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Ecology & Alchemy


  • The Arctos School of Herbal and Botanical Studies Portland, OR (map)

Join Gradey and Missy for a combination of nature immersion, hands-on medicine-making, lecture, discussion, and sensory learning. As we enter summer, our in-person field days will be spent on the mountain, unpacking the stories of place through the plants we encounter. We will learn botanical communities, what a certain grouping of plants might tell us about the history and future of a place, and how this understanding can anchor us deeply to the land. We are living in a time in which many do not feel connected to place; these ecology-centered tools are medicine for that.

Our bodies contain ecosystems, too, and we’ll discuss how to help them achieve balance through herbs, foods, and home ferments. On our classroom, which may meet on Zoom or in person, we’ll explore the gut-brain connection and gain herbal tools to support emotional wellness and connection with nature. Our plant medicine projects will focus on practical alchemy and the elements — witchery through pragmatic engagement.

The class is part of the Saturday Herbalism Mini-Series. For more information, click here! The total cost of Ecology & Alchemy is $390, and includes all herbal material for medicine-making. Discounts are available if registering for other SHMS classes, and there is a modest scholarship available to BIPOC. Inquire for details.

This course is a hybrid course, with half the days outdoors and in person, and the other half may be online (live) or in person. Students will be required to show proof of vaccination and booster to attend.