic (you can apply skills of bioregionalism anywhere in the world).
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CONTACT US TO VIEW THE FULL SYLLABUS
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Graduates of the program may continue their studies of Herbal Therapeutics, Anatomy, Physiology, & Materia Medica, and Health Justice through the HERBAL THERAPEUTICS course, and then the CLINICAL SKILL INTENSIVE and COMMUNITY HERBALISM MENTORSHIP (more info coming soon).
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Sliding Scale & BIPOC scholarship available (donate to our scholarship fund here)
During the interview process we will discuss financial accessibility and resources available.​​​​
Foundations of BIOREGIONAL
Herbalism
Hybrid
Foundations of BIOREGIONAL
Herbalism
Online
Choose Your Track
"Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us."
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-Robin Wall Kimmerer
What sets us apart
Northern Appalachia School is committed to providing education that is based on ecological and community reciprocity. We take a personal interest in each one of our students and their learning outcomes.
Foundations of Herbalism offers a blend of lecture, home study materials, and regular assignments with instructor feedback and group discussion. This guided mentorship-style learning provides an immersive experience.
The program is designed to help students deepen their knowledge of plants and healing, learn fundamental skills for entering the professional herbal community. We will expand beyond the limits of most herbal curricula, integrating de-colonialism and a strong sense of place-based practice.
Core Theory and Skills:
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Vitalism
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Herbal Actions, Energetics, & Tissue States
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Formulation
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Herbal Safety
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Research Techniques
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Basic Biochemistry & Phytoconstituents
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Plant Relationships
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Organoleptics
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Medicine Making
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Apothecary Management
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Kitchen Herbalism
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Awareness Skills
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Plant Spirit Medicine
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Kincentric Ecology
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Ethnobotany
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Decolonization
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Bioregionalism
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Wild Edibles
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History of Western Herbalism
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Cultivation & Wildtending
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Fire Ecology & Succession
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Field Botany & Plant ID
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does the program take place?
Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism is a 9 month long program. It runs from July to April. Online classes occur once per month on Tuesday evenings from 5:00-8:30PM, and in-person classes occur Saturday and Sunday from 10:00AM-4PM (August, September, October, December, March, and April).
What if I have to miss a class?
There is an 85% attendance rate requirement for graduation. We ask that students plan to commit to attending every class unless there is an extenuating circumstance. Up to two online classes can be made up by watching the lecture and providing notes. In-person classes generally cannot be made up.
Where are classes held?
Online classes are held on Zoom. In-person classes are held in various classrooms and field locations in York, Cumberland, and Dauphin counties (all are within about a 30-40 minute drive from Harrisburg, PA).
Are there accommodations for the in-person weekends?
We provide students with a list of local campsites and accommodation options. Most of our students who are commuting long distances camp, and often once they get to know their cohort will book campsites or airbnbs together! There are also a number of hotels hotels nearby.
What is the difference between the online and hybrid program?
The online program consists only of online classes (one Tuesday per month). The hybrid program consists of those Tuesday evening classes as well as in 6 person weekends. With the exception of one or two assignments, the content and homework materials are the same. We highly encourage students to participate in the full hybrid program is they are able, but we have had students from all corners of the country participate remotely online!
I live in a different bioregion. Can I still take the Bioregional Herbalism program?
Yes! The bioregional skill you will learn in class can be applied no matter where you live. We have had students from everywhere from Alaska to Florida complete the program. While we will be primarily referencing herbs local to the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the focus will be on the herbs that YOU want to study and that are local to you.
Can I take Herbal Therapeutics without taking Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism program?
Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism is a required prerequisite for Herbal Therapeutics. We feel strongly that the content covered in the Foundations program is necessary to create a solid framework for folks wanting to move into medical herbalism.
What credentials will I receive from the program?
After satisfactory completion, you will receive a certification of completion with the number of study hours. You may also request a transcript. Students who graduate from Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism may continue their studies in the Herbal Therapeutics program, and then the Clinical Skills Intensive and Community Herbalism Mentorship circle. All of the house completed through these programs count toward the required educational hours needed to apply with the American Herbalist Guild to become a Registered Herbalist, which is only widely recognized committee-reviewed credential for herbalists in the U.S.
What experience level do I need to take this program?
Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism is appropriate for beginners through intermediate herbalists. Beginner students will gain the necessary skills and knowledge to get started, and will likely spend more of their time learning terminology and basic concepts. More advanced students will have plenty of opportunities to expand their knowledge and dive deeper into complex concepts. We have had absolutely beginners all the way through to students who have taken formal training with other highly skill herbalists successfully complete our program. Learning is a continuously expanding spiral, and with each revolution around you will gain new perspective and deeper understanding of the topics we present.
How much time should I plan to commit to the program?
We advise students plant to commit around 6-8 hours per week minimum on studying and homework in addition to our live class hours. Some students may find they need more time to complete assignments. We have extended the program from 5 to 9 months to give students ample time to digestion and integrate the information in the program, and to accommodate students with full time jobs and families.
What is included in the program?
Hybrid students get access to: - 100 hours of live learning, which includes over 70 hours in-person classes, plus several hours of pre-recorded content. - Extensive notes on medicine making, botany, and ecology, 10 herbal monographs, and a growing online database for resources, as well as other various other documents. - Two 30 minute 1-on-1 mentorship check-in sessions, where students can receive feedback support as well as ask questions - Open office hours - A 1 year membership to the AHG (American Herbalists Guild) - An invitation to our student and alumni community, which includes a private online social group, semi-annual potlucks, and an annual camping trip. - A certificate upon completion and transcripts (by request) Online-only students receive all the same materials, minus the in-person class time.
How does the financial aid work?
All students may apply for sliding scale tuition and/or request a payment plan for up to 5 payments. Prospective students will submit a financial aid application with their income information, and tuition will be based on their household size and income. BIPOC students may also apply for scholarship, which may provide additional funds. We also have a small library of required texts that may be loaned out to students who do not have funds to purchase their own. All of our financial aid comes from internal budgeting; we do not currently receive outside funds, grants, etc. The Northern Appalachia School is not eligible for federal financial aid. Students and community members who are able may donate to our scholarship fund.
Is there a work-trade option?
Yes. Students can sign up for work trade hours for prep and clean up on classroom days. We also sometimes hold 1-2 work days per season where students can work trade or volunteer in one of the classroom gardens.
What materials will I need for the program?
A computer with reliable internet access, required texts, herbs, and basic medicine making supplies (jars, strainer, kitchen scale). You will study 4 different herbs in each season, which you may source anywhere. We do have a small apothecary of herbs that students may purchase their herbs from at a discounted price. Students who participate in volunteer days also may harvest a sample of fresh herbs from the garden.
What kind of people take the Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism program?
We have folks from all walks of life join us. Everyone from farmers, nurses, and professors. Parents, retirees, and high school grads. Absolute beginners to formally trained practicing herbalists. Some aspire to be career herbalists while others just want to reconnect with the natural world and their own bodies. We are proud of our diverse student body and the vibrant alumni community that grows every year. We have ongoing events for our community of students and alumni, including pot lucks and an annual camping trip.
"The Foundations of Herbalism course provided a very high quality knowledge base that was a wonderful start to my work with herbalism. The material is comprehensive and weaves together cultural, historical, and scientific perspectives in a clear way. I was really looking for a program that honored Indigenous perspectives in plant knowledge and Calyx helped facilitate a truly safe and honoring space! I found that the online program was adaptable for my bioregion, which is quite distant from Northern Appalachia. Gunalcheesh! (Thank you in Lingit)"
Ali Marvin (Alaska)
"Bioregional herbalism is an intensive and comprehensive program with a good balance and mix of history, theory, philosophy, and most importantly, practice. It demystified the field for a beginner like me, empowered me to start on the journey of getting to know and be in communion with our plant families and taught me a lot about the intersection of medicine and culture. As a person of color, the course content, the teachers and the students provided a welcoming and wholistic perspective of the diverse world that we live in, an important aspect if we are to use our knowledge to build a better and more inclusive and equitable world for all. In every way, the course exceeded my expectations, and provided me with an unexpected level of calm and balance while I was going through tectonic shifts in my personal and professional life. Whether you are just a life-long learner like me or want to start seriously on the path of becoming a well-rounded herbalist, this is the course for you, specially if you can travel to attend the in-person portion of the classes."
Mir (Pennsylvania)
"This program is a great foundation for anyone interested in herbalism to any degree. The program goes beyond research and information. It challenges you to flex your knowledge of, relationship with, and perspective of plants and people so you can better apply the concepts and theories of herbalism."
(New Jersey)
"I’ve grown tremendously from this program, not just from the knowledge but as a person spiritually. I came into this class looking to be a naturopathic physician, but that changed as I learned more and understood more, now I'm all about cultivation and using this knowledge to help whoever I can and bringing real food back to our kitchen tables. I was able to get that much closer to who my ancestors were both dead and alive from this course. I’ve repaired relationships with family members, and founded a stronger relationship with my true self. It wasn’t easy by no means as this was a complete 180 of how I was living my life. I found myself slowly but surely erasing old actions and habits and replacing them with more fulfilling ones. I felt overjoyed that colonization was brought into the class, as a black man Im always walking on egg shells in our society it made me feel like I truly do have Allies in this area who truly understand our struggles . In this class I was able to be vulnerable and let my guard down which NEVER happens I was able to express how I feel and those feelings were heard and accepted. This class made me feel at home made me feel welcomed. It helped me find PEACE not just in my mind but in my heart. I was able to come to terms with a lot of things I didn’t even know I was still holding on to, the sit spots truly work wonders if you put in the effort. There isn’t enough words or space for me to express how grateful of an experience this was."
Jerrell Grandison-Douglas (Pennsylvania)
"This program has been life changing for me , I am truly grateful to my teachers and fellow students for being so supportive in my ongoing learning experience , I couldn't have made it this far without any of you."
(Pennsylvania)
"What a great in depth learning experience. It wasn’t just another class of use this herb for this and that herb for that, but a class that helped you grasp the why and the how so you can do it on your own. It taught concepts, not material."
Anthony Damiano (Pennsylvania)
"This program was intense!!! The work was deep and powerful and I learned SO much! Even more powerful than the botany and Vitalist actions and tissue energetics and phytoconstituents was the transformational knowledge around colonization, ecological stewardship and seeing the world through a more balanced lens of what it means to be human. Calyx is an inspiring, wise, kind teacher and a powerfully brilliant herbalist. I am looking forward to taking more of her programs, and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to center the health of the planet while also growing as a human and plant advocate."
Eryn Shrader, The Rebel Herbalist (Pennsylvania)