Meeting the Herbs in Person

Yesterday my Essential Herbalism group got to go on a field trip to my friends’ home up in the foothills. We weren’t quite sure what plants we would see since just a week ago they had a foot of snow fall. It ended up being a magical day. Time with Dan and Ruth always feels so grounding, and they are so generous to share their land.

As we walked, we found yarrow, plantain, mullein, yellow dock, arnica, Oregon grape root, violet, and osha (I may have forgotten some — it truly was a day of abundance!). We were able to do plant brushings, share all we are learning, make herbal tinctures, and before we left, we walked their labyrinth.

There is something so powerful about meeting the herbs in person. Reading about plants and learning their medicinal actions is important, but being with them on the land creates an entirely different relationship. You begin to notice where they grow, who they grow beside, how they smell after the rain, and the feeling you carry home after spending time with them.

Time on the land is so good for me. I feel restored, encouraged, and delighted. Having the opportunity to take my students out and have them meet the herbs they have been studying in person just brings me joy.

This kind of learning — hands in the soil, tea shared in community, medicine made together — is at the heart of how I love to teach herbalism.

On Saturday, I will be hosting The Colorado Apothecary: Healing Herbs You Can Grow at Home in my garden. We’ll spend time learning about and seeing the herbs that grow well here in Colorado and how they can support the health of you and your family.

And for those feeling called toward deeper learning, the next Essential Herbalism Foundations Program and Hands-On Herbal Medicine Circle begins June 7. Over six months, students move through Shelley Torgove’s online teachings at their own pace while also gathering with me one Sunday each month to create remedies, share tea, work closely with herbal allies, and grow in confidence using herbs in everyday life.

If you have been curious about the program or wondering if it might be a good fit for you, I’m always happy to answer questions.

I look forward to seeing many of you in the garden this season.