HANDS ON HERBALISM EDUCATION has become the taproot of matriarch medicinals.

Every ingredient I bring into the classroom is traceable to its source. When unable to forage herbs myself, I support regional, organic farms with ethical, regenerative practices. I source my beeswax from a local beekeeper and hand render my own beef tallow from the local butcher. I work exclusively with whole plant matter and do not use essential oils.

My skincare line has directly supported the ongoing evolution of a course series I've created devoted to children's herbalism education. The intention behind my courses is to encourage children's curiosity around plant medicine, engage their inner healer and plant seeds of empowerment. 

Classes cover the basics of herbalism through hands-on medicine making. Together, my students and I formulate age appropriate medicines following the same ethics and protocols I use to create my own products, resulting in an authentic, immersive exposure into the magical world of herbal crafting.

My curriculum is adapted according to age, goals and interests. Greater time is spent on cognitive lessons, note taking and group discussions with older kiddos, with the help of hand crafted herb journals, while sensory-driven, collaborative and project oriented lessons are what guide my curriculum with the younger ones.

Hands on classes have so far included: skin salves, lip balms, body oils, infused honey, folk method tincture making, tea blending, label making, DIY drying racks, seed planting, personalized herb journals, tea tasting and more.

'White board' lessons have so far included: Herbal Crafting 101, Everyday Expressions of Herbalism, Why Raw Honey & Various Honey Infusion Methods, Nervines & the Nervous System, History of Infusing Herbs into Fats, History of Herbal Extractions & the Use of Alcohol, Top Ten Medicinal Garden Herbs for The Beginners Garden. Students are given herb journals at the beginning of the course to take notes in. 

I work exclusively with safe and simple plant allies that are age appropriate and easily accessible. Currently, these include: chamomile, mint, plantain, lavender, calendula, lemon balm, rose hip, catnip, ginger, thyme, sage and oregano.

By the end of my course, each student will have created a small collection of their very own apothecary items to take home and call their own.