Growing Medicinal Herbs:  From Seed to Harvest

Growing Medicinal Herbs:  From Seed to Harvest
April through August 2019
Five full day sessions at Motherland Herb School

This course is designed to introduce farmers and gardeners to the cultivation of herbs chosen for their growing sites.   We will cover propagation, planting, care and feeding, seed saving, harvesting, drying, and storing – all designed for optimum potency of the herbs.  Information will be offered through talks and hands-on experience. Ideas and suggestions for value-added products, cottage industries, and where to market your herbs will be included.

The mission of this course is:

• To increase the medicinal herbs grown in our County to meet the needs of local medicine makers, natural food stores, Farmers Markets, practitioners and apothecaries.
• To help develop a regenerative local economy by creating income streams for farmers and gardeners
• For gardeners and farmers interested in growing medicinal herbs to make connections and network;  to come together in full appreciation and gratitude for herbs and their many gifts to us.

Each month, one half of each class day will be taught by Donna d’Terra. Donna is a life-life student of the plants.  She is Founder and Director of Motherland Herb School, where classes have been offered for the past 30 years with a focus on local, regenerative and sustainable herbalism.  Donna has a small herbal tincture business, Down-to-Earth Herbs, and an herbal plant start business, Motherland Medicinal Herbs.

Each month, a Guest Teacher will teach a 2-3 hour section of the class:

GUEST TEACHERS

Soil Preparation for Medicinal Herbs with Ana Victoria Salcido-Cobbe – April 27th

This experiential class will cover soil preparation for growing healthy, potent medicinal herbs.   For nearly a decade Ana Victoria has watched soil transform, nourished plants from seed, and  reveled in the fruits of the bountiful garden. Sharing her love of hierbas (herbs) through story, garden tending and medicine making brings her unmatched joy.

Integrating Herbs into your food and cannabis garden with Amber and Casey O’Neill – April 27th

This class will focus on diversification of food and Cannabis production by incorporating herbal allies, utilizing season extension, Integrated Pest Management and making on-farm fertilizers from herbs in your garden.  Amber and Casey O’Neill created HappyDay Farms, a diversified homestead in the Laytonville area. They were the 2018 recipients of the Regenerative Cannabis Award.

Chinese Medicinals from Seed to Clinic with Jessica Curl Rose – May 25th

Jessica will discuss growing herbal medicines on the Coast and  medicines that can be grown in Mendocino County for the Chinese medicine market, including acupuncturists. From her experience as an herbalist and in  herb production, she will talk about the process from seed to end product.  Jessica Curl Rose, with her husband Ken, founded Three Springs Institute, which includes a school, clinic, pharmacy and farm. She grows medicinal herbs at the Stanford Eco Resort near the town of Mendocino.

Herbal First Aid Medicines with Andy Taylor – June 29

Andy’s class will cover plants for a variety of first aid needs, the  form these plants are best used, how to cultivate these herbs, and ideas for making value-added products for home and market.  Andy Taylor learned the value and practice of self-reliance in treating  one’s own illnesses and injuries through wilderness adventures, expeditions, employment in hazardous occupations, years of foreign travel and raising five children.  He has focused on the study and use of plant medicines for the last 14 years.

The Herbal Kitchen with KiOhmA – July 27th

KiOhmA will demonstrates how to use herbs to support overall health and wellness on a daily basis in our meals, using herbs that are easily grown in most gardens. She will use traditional knowledge and her exceptional creativity to demonstrate  ways to use these herbs to create herbal products, using zero waste techniques.  She is owner of Anarchy Herbals where her focus is on keeping herbal medicine alive and Of The People.

Herbal Seed Saving with Jamie Chevalier – August 24th

In this class you will learn to select, harvest, clean and store seeds, including considerations on choosing the Mother plant, assessing brightness and quality of seed, and harvesting timing and techniques.  Students will have the opportunity to use seed cleaning equipment to create seed that is pure and can be stored free of contaminants and ready for market, if desired.  Jamie Chevalier has gardened professionally in California and Alaska.  For 14 years she was staff horticulturist at Bountiful Gardens Seeds. Now she is proprietor of Quail Seeds, an online seed company she runs from her cabin in the Hearst-Eel River bioregion outside of Willits.

Dates:  April 27, May 25, June 29, July 27, August 24
Time: 10am-4:30pm
Site: Motherland Herb School, located 25 minutes NE of Willits
Cost:  $424-500, sliding scale.  A payment plan is offered.
See the Registration Form at the website:  Motherlandherbs.org. A $25 discount is given to members of the Mendocino County Herb Guild.