The Sensory Herb Apprenticeship

Course details

Learn to prepare and use your own herbal remedies created directly from nature on our innovative herbal health training course.

The Sensory Herb Apprenticeship course will introduce you to plants to use when you or your family are ill, and deepen your connection to the land by getting to know the herbs that grow around you.

Whether you live in the countryside, or your only contact with plants is in a flowerpot, we will take you step by step into the world of herbs.

Our residential apprenticeship in at the beautiful Gaunts House in Dorset gives you the opportunity to work hands-on with over 50 medicinal plants which grow on site. Understand off-the-shelf herbal remedies and alternatives to pharmaceutical medicines. Learn about herbs of the hedgerow, meet a new world of medicinal plants and a community of like-minded earth-lovers!

SENSORY HERBALISM COURSE OVERVIEW

This is a year-long seasonal journey with 100 hours of contact time.

Established in 2009, the apprenticeship is designed to give you the knowledge and skills you need to incorporate herbal medicine into your daily life. Your senses, heart and intellect will be opened to the ancient, magical and practical art that is herbal medicine.

Half your time on the course will be spent working hands-on with plants and the other half will give you the technical and medical grounding to apply herbs to healing.

We underpin all your study with the rhythms and structures provided to us by nature — the cycle of the seasons, the lunar cycle, the growth and decline cycle of plants. You will graduate with practical tools to creatively blend ritual, art and medicine to develop your own healing practice that you can share with others.

Throughout the year, you will compile your own Materia Medica, your personal herb reference book full of pressed plants, drawings and all the information you learn. We’ll train you to use our unique set of Sensory Herb tools which connect you with the energetics of plants. Working in this way facilitates meaningful, memorable relationships with plants.

Sensory Herb Practice is a craft. Creativity and art infuses all our work and teachings.  Alongside knowledge in botany, medicine making and the human body systems, the course guides you to develop your own creative plant folklore.  Don’t worry if you haven’t picked up a pencil since school or if you judge your own art harshly. We ease you through the process step by step. Exploring your own creative soul while being part of a supportive community of like-minded students and alumni is all part of the journey.  You will be amazed what plants can help you discover about yourself.

The seasonal journey is a stand-alone course, but also serves as the gateway to our further Herbalism Trainings.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

  • Gain knowledge of the principles of holistic medicine
  • Understand the root causes of disease
  • Support your own health-care and that of your family and friends
  • Recognition of over 45 medicinal plants in the wild and knowledge of practical use of them
  • Gems of wisdom and buckets of passion from the Seed SistAs’ 40 years of collective experience treating patients with herbs
  • Become part of an incredible network of Sensory Herb Practitioners
  • Security and autonomy in healthcare as the NHS continues to be disbanded
  • Feel connected to the yearly cycle through plant harvesting and ritual
  • The possibility to train further with Heartwood

DATES

September 2024 Course:SPACES AVAILABLE

  • 1.    Sept 27th – 29th 2024
  • 2.   Nov  29th – 1st Dec 2024
  • 3.   March 28th – 30th 2025
  • 4.   June 6th – 8th 2025

Each weekend runs from 5pm Friday – 2.30pm Sunday at Gaunts House Dorset

PRICE

£2995  non-refundable investment.

Secure your place with a deposit of £950.

Book now

FAQ

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO OTHER COURSES?

There are many courses on herbal medicine available: some are online, others are day workshops, or non-residential courses, some are short and others can last up to seven years. There is even a University degree in herbalism.

Herbal medicine is a broad church and herbal medicine courses differ greatly.

With any course you need to feel connected to the ethos of the course and the teachers.

We offer:

  • Experienced teachers with over 40 years of combined herbal practice experience
  • Residential weekends, full board, beautiful & comfortable shared dorms
  • Access to a network of like-minded people
  • A focus on creativity and art
  • A political ethos
  • A set of practical tools you can use to engage with plants, healing and ritual.

WHAT ARE THE ADDITIONAL COSTS?

  • Travel to and from the venue
  • The materials for your own herbal preparations such as alcohol, honey, almond oil, vinegar, empty jam jars
  • Notebook and pens
  • An art book and any art materials such as coloured pens or pencils
  • Books on the reading list

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COURSE?

The course is designed so that no previous knowledge is needed, just an interest in plants.  You will need to do approximately 25 hours work (in the foundation year) in between each residential session.  If you have no experience in Anatomy and Physiology, you may need a little more time on this.

WILL COMPLETING THIS COURSE QUALIFY ME TO BE A HERBALIST?

Our Seasonal years journey can stand alone or lead to further herbalism trainings.

Herbalism is not a government registered profession. As such there is no specific legal qualification that is required to practice as a herbalist.

As core members of the herbal medicine community, we are committed to training people to be able to gain the skills and knowledge they need to work with herbs safely and effectively.

WHAT IS OUR MODALITY?

We guide you in learning to make a set of remedies according to our tried and tested recipes that have successfully treated thousands of people over the last 20 years.

Sensory Herbalism is holistic – so we also train you to use a toolkit with your patients that engages with diet, movement, meditation and ritual – all incredibly powerful healing tools.

There are many avenues to study in herbalism. If you want to study clinical medicine you would need to seek further training.

The Seed SistAs teach in a way that embraces creativity, magic and ritual as healing tools to super charge the plant-medicine which would form the foundation of your practice and your studies.

WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE IT?

Once you have paid for the course you are making a pact with yourself to dedicate time and energy to the process that will unfold.  If for any reason you wish to leave the course we cannot offer refunds.

WHAT IF I CAN’T MAKE ONE OF THE WEEKENDS?

Check carefully with your diary and pick a course that fits with your schedule.  We occasionally schedule catch up days for those who know when they enroll that they may have to miss a weekend, so talk to us if attendance will be an issue for you.

IS MY FEE REFUNDABLE IF I DECIDE NOT TO DO THE COURSE?

Fees are non-refundable once paid.

WILL THE FOOD BE ABLE TO CATER FOR MY DIETARY NEEDS?

The residential weekends are fully catered with vegetarian food. Dietary requirements can be catered for as gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan.

ARE PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE?

Costs can be spread over the months before the course as part of a payment plan, if enough time is available before the start date. The costs must still be paid in full before the start date.