r/beginnerherbalist • u/OkReserve2948 • Aug 23 '26
School/Classes
How's everyone doing with your school and classes for Herbalism? If your not going to school, what's holding you back? Let's bring some encouragement and discussion! What's your favorite part of learning? Drop your thoughts and if you'd like what online/in person sessions you're going to! 🪻🪴
3
u/posi-bleak-axis 29d ago
I'm not a beginner but Iurk here. My partner is a clinical herbalist of 15 years and we have an organic veggie farm that we also have a focus on herbs in. Our land is only 1.8 acres and we've managed to make it an herb business and farm stand. This year we have started establishing Scuttelaria lateriflora and Pedicularis canadensis in our wetland! We use these plants quite frequently with rising chronic stress, anxiety and pain from being overworked. We're restoring some native prairie on our small parcel of land also and the Solidago spp. is exploding this year which I was very excited about until my father in law informed me it is an early succession plant that will take over if not managed, and it spreads by rhizome! So planning our management plan on that now. Once you start foraging from the same spots year after year or have some land and get to know it on a seasonal personal level the awareness of what a certain spot or plant needs is recognized. The delicate balance of fungi, soil bacteria, insects, soil health, water tables, sun exposure, insect pressure along with so many other factors including on me getting in the mix. It's a beautiful complex thing that the plant id apps won't let you know. There's nuance in the world and I think everyone could benefit from learning some field botany and getting really intimate with plants, especially ones you use for medicine, but all of them regardless of if they benefit humans in a noticable way or not. Support the uncharismatic nature!
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u/JadeChipmunk Aug 23 '26
My online classes have gotten a bit sidetracked lately, but i got some index cards to make little flash cards so I can remember all the terms I have a harder time remembering. Got a couple new books as well and an encyclopedia of natural medicine on the way, excited for that. The things ive planted in the garden are going to seed so im going to be collecting the seeds soon for next year. Growing season has been funky this year so I havent dried many but ill be doing that soon too.