Herbal Apprenticeship Program
January 22 – September 9, 2023
1/22/22 – 9/9/22
Sedona, Arizona
93 Hour Training Program
Every third Sunday, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Learn how to support your health care with herbal therapies. Stay healthy in an unhealthy world!
We’re once again offering an intensive and experiential training to deepen your skills and knowledge as an herbalist with Clinical Herbalist and educator Feather Jones.
Start a new adventure, empower yourself with your own healthcare.
This western herbal therapeutics program provides herbal therapeutics and monographs, constitutional organ system energetics, the stories of the plants as well as hands on instructions for medicine making. Outdoor work includes learning the plants on the hillside, canyon, mountain and desert, mindful wild harvesting techniques, and many opportunities to develop one’s own extensive herbal pharmacy. Three field trips throughout the year are included in the program. A spring overnighter to southern Arizona highlighting a special evening around the campfire with survival instructor and herbalist Peter Bigfoot and a full day at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. A 4 day summer Colorado Rocky Mountains field trip is included and a late summer root harvest overnighter to the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. This is a limited enrollment program.
Course Overview:
- 93 hour training program
- 8 Classes throughout the year
- Located in and around beautiful Sedona, Arizona
- Plus 3 Botanical Field Trips
- Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum Field Trip, Arizona, April 22nd – 23rd, 2023
- Rocky Mountain Botanical Field Trip, Colorado, July 11th – 14th, 2023
- White Mountains Root & Berry Field Trip, September 9th – 10th, 2023
- Several tuition options available
Enhance Your Herbal Knowledge With:
- Plant Identification ~ Get to know the bioregional plants of the deserts, riparians, canyons and mountains.
- Mindful Harvesting Practices ~ Gain an understanding of sustainable wild harvesting techniques for each plant we gather, ‘tending the wild garden’.
- Materia Medica ~ The stories of the plants: Discover how ancient cultures used them for foods and medicines, folk remedies, pharmacognosy, the science of botanical medicine, clinical practices and common everyday uses.
- Herbal Therapeutics ~ How to apply herbal medicines in specific indications, using formulas and simples.
- Constitutional Medicine ~ An introduction to the foundation of herbal medicine.
- Organ System Imbalances ~ Learn herbal actions for each system, when to tone, when to strengthen, when to stimulate or sedate and when to nourish.
- Herbal Medicine Making ~ Spend time in the kitchen making remedies: salves, tinctures, tisanes, herbal treats and respiratory syrups.
- Herbal Energetics ~ Discover your innate connection to the plants themselves through flower essences and intuitive practice.
Wild Harvesting Botanical Field Trips
Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum, Arizona
April 22nd – 23rd, 2023
Arrive in camp no later than 2:00 pm on Saturday for afternoon herb walk around the area. Picket Post camp dispersal area or Oak Flats Campground TBD. We’ll make a potluck collective dinner, bring your own drinking water, pit toilets either on site or close by. Guest speaker survival expert and herbalist Peter Bigfoot for dinner. Early Sunday morning (8:00 am) drive to Arboretum, be prepared to walk around the gardens meeting desert, mediterranean, and outback plants from all over the world. We’ll be there until 1:00 or 2:00 pm. Bookstore and plants for sale on the grounds. 3 hour drive from Sedona, 175 miles.
Rocky Mountain Botanical, Colorado
July 11th – 14th, 2023
Camping in Lyons (north of Boulder) at Laverne M. Johnson Campground. Reservations need to be made ASAP through www.reserveamerica.com for dates July 11-14, 4 nights. This four day camping trip that begins at 8:00 am on the 12th, includes daily caravans to different plant zone communities in the Rocky Mountains with hands on instructions on mindful wildcrafting and opportunity to develop an extended herbal pharmacy. Selected monographs included. 735 miles from Sedona to Lyons.
White Mountains Root & Berry Field Trip and Kava Graduation Ceremony
September 9th – 10th, 2023
Raising roots in the White Mountains, overnight at Hannagan Meadows Campground, formulation strategies and concepts, osha monograph, kava graduation ceremony. Meet around 2:00 pm for afternoon walk/hike. Bring your shovels. 250 miles from Sedona to Hannagan Meadows.
Classes With Feather Jones
Registered Herbalist, AHG
Feather is a Certified Clinical Herbalist in Western Herbalism who integrates herbal remedies, holistic nutrition, flower essences and stress reduction guidance. Her 30 year career in teaching herbal medicine and clinical practice, coupled with a background in Native American (Mandan) tribal teachings, provides her clients and students with a synergistic approach to health and healing.
Presently she is a Botanical Field Guide for the Sonoran University of Health Sciences. As well, Feather was twice past president for the American Herbalists Guild and is currently on the Admissions Review Advisory Committee.
An international lecturer, teacher and author, she is a strong animal rights activist and voice for the wild plants. Feather’s love of the land has kept her close to the earth, she is an avid hiker and spends most of her free time exploring off trail to hidden ruins, magical side canyons and red rock overlooks of Sedona.
Course Details
*Please note classes are subject to change. Please refer to this page for the most updated information.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| January 22nd, 2023 | Intro to herbal medicine, resources, books, herbal interactions, nomenclature, herbal classifications, parts of plants used, botanical definitions, healthy metabolism discussion, infusions & decoction, monographs of nettles and red clover. Fresh/dry oil and salve preparations. |
| February 12th, 2023 | Western constitutional herbalism (part 1), materia medica, cholagogues, oregon grape root & milk thistle monographs, continue herbal actions. Maceration/percolation tincture preparations. Bring empty glass perrier bottles with labels removed for making handcrafted percolators. Desert plant concepts and wildcrafting guidelines. |
| March 5th, 2023 | Western constitution continued (part 2), burdock, dandelion monographs, liver flush, medicinal vinegars and fire cider preparations, afternoon herb walk around Bell Rock. Bring snips. |
| March 26th, 2023 | GI materia medica, gentian monograph, interactions, dosage guidelines, continuing plant actions, bitter tonic preparations. Grasslands herb walk and sample wildharvesting. |
| April 22nd – 23rd, 2023 (Field Trip)
|
Field Trip to the Southwest Boyce-Thompson Arboretum: Arrive in camp no later than 2:00 pm on Saturday for afternoon herb walk around the area. Picket Post camp dispersal area or Oak Flats Campground TBD. We’ll make a potluck collective dinner, bring your own drinking water, pit toilets either on site or close by. Guest speaker survival expert and herbalist Peter Bigfoot for dinner. Early Sunday morning (8:00 am) drive to Arboretum, be prepared to walk around the gardens meeting desert, mediterranean, and outback plants from all over the world. We’ll be there until 1:00 or 2:00 pm. Bookstore and plants for sale on the grounds. 3 hour drive from Sedona, 175 miles. |
| May 14th, 2023 | Nervous system materia medica, zoom ball preparations, dry creek area for selective wild harvest. |
| June 11th, 2023 | Respiratory materia medica, grindellia monograph, respiratory syrup preparation, formulations, Covid 19/SARS overview, actions. Herbal foray. Prep for field trip. |
| July 11th – 14th, 2023 (Field Trip) |
Rocky Mountain Botanical Field trip: (24 hours) Camping in Lyons (north of Boulder) at Laverne M. Johnson Campground. Reservations need to be made ASAP through www.reserveamerica.com for dates July 11 -14, 4 nights. This four day camping trip that begins at 8:00 am on the 12th, includes daily caravans to different plant zone communities in the Rocky Mountains with hands on instructions on mindful wildcrafting and opportunity to develop an extended herbal pharmacy. Selected monographs included. 735 miles from Sedona to Lyons. |
| July 30th, 2023 | Oak Creek Canyon morning herb walk, immune system materia medica, echinacea monograph, elixir preparations. |
| August 13th, 2023 | Wildharvesting day on the Mogollon Rim, bring your lunch and tools, several monographs. |
| September 9th – 10th, 2023 (Field Trip) |
Raising roots in the White Mountains: Overnight at Hannagan Meadows Campground, formulation strategies and concepts, osha monograph, kava graduation ceremony. Meet around 2:00 pm for afternoon walk/hike. Bring your shovels. 250 miles from Sedona to Hannagan Meadows. |
| January 22nd, 2022 |
| Intro to herbal medicine, resources, books, herbal interactions, nomenclature, herbal classifications, parts of plants used, botanical definitions, healthy metabolism discussion, infusions & decoction , monographs of nettles and red clover. Fresh/dry oil and salve preparations. |
| February 12th, 2022 |
| Western constitutional herbalism (part 1), materia medica, cholagogues, oregon grape root & milk thistle monographs, continue herbal actions. Maceration/percolation tincture preparations. Bring empty glass perrier bottles with labels removed for making handcrafted percolators. Desert plant concepts and wildcrafting guidelines. |
| March 5th, 2022 |
| Western constitution continued (part 2), burdock, dandelion monographs, liver flush, medicinal vinegars and fire cider preparations, afternoon herb walk around Bell Rock. Bring snips. |
| March 26th, 2022 |
| GI materia medica, gentian monograph, interactions, dosage guidelines, continuing plant actions, bitter tonic preparations. Grasslands herb walk and sample wildharvesting. |
| April 22nd – 23rd, 2022 (Field Trip) |
| Field Trip to the Southwest Boyce-Thompson Arboretum: Arrive in camp no later than 2:00 pm on Saturday for afternoon herb walk around the area. Picket Post camp dispersal area or Oak Flats Campground TBD. We’ll make a potluck collective dinner, bring your own drinking water, pit toilets either on site or close by. Guest speaker survival expert and herbalist Peter Bigfoot for dinner. Early Sunday morning (8:00 am) drive to Arboretum, be prepared to walk around the gardens meeting desert, mediterranean, and outback plants from all over the world. We’ll be there until 1:00 or 2:00 pm. Bookstore and plants for sale on the grounds. 3 hour drive from Sedona, 175 miles. |
| May 14th, 2022 |
| Nervous system materia medica, zoom ball preparations, dry creek area for selective wild harvest. |
| June 11th, 2022 |
| Respiratory materia medica, grindellia monograph, respiratory syrup preparation, formulations, Covid 19/SARS overview, actions. Herbal foray. Prep for field trip. |
| July 11th – 14th, 2022 (Field Trip) |
| Rocky Mountain Botanical Field trip: (24 hours) Camping in Lyons (north of Boulder) at Laverne M. Johnson Campground. Reservations need to be made ASAP through www.reserveamerica.com for dates July 11 -14, 4 nights. This four day camping trip that begins at 8:00 am on the 12th, includes daily caravans to different plant zone communities in the Rocky Mountains with hands on instructions on mindful wildcrafting and opportunity to develop an extended herbal pharmacy. Selected monographs included. 735 miles from Sedona to Lyons. |
| July 30th, 2022 |
| Oak Creek Canyon morning herb walk, immune system materia medica, echinacea monograph, elixir preparations. |
| August 13th, 2022 |
| Wildharvesting day on the Mogollon Rim, bring your lunch and tools, several monographs. |
| September 9th – 10th, 2022 (Field Trip) |
| Raising roots in the White Mountains: Overnight at Hannagan Meadows Campground, formulation strategies and concepts, osha monograph, kava graduation ceremony. Meet around 2:00 pm for afternoon walk/hike. Bring your shovels. 250 miles from Sedona to Hannagan Meadows. |
January 22, 2023 – September 9, 2023
93 Hour Certificate Program
Sundays, 9:00am – 4:00pm
Students must attend all classes to receive a Certificate of Completion.
How the hours are broken down
48 hours – Sedona (8 Sunday classes)
12 hours – Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum Field Trip
24 hours – Rocky Mountain Botanical Field Trip
9 hours ~ White Mountains Root & Berry Field Trip
Tuition Options
| Tuition Options | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Tuition 11 Classes (A Savings of $280) |
||
| Full Year | $1350 | |
| Half Year Tuition (A Savings of $230) |
||
| Half 1 | $685 | |
| Half 2, Due May 10th | $685 | |
| Quarterly Tuition (A Savings of $180) |
||
| Q1 | $350 | |
| Q2, Due March 10th | $350 | |
| Q3, Due May 10th | $350 | |
| Q4, Due July 10th | $350 | |
| A La Carte 1 Class (6 hour, full day) |
$110 | |
| *Field Trips Are Included In The Yearly Course Curriculum But May Be Purchased Separately | ||
| Field Trip #1, Boyce Thompson Southwest Arboretum Field Trip, Arizona April 22nd – 23rd, 2023 |
$220 | |
| Field Trip #2, Rocky Mountain Botanical Field Trip, Colorado July 11th – 14th, 2023 |
$440 | |
| Field Trip #3, White Mountains Root & Berry Field Trip and Kava Graduation Ceremony September 9th – 10th, 2023 |
$220 |
Course Level 2 Field Trips are Also Available
| Tuition Options | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Field Trip #1, Chiracahua Mountains Field Trip, Arizona May 19th – 21st, 2023 |
$220 | |
| Field Trip #2, Durango, Colorado Southern Rockies Field Trip, Colorado September 15th – 17th, 2023 |
$160 |
Several Tuition Options Available
| Full Tuition 11 Classes Full Year, $1350 (A Savings of $280)
|
| Half Year Tuition Half 1 $685
Half 2, Due May 10th |
| Quarterly Tuition Q1 $350
Q2, Due March 10th Q3, Due May 10th Q4, Due July 10th |
| A La Carte 1 Class (6 hour, full day) $110
|
| *Field Trips Are Included In The Yearly Course Curriculum But May Be Purchased Separately |
| Field Trip #1, Boyce Thompson Southwest Arboretum Field Trip, Arizona April 22nd – 23rd, 2023 $220
|
| Field Trip #2, Rocky Mountain Botanical Field Trip, Colorado July 11th – 14th, 2023 $440
|
| Field Trip #3, White Mountains Root & Berry Field Trip September 9th – 10th, 2023 $220
|
Course Level 2 Field Trips are Also Available
| Field Trip #1, Chiracahua Mountains Field Trip, Arizona May 19th – 21st, 2023 $220
|
| Field Trip #2, Durango, Colorado Southern Rockies Field Trip, Colorado September 15th – 17th, 2023 $160
|
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What students and graduates have to say…