Roots, Barks & Berries of the Pacific Northwest -5 Week Herbal Series

A 5-week journey exploring Pacific Northwest medicinal plants through Ayurveda, herbalism, medicine making, and plant connection. Roots, Barks & Berries of the Pacific NorthwestA 5-Week Herbal Medicine Series Autumn is one of the most rewarding seasons for herbal medicine. As plants draw their energy inward, their roots, bark, and berries become rich with medicine and nourishment. Join me for a five-week immersive journey exploring four of my favorite medicinal plants of the Pacific Northwest. Together we'll study these remarkable plant allies through the lenses of Western & Traditional Herbalism, Ayurveda, medicine making, along with direct personal experience. This course is designed to deepen your relationship with our local medicinal plants—not only through study, but through observation, practice, and firsthand connection. Week One: Foundations We begin with an introduction to several foundational Ayurvedic concepts that will be woven throughout the course. Ayurveda offers a beautifully simple framework for understanding plants, people, and balance. Topics include: • The Doshas • Agni (digestive fire) • Dipana- digestive stimulants • Ojas and vitality • Basic Ayurvedic energetics We will then explore traditional herbal medicine making, including: • Tinctures • Decoctions • Herbal infusions • Nourishing infusions • Syrups • Oxymels • Herbal oils & medicated ghee • Salves • Poultices • Simple ways to incorporate herbs into everyday cooking and spices We conclude the evening with a guided blind plant meditation. Rather than beginning with information, we begin with experience. The plant remains unknown while we spend 10–15 minutes quietly observing it with our senses, allowing us to set aside preconceived ideas about what the plant "does." Afterwards, we'll share our experiences together and reveal the identity of the plant. Each participant will receive a tincture of that week's featured herb along with a few herbal gifts to continue working with at home. During the week, I encourage you to spend time with the plant before researching it. Taste it, smell it, sit quietly with it, journal your observations, and notice how your relationship develops through direct experience. Weeks Two Through Five Each class follows a similar rhythm: • Guided meditation with the plant you've been working with • Group discussion and sharing circle • In-depth plant monograph discussion including- • Western & Traditional uses and historical context • Herbal energetics • Ayurvedic understanding of the herb • Medicine making preparations • Herbal formulations • Safety considerations and contraindications • Questions Each class concludes with a new blind plant meditation, introducing the next herbal ally for the coming week. You'll Receive • Digital monograph for each featured plant • Herbal medicine making handout • Introduction to Ayurveda handout • Four handcrafted herbal tinctures (one for each plant) • Additional plant materials to work with throughout the course, which may include fresh or dried roots, bark, berries, or other seasonal herbal gifts Tuition $325 for the complete five-week series. Participants enrolled in this course will also receive 20% off the Elecampane Harvest & Medicine Workshop. The two classes complement one another beautifully, offering additional hands-on experience harvesting, preparing, and working with medicinal roots.