level 1 herbal program 2025
Level 1 herbal certification:
foundations in basic herbalism
This program is designed to accommodate a broad audience of students, from the recent High School graduate to the mom or dad with little ones at home, the person working a 40-hour week, the retiree who wants a new focus and healthier lifestyle, or the person who wants a career-track in clinical herbal practice.
Students learn all the mechanics of making safe and effective herbal products. Discover the world of plants up close and personal, through sight, smell, taste and intuition, and observe how these versatile and brilliant beings work with us, supporting balance and vibrant health. Anatomy and Physiology are explored through a blending of scientific, energetic and spiritual perspectives, showing the exquisite way the body is designed to work, and how our mental, emotional and spiritual state affects its function - guaranteed to be different from other A&P experiences you might have had!
Class time is balanced with lecture and experiential learning. A comfortable and versatile classroom, flooded with natural light and views of the gardens, affords students the ability to choose seating which best suits their learning style. The well-equipped kitchen allows ample visual access of demonstrations, as well as hands-on participation.
Homework assignments are designed to be interesting and fun, as well as challenging and thought-provoking. A dedicated Facebook group provides students a forum for discussion, and easy access to posted assignments, class notes and presentations. Required Practicum hours provide the student with real-life harvesting and processing experience. Teachers are experienced, dedicated and skilled herbalists, gardeners and medicine makers who also serve as faculty advisors. To help ensure success, each student is assigned an advisor who provides guidance throughout the Level 1 program.
MEET & GREET DAY:
Sunday, April 20
9:30 am - 12:30 pm.
*Attendance is mandatory
CLASS DATES/TIMES 2025:
Class meets 9:00 am - 5:30 pm on the following dates*:
May 17/18
June 14/15
June 28/29
July 19/20
August 16/17
September 20/21
October 11/12
October 25/26
*You may miss no more than two (2) class dates to qualify for certification.
GRADUATION:
November 9
PREREQUISITES:
High School Diploma or equivalent.
Physically able to participate in garden work and gentle hiking.
Able to maintain focus for a minimum of 2 hours at a time.
PROGRAM COST: $2895*
*Save $200 if registered and paid in full by January 5, 2025. Payment in full with registration by January 5, 2025 is $2695. Save $200 off full tuition.
Includes Student Handbook and in class materials: plant material, bottles, jars, labels, oils, vinegar, alcohol, glycerin, essential oils, and templates. Textbooks and required reading are not included. Does not include materials required for completing homework assignments, estimated at $250. Note: this is only an estimate. Actual costs will vary dependent on student materials choices and changing prices on the retail market.
Payment Plan:
Deposit with registration: $795; deposit is 50% refundable until March 1, 2025.
6 monthly payments of $355. (Includes $5 installment fee per payment) Must subscribe no later than April 25, 2025. Payments will be automatically collected monthly through the Misty Meadows secure website.
A signed Student Contract is required to register.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MARCH 20, 2025
PRACTICUM:
All students are required to complete 30 hours of practicum (in addition to regular class weekends), consisting of one 5-hour day monthly from May through October. Practicum hours provide the student with a hands-on learning opportunity, without the pressure of the classroom. Hours may be completed Wednesday through Saturday, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, and need to be scheduled prior to beginning the program. Changes are allowed; however, they must be approved by either the Director, or Harvest Manager in advance of the scheduled time.
Practicum hours are intentionally designed opportunities for you to learn the ways of the herbal gardener/forager. This is an extremely important component not offered by most programs, featuring the opportunity to learn in gardens and woodlands alike, and to receive guidance from professional gardeners and foragers.
Part of the learning is purposely repetitive! This time is not intended to be outdoor lecture time. Practicum is a unique opportunity to be one-on-one with the plants, observing, listening, and expanding your spiritual connection, not only to the plants you're working with, but to your own true nature.
You are consciously given tasks intended for you to be quiet and singular, to listen, smell, hear, feel, maybe taste - and learn. Sometimes this includes getting wet, dirty, hot and sweaty, cold and muddy - it's all part of the experience!
Our goals for you are to learn, hands-on, how to be a well-rounded herbalist, from the soil to the teapot, and to become a competent and confident herbalist. We believe practicum hours contribute heavily towards this goal.
Practicum is not the time to ask for homework help; time to meet with your advisor should be scheduled separately for this purpose. Often the Garden Manager is also available to help. Although she is not a teacher/advisor, she has completed two levels of herbal training, and has worked in the Misty Meadows gardens for several years.
Students find practicum to be highly valuable, and often mention it as their favorite part of the experience. Since the inception of Misty Meadows’ herbal certification program, countless students have created lifetime friendships which began in the garden during practicum hours - together, garbling apple mint, unearthing wild sarsaparilla roots, and being absorbed into the chamomile flowers. This is our hope for you, too.
WORK STUDY:
Misty Meadows offers a very limited number of work-study opportunities to qualified students. Work Study responsibilities may include gardening (including a large amount of weeding), cleaning, assisting the Harvest and Garden Managers with various tasks, helping in the shop, and performing other tasks as may be assigned by the Director, Harvest Manager, or Garden Manager.
Work Study is granted in amounts of up to $650. The work study schedule/hours are arranged with the Garden Manager and tuition is credited at the rate of $10 per hour.
Work Study hours will be scheduled beginning in April and ending no later than October 15. Tuition for all unworked hours is due as of October 15, payable in full no later than October 30.
The qualified Work Study applicant is:
An experienced gardener (flowers, herbs, veggies)
Physically able and eager to work in varying conditions, including cold/wet/hot/dry/humid
Capable and willing to follow directions and complete tasks with minimal supervision
A good-natured team worker, willing to help where needed
Respectful of personal boundaries
Reliable and trustworthy
Work Study Application Process:
This is a work-for-tuition opportunity. In order to be considered for the work-study program, you must complete the Work Study application prior to February 1, 2025. If your participation in the Level 1 Herbal Certification: Foundations In Basic Herbalism program is dependent on being granted a work-study position, please do not register until you have received confirmation that your application has been approved, in order to avoid cancellation of your registration.
Once we have your application, you will be contacted for an interview within 2 weeks of the receipt of your application. The interview may be conducted in person or virtually, via Zoom.