Practical Herbalism Mentorship: Medicine of the People
Medicine of the People
May 6 – Nov 6, 2023
The forests of Carolinian Canada are home to over 2,000 plants. Aboriginal people have been using medicinal plants in traditional health care systems for thousands of years. This knowledge, transmitted by oral tradition from generation to generation, has been eroding in recent decades due to rapid cultural change. 98% percent of these plants have the potential to be used as local medicine.
An Herbalist lives at the edge between the world of people and the world of plants. We are stewards of the medicinal plants, the natural world, and the Earth herself. Herbalists connect people with plants to partner with them on a healing journey. It is our sacred joy and honour to do the work we do. The path of the herbalist is, ultimately, a regenerative sacred journey.
This herbal program is an invitation to enter the rich and diverse vocabulary of the plant world. Learn the complex language of interconnected relationships, constituents and properties and subtle healing properties. Enter into this world and become a Community Herbal Educator – an activist for wild and native plant medicines.
Rediscover your innate ability to connect with the plant world, and learn from and be nourished by the life-giving power of the plants surrounding you. Reclaim your birthright to gather, prepare and make plant medicines that genuinely support your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual vitality.
Medicine of the People
Throughout recorded history, nearly every culture on Earth has used plants to thrive and heal. Recognizing and respecting the power of nature is a critical and essential aspect in today’s face-paced world. Integrating traditional herbal wisdom, wild plant intelligence, and the ecological design of permaculture, this plant medicine program is taking this field to a whole new level. The interest in herbal medicine is returning, and many people will continue to increase their use of herbs in the coming years. People who understand how to grow, sustain, harvest, produce, and recommend these natural medicines are highly valued and sought after.
Our Practical Herbalism program allows participants to experience a depth of understanding of the whole plant by seeing where they grow and how they like to live. Our herbal programs are practical, hands-on learning in which we learn to grow, harvest and preserve these plants’ magical medicinal gifts.
The Leadership Pathway
“To become a true herbalist, means to be sensitive to the being of the herbs, to commune in receptive awareness with the plant-light of the universe. It is to listen when the plant speaks, to speak to the plant as to another human being, and to look upon it as one’s teacher.”
~Dr. David Frawley and Dr, Vasant Lad, The Yoga of Herbs
We are looking for enthusiastic agents of change who are ready to co-design new approaches to the way we live that are socially just and ecologically regenerative. We are looking for those prepared to take risks and stand on the cutting edge of a new practice in this area.
We intend to work with inspired and self-motivated individuals who want to move their herbal and ecological education beyond bookwork into the experience. To support individuals who want to build a long-term and deep relationship with medicinal plants.
For 47-years, Shantree has been weaving and sharing his passion for practical herbalism and plant medicine. He synthesizes experience and ancient herbal wisdom to support you on this pragmatic plant journey. He has developed an integrative system of philosophies, personal transformation strategies, and primordial understanding to develop and deepen your journey into the powers of plant medicine.
With the wild and native plants as our guides, you will see through eyes connection and oneness. To live rooted in the cycles and laws of the natural world is to yield a strategy for crafting positive cultures of inter-relationship.
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” ~Plutarch
This mentorship program is an excellent adjunct to any self-directed studies. It complements those trained in or interested in wholistic ecological nutrition, herbalism, forest gardening, or permaculture experience. Throughout the mentorship program, we work together to accelerate growth in your studies. This Mentorship offers simple yet effective processes, systems, and structures to resolve personal and ecological challenges.
This action-learning program is process-oriented, learner-directed, and focused on designing and implementing real-life projects. It engages students in the fundamentals of ecological design through real-life situations. The ‘action learning’ methodology allows students to learn professional design skills to balance inner and outer regeneration. Each participant will research and document their project of choice while maintaining regular one-on-one sessions.
The objective is that all participants take action in their communities. Envision being the catalyst that brings positive change to your family and community – a herbal practice that not only heals and nourishes but awakens in others the joy and empowerment that comes as we remember our deeply rooted connection with the plants of our bio-region
The Process
Why a Herbal Mentorship Approach
The Mentorship process weaves deep plant connection, nature immersion, deep ecology, systems thinking and ecological principles with an in-depth study of medicinal plants, foraging skills, medicine-making and case studies.
This program is designed as a modular spiral, which deepens with each training session. We meet approximately one 3-day weekend each month. Participants will be introduced to new content and plant experiences during each session.
Days are spent in various configurations of small and more significant groups, learning together in the natural world. The learning and support continue through the seasons through small group tutoring sessions, buddy check-ins, and one-on-one educational materials with Shantree. Moving between the 3-day weekends and having time to integrate and apply the content you have learned make the curriculum come alive and enhance a new way of being, living in, and engaging the world.
We request that participants attend all weekend training, as unison is fundamental to building harmony and trust for our collective experience and deepening journey. Outside of the weekend training, you can expect to spend approximately 10 to 20 hours between Training in peer coaching and engaging in program projects on your own time. The research programs are designed to be incorporated into and empower your life and work. Please consider your capacity to participate fully before applying to the program.
“True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art, but in the development of character.” ~David O. McKay
** Certificate of Completion in Practical Herbalism is granted upon completing this practical herbal mentorship and practical herbalism correspondence course.
The Local Wild Living Design
Foundational Workshop
April 1-2, 2023
This hands-on foundational workshop is for those ready to begin this exploratory journey. An integration of edible and medicinal plants, local living nutrition, permaculture fundamentals, wholistic energetic medicine, herbalism principles and deep ecology of forest gardening. Learn more>
The Ecological Herbalist:
Roots of Plant Medicine
May 6 – 8, 2023
Herbalism’s ecological roots are for those interested in exploring and deepening into herbalism, those desiring to gather the information to care for their families naturally, and those wishing to pursue herbalism in a professional setting. This is foundational Training in the incredible world of plants and their medicinal uses. It provides a practical study of herbalism through an in-depth understanding of medicinal plants and analyzing herbal medicine for the body systems. Knowledge and experience will enable you to assist family and friends in crafting wholistic, healthy lifestyles.
Our planet’s health, communities, and bodies are inextricably connected. The first step is to approach plant medicine from an ecological perspective, cultivating a regenerative practice that focuses on our bioregion’s medicinal plants. A hands-on approach is the best for learning and working with the plants directly to build our knowledge. Herbalism is a wholistic study, recognizing that nutrition, exercise, stress management, and other natural modalities offer a complete health experience. We encourage individuals to integrate their investigation into a personal practice to benefit daily and master the material through first-hand experience.
Some of the possible topics included in this are:
- Plant Botany
- Herbal Actions & Properties
- Study of Body Systems
- Plant Formulations & Administrations
- Herbal Medicine-Making
- Regenerative Medicine
- The Herbalist Lifestyle
The Essential Dozen:
Be Your Own Herbalist
June 10 – 13, 2023
Discover the many facets of herbalism by focusing on the “essential dozen,” you will work with the plants that grow in our medicine wheel herb garden or the wildflower meadows and forest gardens. We will examine the healing plants from numerous angles, including botanical, native, therapeutic, energetic, historical and sacred.
This was one of the first workshops at The Living Centre in the early 1980s. Then it was taught at Fanshawe College for 12 years. After 40 years, it is still an important and foundational study of plant medicine. This Training covers plants growing all around us that can be used as food, spice, and medicine. Many of these plants are safe for pregnant people, infants and the elderly. We will address some of the most common health ailments and how these plants can be used daily to prevent disease and keep us vibrant and healthy. Come, discover and be charged by their gifts.
Some of the possible topics included in this are:
- Plant Identification
- Herbal Therapeutics
- The 12 Essential Herbal Families
- Ancient and Modern Applications
- Using Plants Internally & Externally
- Creative Hands-on Medicine-Making
The Family/Community Herbalist:
The Art of Medicine-Making
Sept 9 – 11, 2023
The Family Herbalist path is a great way to infuse your life with the benefits of herbal medicine. This unique Training introduces students to plants’ incredible world and medicinal uses according to various cultures. This program explores the history of plant-based therapies and how to identify and apply herbs, use plant-based foods to maintain health and make and apply herbal remedies to restore vital health.
Each day will include hands-on medicinal preparations such as salves, oils and extracts. We will also discuss medicinal plant cultivation: seed gathering, harvesting, drying, preserving and preparing medicinal plants. There will be time for one-on-one interaction with the herbs in the garden. We’ll also discuss the principles of ethical harvesting. Includes samples of extracts and medicines made in class. This Training promises to be a unique and intimate herbal experience!
Expand your knowledge of medicinal herbs to help family and friends!
Some of the possible topics included in this are:
- Plant Identification
- Foraging, Harvesting, Preserving
- Herb Drying & Storage
- Oil Infusions & Salve Making
- Choosing your menstruum: alcohol, vinegar, glycerin
- Dry & Fresh plant tinctures
- Fresh Juice Extracts
- Herbal Formulations
- Medicine-Making from the simple to the complex
- The Essentials of a Herbal First-Aid
- Case Studies
“Every single cell in the human body replaces itself over seven years.
That means there’s not even the smallest part of you now that was part of you seven years ago.” ~Steven Hall
“Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favour compared with the products of nature, the living cell of the plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, the mother of all life.” ~Thomas Edison
Celebrating & Sharing Our Passions – Going Forth
Nov 4 – 6, 2023
Our final weekend prepares the way to re-weave ourselves back into modern culture, making our vision and purpose a reality. This time focuses on supporting you in clarifying, shaping, energizing and fulfilling your vision. We spend plenty of time exploring how our unique service can help craft positive cultures of connection in an increasingly chaotic and unstable world. Identifying essential inner and outer resources, creating a supportive community, and following the herbal guidelines will allow us to confidently anchor and nurture the passion you bring to our community’s healing. This final weekend will allow you to share your love and creativity with our community.
As we grasp new conceptual frameworks by applying practical herbalism and regenerative design techniques, you will learn essential skills for replenishing and regenerating ourselves, our ecological biospheres, and our human communities back home.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and do it.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
~Howard Thurman
Includes:
- 14-Day Hands-on Training
- All Ethical Foraging Herb Walks
- Integrative Home-Study Research Projects
- 3-One-on-One Hour Sessions (spaced out between each Training)
- Handouts and hands-on mentoring experience
- Practical Herbalism workbook
The invitation is to make our potluck lunches organic, local, wild, live-food plant-based meals; this will be organized for the weekend’s first two days. The Living Centre will provide lunches for the 3rd day of each Training.
It also includes numerous herbal articles, plant medicine charts and reference material.
For recommended herbal textbooks, please see the Practical Herbalism Correspondence Courses.
What You Will Experience?
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin
The training offers a beautiful blend of modern science and trans-disciplinary knowledge essential to becoming a herbal educator, with a wide range of hands-on experience in the meadows, fields, forest, and herbal apothecary.
You will come out of this program with a unique compendium of specific skills, practices, and approaches to improve your well-being and effectiveness as an herbal educator. Topics include visioning, project development, and stewardship. We will also explore aspects of inner leadership, such as cultivating gratitude, balance, ‘inner resilience’, and exercises to root and ground your leadership in the heart, in nature, and partnership with a community of other leaders.
Through this herbal regeneration design program, you will learn a new way of thinking and being. You will experience what is naturally yours – an intimate relationship with the wild and native plants. You will discover how to source your leadership from this connection and stay attuned to the patterns in your own life, creating a new level of success and awareness in your stepping forth – empowered!
- Explore the correlation between ecological design thinking and the related disciplines of bioregionalism and ecology and their application to herbal design;
- The foundation of an ecological world view (deep ecology, systems thinking, Gaia theory) and the application of living systems principles to the design of systems, objects, and places;
- Develop personal and group inquiry practices to raise awareness of the interdependent relationship between the individual, society, and nature and between theory, experience and practice;
- Develop and enhance your design, communication, facilitation skills in support of communities of place and interest;
- Co-create participatory hands-on practices, and theoretical principles for new approaches to the regenerative ecological design process of projects and apply these both in class and in your community projects. Learn how to assess the connection between the environment and behavior, well-being and resource consumption using both research indicators and case studies.
“All the beauty that’s been lost before. Wants to find us again”
Ecological Regeneration article>>
The Leadership Pathway
“To become a true herbalist, means to be sensitive to the being of the herbs, to commune in receptive awareness with the plant-light of the universe. It is to listen when the plant speaks, to speak to the plant as to another human being, and to look upon it as one’s teacher.”
~Dr. David Frawley and Dr, Vasant Lad, The Yoga of Herbs
We are looking for enthusiastic agents-of-change who are ready to co-design new approaches to the way we live that are socially just and ecologically regenerative. We are looking for those prepared to take risks and stand on the cutting-edge of a new practice in this area.
We intend to work with inspired and self-motivated individuals who want to move their herbal and ecological education beyond bookwork into an experience. To support individuals who want to build a long-term and deep relationship with medicinal plants.
For 45-years Shantree has been weaving and sharing his passion for practical herbalism and plant medicine. Synthesizing experience and ancient herbal wisdom to support you on this pragmatic plant journey. He has developed an integrative system of philosophies, personal transformation strategies, and primordial understanding to develop and deepen your journey into the powers of plant medicine.
With the wild and native plants as our guides, you will see through eyes of connection and oneness. To live rooted in the cycles and laws of the natural world is to yield a strategy for crafting joyful cultures of inter-relationship.
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” ~Plutarch
This mentorship program is a great adjunct to any self-directed studies and is a complement to those trained in or interested in ecological wholistic nutrition, herbalism, forest gardening, or permaculture experience. Throughout the mentorship program, we work together to accelerate growth in your studies. This Mentorship offers simple yet effective processes, systems, and structures that you can utilize in resolving personal and ecological challenges.
This action-learning program is process-oriented, learner-directed, and focused on designing and implementing real-life projects. It engages students in the fundamentals of ecological design through real-life situations. The ‘action learning’ methodology allows students to learn professional design skills to balance inner and outer regeneration. Each participant will research and document their project of choice while maintaining regular one-on-one sessions.
The objective is that all participants take action in their communities. Envision being the catalyst that brings positive change to your family and community – a herbal practice that not only heals and nourishes but awakens in others the joy and empowerment that comes as we remember our deeply rooted connection with the plants of our bio-region.
Testimonials
“I am loving listening to your sharings and your enthusiasm for the plants. I am soo wonder filled hearing you talk about permaculture, forest gardening and herbal plants and your land your articulation and wisdom is awe inspiring. Much Thanks!” ~Natalie Krueger
“From start to finish this herbalism and energetic medicine mentorship program has been amazing. It has opened my eyes to new paradigms and my heart to new possibilities. I feel like the 7-Day Living the Experience Intensive was vital in making lasting community.” ~Stacey
“I loved it! It was a great mix of learning new material and lined me time and space to work on my own. Small is beautiful! I loved the small group format. Had a great time. It was what I needed. I felt great each time I came and always left feeling inspired motivated and strong.” ~Rita
“It was high-quality, the smaller and more advanced group the more I took from the weekend. I enjoyed going very deep with tastes and case studies working from patterns to details to come up with formulas. The one-on-one guidance really supported my growth my ability to bring something concrete into the world. Thank you! So Excellent!” ~Simon
“Shantree has vision and a special way of creating a garden that seems to match the spirit of the land. He brings touches to every corner that make the whole garden such a joy to be in. Thank you for all that you have given me and for the beautiful work you are doing!” ~James
“I’ve learned so many valuable lessons. Shantree you are so wise. You are such an honorable teacher. This has been a milestone along my path. For that, I am so thankful.” ~Maya
“Honestly, I loved your teaching style, really clear and confident presentation of sometimes really in-depth material. I found your teaching style to be compassionate and patient and never once felt afraid to ask a question. That was the best workshop on soils I’ve seen. I’ve studied with a number of organic gardening teachers and that’s the first time someone has put it in a way that I can understand and see the big picture. Thank you.” ~Heather
“I wanted to further my studies with Natural Healing. I found a course through The Living Centre – Practical Herbalism. It was my Dream to do this course. Amazing course my brain was always thinking on the course and the answers to the Questions. Shantree is an Amazing Teacher and the knowledge he has he shares with you and always answers and helps you along the course. Thank you for making my Dreams come true.” ~Valerie
“The herbal medicine making intensive completely exceeded all my expectations. A perfect mix of lecturing and hands-on experience with plants and medicine-making. I highly recommend this mentorship to anyone who has any interest in medicinal plants and their benefits, whether you are new and curious about herbal medicine or have previous experience I feel confident saying you will benefit from this experiential mentorship. The Living Centre is an incredibly beautiful and inspirational place.” ~Jay
“The workshop was great for both newcomers to herbs and to seasoned medicine-makers. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with plenty of room for questions and various comfort levels. I loved all the hands-on experience from foraging to final herbal product. I was so proud of the medicines I went home with because I had helped with the entire process from start to finish. It was a wonderful way to foster an in depth understanding of how everyday plants become powerful medicine.” ~Brenda
“As I reflect on the educational aspects of our program, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for contributing to our internship program’s educational programming this year. As always, visiting you folks is a highlight for the interns. They always come back from this trip with a greater understanding of herbal plants and forest gardening and a respect for the diversity of food growing styles. They had this to say “A wonderful, pioneering place! They helped educate about organics and now they’re taking the next step towards forest gardening.” ~Jaye Crawford, Ignatius Farm Interns, 2012
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for contributing to our internship program this year. For the interns, our day at the Living Centre was a definite highlight of the internship. We left feeling inspired and full of new ideas. It was fabulous to see such a successful example of what Permaculture, herbalism and forest gardening can be and how we can go about implementing their principles in our own lives.
Field trips, workshops and farm tours greatly enhance the internship experience by exposing interns to a diversity of farming and food systems and planting ideas for directions they will choose as they move forward. Not all interns will pursue farming as a career path, but what is certain is that they all have a deepened appreciation for farming and will become advocates for sustainable food systems in their own ways.
We deeply appreciate that you have been open to sharing your time and knowledge with us this season. On behalf of the entire Ignatius Farm CSA team, thank you once again for your involvement in educating for a healthy food system for the future. With gratitude.”
~Kailea MacGillivray, Senior Education Intern and Volunteer Coordinator, Ignatius Farm CSA
Registration
2023 Dates
April 1-2 Local Wild Living Design Workshop
May 6-8 – The Ecological Herbalist: The Roots of Herbalism
June 10-12 – The Essential Dozen: Be Your Own Herbalist
September 9-11 – The Family Herbalist: The Art of Medicine-Making
November 4 – 6 – Final Presentations
Time:
9 am to 5 pm.
Registration
Note: Only 12 Positions are available
Your Price – $1750
Early-Bird– $1500 (payment two months before starting date)
Certification Package – Register for the Practical Herbalism Mentorship & Practical Herbalism Correspondence Course Together for $3000
To maintain a high quality of learning and care, the Mentorship is limited to only 12 participants.
- Herbalism Mentorship Alumni – $1500
- Full-time Students – $1500
- A $500 deposit will guarantee your spot
- Partial work-trade positions are available.
- Partial scholarships for up to $500 off the Regular Price of $1750 are available if funds are available. Please inquire: 519-652-0230
- To maintain a high quality of learning and care, the Mentorship is limited to 10 participants.
Scholarships– Partial scholarships are available upon request (to assist promising young adults with the tuition costs of the mentorship program – please send a detailed letter of recommendation). Please see the Scholarship Application Process.
Community Supported Education Program (CSE Program) ALL Scholarship applicants and anyone interested in financial assistance with the mentorship program should consider creating their Community Supported Education Program (CSE Program). Find more info and details here.
We live in a time of significant change, and creating a new story for our world is crucial. People worldwide are reclaiming their power and responding to the cry of Mother Earth. Would your community’s young adults thrive in our mentorship program? Help transform our culture, one heart at a time, by nominating a young adult to help redefine our culture!
Includes 12 Full Day Training Programs:
- Two-Day Workshop Local Wild Living Design (Optional)
- Three 3-Day Hands-on Experiences
- Ethical Foraging Herb Walks
- One 3-Day Final Presentation/Graduation Weekend
- Study e-Manual /Handouts
- Integrative Home-Study Research Projects
- 3-One-on-One Hour Sessions (spaced out between each training)
The invitation is to make our potluck lunches organic, local, wild, live-food plant-based meals. This will be organized for the first two days of the weekend. The Living Centre will provide lunches for the 3rd day of each training.
** On specific weekends, other community members will join us.
** Upon completing the Practical Herbalism Mentorship, Practical Herbalism Correspondence Course, you will receive a Practical Herbalism: The Art of Medicine-Making Certificate.
Payment can be made through e-transfer (bank-to-bank transfer) ‘PayPal’ below or by certified check. Please make cheques payable and mailed to The Living Centre 5871 Bells Rd., London, ON., Canada, N6P 1P3.
Please Note: that we require a minimum amount of registrants for the program to happen. If we do not receive the minimum registration, you will be notified two weeks before the start date, and a full refund will be issued for the amount paid until that point.
For questions or additional information, please call 519-519-652-0230 or email: info@thelivingcentre.com
For a list of all of our Correspondence Courses
