HERBALISTA FREE SCHOOL
Welcome to the Free School
We offer free, online education to help you along your herbal journey. Our hope is that the free sharing of herbs and education will help to cultivate a greener and more equitable world. Won’t you join us on this herbalistic journey.
The Free School launched in February of 2022, offering free classes and coursework on a wide array of herbal subjects. From medicine making to herbal foot care, we work to share what we’ve learned over the years with the wider community, increasing herbal access for all.
The Free School offers both self-paced courses on the Teachable Platform and also broadcasts live Zoom classes. When new courses or classes are released, we post the links on this page and announce them to our socials. Please scroll down for all the herbalistic details.
Herbalista x Teach:able
Free Courses for all you Herbalistas!
In 2023, in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of our very first Herb Bus Clinic, we launched three free courses on the TEACH:ABLE platform for online learning.
Our courses consist of extensive video lectures, handouts, recipes, and detailed resource listings. You can follow the courses from start to finish, or you are free to jump around, concentrating only on the sections you’d like to explore deeper.
All our our Teachable courses are free, self-paced and you can enroll at any time.
Teachable Courses
Live Zoom Classes
Herbalista x Zoom Live
The Zoom classes are our chance to be together while we learn. The next series of live classes will be taught in tandem with the start of the Community + Clinical Care Course which is launching February 3, 2025.
For each monthly module that is released on Teachable, we will offer a live zoom Study Session to give folks a chance to ask questions and review the material together.
When we schedule these Zoom Live Classes, we post the registration links on this page and also announce them in our newsletter and our social media pages.
For access to the full Herbalista Free School Library of our previous Zoom Live classes, please join us as a sustaining member.
Zoom Class Vault
You can find our entire library of Zoom class recordings in your member’s Herbalista Toolkit. All videos have Vimeo generated closed captioning and are marked with chapters for easy navigation.
- Building Medicine Kits
The most important tools we have as herbalists are the herbs themselves. And these herbs need sweet little homes to call their own. Herbal Medicine Kits (aka ‘kittage’) have been absolutely vital in our work at Herbalista. I find the process of building Medicine Kits to be not only immensely satisfying but an incredibly important part of the preparatory process for running a clinic. In this class we will be sharing all the nuts and bolts from construction and retrofitting to packing lists for various types of kits. We hope this class helps you craft the herbal kit of your dreams. - Materia Medica Series
These Materia Medica Classes are a chance to spend some quality time with the plants. We explore a group of between 5 – 7 herbs in depth, from botanical to clinical observations. We will cover actions + energetics; therapeutic indications; common preparation + dosages; herbal safety + contraindications; and other herbalistic bits ‘n bobs. As my teacher Michael Moore always said, if you want to be a good herbalist, first you have to know the plants!- Materia Medica I: Spring Weeds
The Herbs: Chickweed, Cleavers, Daisy, Dandelion, Nettles, Plantain, and Violet. - Materia Medica II: Heart Herbs
The Herbs: Hawthorne, Hibiscus, Linden, Motherwort and Rose. - Materia Medica III: Slip + Soothe
The Herbs: Marshmallow, Seaweed, Oats, Aloe and Licorioce. - Materia Medica IV: Berry Bliss
The Berries: Elderberry, the Vaccinium Crew (Blueberry, Bilberry, Cranberry), Schisandra, Mulberry and Goji. - Materia Medica V: Mint-tastic
The Mints: Rosemary, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Peppermint and Oregano.
- Materia Medica I: Spring Weeds
- Kitchen Herbalism: Fire Cider
As we kick off our first class of the Herbalista Free School, we thought what better way of kindling this fire than by making a batch of Fire Cider. We will also share info on starting a Fire Cider Brigade. (02/2/22) - Herbal Traditions
The world of Herbalism is vast and varied, a veritable rainbow of traditions. In this class we will explore a few traditions in order to discuss common themes of health and healing. (02/06/22) - Kitchen Herbalism: Spring Health
Living in harmony with the seasons is one of the most important ways we can support our health. And just as the earth awakens from her winter slumbers it’s time to energize and cleanse ourselves. (03/02/22) - Herbal Actions and Energetics
Language is a building block of culture and in this class we will explore herbal language used to describe the medical action herbs have on the human body. (03/06/22) - Tincture Making 101: Weight to Volume + Mixing Custom Menstruums
Making your own medicine is one of the most thrilling aspects of herbalism and it is something that can be done in your own kitchen. In this class we focus on basic skills such as the weight to volume method. We also focus on mixing your own custom menstruums. (03/13/22) - Herb Cart Crash Course
The Herbalista Herb Cart served the Atlanta streets for 7 years, providing free, herbal care to communities in need. This class offers a crash course on how we ran this unique grassroots program and will cover a wide range of topics– mobile clinic logistics, clinical forms, dispensary considerations, packing lists, safety and sanitation, and oh-so-much more. (04/03/22) - Crafting a Materia Medica
A “materia medica” is a detailed listing of the remedies used in medicine. In this class we will explore the rich history of Materia Medicas across many cultures and then focus on the exercise of crafting your own materia medica as an empowering and enriching experience. Your materia medica will continue to grow with you, becoming a wonderful reflection of your unique herbal journey. (04/06/22) - Herbal First Aid
Learning Herbal First Aid empowers us to take care of some of our most basic needs and those of our loved ones. Join Herbalista Lorna for a workshop exploring basic first aid principles; strategies and remedies for common injuries; and how to customize your own first aid kit. (04/24/22) - Different Strokes for Different Folks
Most herbal traditions have created different archetypal patterns for recognizing the various ways humans manifest these physical, mental, and spiritual differences. In this class we will touch on concepts such as western constitutional physiology, humoral theory, the 3 doshas of Ayurved, and Chinese 5 phase theory to illustrate ways you can begin to customize your herbal approach. (05/04/22) - Botany for the Herbalist
Botany offers us a language with which we can observe and describe plant characteristics and deepen our relationship with palnts. It also is a structure through which we can understand the relationships between plants and plant communities. An understanding of basic botany will not only enhance your understanding of herbs, but also assists us in the gathering and preparing of our medicines. This class will cover Breathtaking Botanical Basics, from terminology to practical application. (05/15/22) - Hot Glycerite Extraction
Hot Glycerite Extraction is a great option for making effective, alcohol-free tinctures. At Herbalista, we specialize in alcohol-free preparations and so have cultivated a wide range of glycerite medicine over the years. This class will focus on the “hot” extraction technique which quickly yields potent and delicious medicine. (05/25/22) - Kitchen Herbalism: Summer Health
Living in harmony with the seasons is one of the most important ways we can support our health. In this class we will explore the energetics of summer– meeting seasonal herbs, sharing recipes and daily practices we can use in our kitchen apothecary. (06/01/22) - Water Medicine: Tea, Syrup and Hydrotherapy
In this class we explore the simple and profound nature of water-based medicine, sharing techniques for making basic infusions and decoctions, herbal syrups, and a brief dive into the world of hydrotherapy. (06/05/22) - Making Fresh Plant Tinctures
Oh the controversy! If you’re confused about the “best” way to make a fresh plant tincture, it’s because you’ve waded into a fiercely debated topic in medicine making. In this class we will discuss the various methods and theories for making fresh plant tinctures, empower you to make the choices appropriate to your work as an herbalist, and get you ready for tincturing gorgeous fresh herbs all summer long! (06/15/22) - Herbal Foot Care
There’s nothing so hardworking and in need of lovin’ as our feet. When we offer foot care, we have a chance to not only address foot specific ailments, but also to radiate health throughout the body. In this class we will discuss the principles of foot care, assessment strategies, and remedies for common ailments. Combining both conventional and herbal therapeutics, this class is all about meeting people where they are at and helping them get to where they want to go! (07/03/22) - Herbal Basics: Diet and Digestion
The word ‘diet’ comes from the Greek ‘diaita’, meaning ‘a way of life’. When we consider the roots of this word, we realize how incredibly sacred and life affirming eating can be. In this class we will explore simple ways to support our health and vitality through dietary choices. We will also share remedies for common digestive complaints such as constipation, heartburn, diarrhea, gas + bloating, nausea and more. (07/17/22) - Urban Foraging
Herbs grow all around us, even in the concrete jungle. In this class we will share basic tips for wildcrafting in urban areas with a focus on foraging safety; working with urban weeds + invasive species; and developing a deeper relationship with your green neighbors. (08/03/22) - Herbal Basics: Daily Rhythm, Stress + Sleep
While herbs are powerful tools of health and well-being, as herbalists and holistic health workers, it’s important we also look to the bigger picture of our daily lives. In this class we will explore practical ways to help folks find a healthier daily rhythm (aka dinacharya). We will focus in particular on movement, de-stressing techniques, and improving our sleep. (08/07/22) - Kitchen Herbalism: Autumn Health
Living in harmony with the seasons is one of the most important ways we can support our health. As we move into Autumn, we can support our health by building up our immune systems with nourishing and delicious remedies. In this class we will explore the energetics of autumn, meet seasonal herbs, sharing recipes and discover daily practices we can use in our kitchen apothecary.(09/07/22) - Oil Medicine: Infused Oils and Salves
Oils are a life sustaining, protective force and we will discover ways to harness the power of oil to deliver therapeutic herbs to our bodies. This class includes medicine making demonstrations of both herbal oils and salves. We will share some of our favorite oil and salve recipes that we use at clinic and show a couple packaging and labeling tricks while we are at it! (09/18/22) - Maintaining a Botanical Dispensary
For close to 20 years, Herbalista has managed a variety of apothecaries and dispensaries, serving sweet, sweet herbal medicine to the community. We make most of our own remedies and do our best to follow a set of guidelines we like to call Good Herbalista Practices (cGHP’s). In this class we take a glimpse inside Herbalista’s Mother Apotheke and share many of the procedures and documentation we have found helpful over the years. (09/25/22) - Skin Health + Basic Wound Care
Skin is the largest organ of the body and deserves a little extra love and attention. This class begins with understanding the basics of skin health, including function, anatomy and skin as a means to deliver herbal medicine. We also look at signs of distress and exploring the mechanisms of healing. We share basic wound care techniques and means of working with other common skin conditions such as chilblains and eczema. (10/02/22) - Tincture Making: Percolation
This class offers the chance to learn about the advanced skill of percolation, a quick and potent way to create an herbal tincture. In this class, we will demonstrate the process and help you gain a better understanding of when and why you might choose to percolate as opposed to make a tincture via the maceration method. A pretty groovy skill-set that gives one, if I’m honest, a bit of a mad scientist sorta feeling (10/02/22) - Skin Health + Basic Wound Care
Skin is the largest organ of the body and deserves a little extra love and attention. This class begins with understanding the basics of skin health, including function, anatomy and skin as a means to deliver herbal medicine. We also look at signs of distress and exploring the mechanisms of healing. We share basic wound care techniques and means of working with other common skin conditions such as chilblains and eczema. (10/05/22) - Distillation: Hydrosols and Essential Oils
Hydrosols and Essential Oils are the lovely, aromatic and powerful products of plant distillation. In this class, we will demonstrate the art of distillation, exploring the multitude of uses for herbal hydrosols. Then we will take a look at the tradition of aromatherapy and how you can safely and sustainably work with essential oils. This class will be co-taught with Marie-Lies Van Asten of Fleur and Forage ATL. (10/16/22) - Kitchen Herbalism: Ginger Candy
Baby it’s cold outside! In this class we demonstrate how to make warm, spicy and delicious Ginger Candies. Ginger is one of our all around favorite herbs that supports our bodies in so many ways and preserving that ginger goodness in the form of candies makes it easy to enjoy and share with friends. (This also makes a great addition to your HerbCare Packs)! (11/02/22) - Herbal Basics: Heart Medicine
In this class we explore the workings of the heart from the perspective of a community herbalist — emphasizing prevention with a wholistic and pragmatic approach. We will explore its physical role as the center of our cardiovascular system and its place in our emotional journey as humans through a broad lens, sharing kitchen remedies, clinical protocols, and lifestyle tips and techniques. (11/06/22) - Making HerbCare Packs
What better way to show folks you care, than to give the gift of herbs? HerbCare Packs are an easy way to share a little bit of healing and some herbal delight in your community. In this class we will share guidance on creating these herbalistic care packages, including pack lists and examples of the many we’ve created over the year, just in time for winter. (11/09/22) - Kitchen Herbalism: Winter Health
Living in harmony with the seasons is one of the most important ways we can support our health. As we move into Winter, we can support our whole body health with delectable herbs that warm and protect. In this class we will explore the energetics of Winter, meet seasonal herbs, sharing recipes and discover daily practices we can use in our kitchen apothecary. (12/07/22)
SUPPORT THE FREE SCHOOL
At Herbalista, we believe that by freely sharing herbs and education, we can build a healthier and more equitable world. The Free School is only possible thanks to the support of our sustaining members and donors. Please consider supporting this initiative by making a tax-deductible donation. Thanks for joining us as we build community through herbalism.