Community Herbalism is an art and a science. It is the practice of learning how to integrate herbs and wild edible plants with deep nourishment to improve health. As that information is shared, health radiates out to the community. Health is a human right and a community herbalist works toward empowering self and others to grasp that right through plant knowledge and application. The CHI–2 builds on the foundation established in the Community Herbal Intensive. People who completed the Community Herbal Intensive – Level 1 at the Trillium Center or completed a foundational herbal program at other schools are eligible to apply.
The CHI-2 is for anyone interested in furthering their studies of herbs and wild edible plants in a hands-on and collaborative environment. Participants will get hands-on experience with medicinal and edible plants in farm and forage settings. It is part self-study, part hands-on training, and part project work. The goal of the program is to provide skills, ideas, and strategies for participants to start personal or community projects that emphasize holistic health, folk medicine, education, gardening, and/or foraging.
If you choose to join me on this journey of health, healing, and herbs, you will:
- Refine knowledge about herbs and the foundations of Western Herbalism so that herbs are applied holistically to address the root cause of illness rather than as substitutes for over-the-counter and pharmaceutical medicines.
- Complete an intensive study of common herbs (called materia medica).
- Develop protocol for assessing herb safety in terms of side effects, herb-drug interactions, and contraindications and for assessing current research findings.
- Develop an understanding of herbal formulation (which herbs do and don’t work well together).
- Practice translating herbs into daily living through cooking projects and making home remedies.
- Practice consultations as a group to develop assessment skills for applying herbs based on the principles of Western Herbalism.
- Complete home practice and study activities such as assessments with friends or family.
- Share ideas and lessons learned about herbal projects.
Commitment
The CHI-2 will be a small group that meets monthly March through November (note: the exact schedule will be set by everyone in the group). The other assignments and activities will be completed at home or in the community.
- CHI-2 monthly meeting and potluck (6 hours per month)
- self-directed project (4 hours per month)
- self-study including botanical illustration and plant worksheets (2-4 hours per month)
- make one medicine per month to share with the group (1-2 hours per month)
Cost
The total cost of this program is $575. A deposit of $100 will reserve your space. Consider sending this soon because this will be a very small group class. The deposit is refundable until February 15. The class fee of $475 covers supplies, educational materials, and time and travel expenses for Leah. The class fee is due March 1.
PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE AT:
Online: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/8036
Via snail mail: Trillium Center, 715 Furnace Rd., Conneaut, OH 44030
Contact for More Information
Leah Wolfe, MPH
Community herbalist and health educator
Member of the American Herbalists Guild, United Plant Savers, and Herbalists Without Borders
Email: trilliumctr@gmail.com
Phone: (440) 812-9921
Leah Wolfe, MPH, will facilitate the CHI-2. Leah is a founder of the Trillium Center and facilitator for the Serpentine Project. Her teaching style interweaves science with intuition and hands-on experience in order to engage students on multiple levels. She hopes to inspire participants to deepen their understanding of plants while engaging with local communities to develop projects that improve health and facilitate healing. Leah has taught classes across the country for gardening groups, conferences, and other gatherings. She has a background in research and community health. For Leah, herbalism is based on relationship. Relationship with community. Relationship with friends and family. Relationship with self. And, of course, relationship with each plant. Those relationships should be characterized by respect, willingness to learn, the courage to help when help is needed, direct experience. Direct experience is important because it requires being present and engaged in the process, whether that process is dealing with a conflict, learning about a new plant medicine, or working with a community experiencing disaster.
Trillium Center 