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Six-Month Herbal
Apprenticeship Program
with Gail Faith Edwards
(Athens, Maine) May-October
We invite you to study
herbal medicine at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal
Medicine. Engage the spirit and energy of the healing herbs with
herbalist, author and teacher, Gail Faith Edwards as your guide.
Learn to open your wild heart to the wisdom and magic of the
medicine plants. Delve deeply into the Wise Woman Tradition, and nourish
the wise healer within. These herbal apprenticeships and comprehensive
herbal study programs will help you do all that and much more!
Here at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal
Medicine you will work with a small group of people over an extended
period of time and be able to fully immerse yourself in the heart and
soul of a rich herbal tradition.
Whether you want to pursue a career in Herbology, work as a
community herbalist, or simply nourish and heal your self and your
family, this is an excellent and well rounded training program for you.
"You've made it all seem so simple, so much a part of
everyday life. Taking this class is the best thing I've ever done for
myself."
"I've particularly enjoyed being exposed to your wonderful
outlook, uplifting personality, and spirituality."
During your herbal studies here at Blessed Maine Herb Farm
you will deepen your connection with the natural world, while creating a
strong foundation of practical herbal knowledge. Gail is passionate
about teaching, and her goal is to provide you with the best herbal
education possible. She
will personally introduce you to a broad range of medicinal plants and
their traditional uses, and help to ground your growing herbal knowledge
with plenty of hands-on experience.
Herbal Ally
One important aspect of your work here will be to choose a
single plant as your Herbal Ally. You will be guided in the cultivation
of a deep relationship with your chosen plant ally, and in the process,
gain the tools and unique perspective necessary to understand and make
use of the gifts of all plants.
Classes
Our formal class time will reflect the rhythm of the seasons,
and be an enjoyable combination of technical information, including
anatomy, physiology, and nutrition, and a great deal of hands-on
experience with both wild and cultivated medicinal herbs. This program
is specifically designed to build and strengthen the skills necessary to
become a capable, confident and creative herbal healer.
"Studying with you has changed my life. I see the natural
world in a whole new way!"
"I've grown immensely both personally and professionally through
my involvement in this awesome exploration of the herbs"
Organic Herb Gardening
Participants will explore all aspects of herbs, from the
earth up. We grow over an acre of medicinal herbs here and your herbal
study begins with understanding the concepts and practices of organic
gardening, including biodynamic and permaculture techniques, cultivation
and proper harvesting techniques, and all types of herbal processing.
Herbal Medicine Making
You will prepare a wide array of herbal medicines throughout
this class, all of which will be yours to keep. You'll learn how to
properly prepare water-based herbal medicines, using both freshly
gathered and previously dried plant material, and gain experience making
and using herbal teas, infusions, decoctions and syrups. You'll also
learn when and how to use a wash, soak, compress and poultice. You will
have many opportunities to gather organic herbs from our gardens and
those from the wild places we visit, and explore several different
techniques for tincturing them, including using a variety of menstrums
such as alcohol, vinegar and glycerin. You'll also put up a wide
selection of oil-based medicines and make salves, creams and other skin
care preparations with them. You'll experiment with making
suppositories, pills and powders, as well as other herbal delivery
methods, and gain an understanding of when and how they can best be
used.
Wildgathering
We'll go on several wildgathering adventures, and you'll
have plenty of opportunities to meet and gather medicinal herbs from the
wild mountain meadows and woods surrounding the farm. During these
outings you'll learn about wild plants in their native habitats, gain an
understanding through practice of ethical and sustainable gathering
techniques, and learn plant identification. These trips will also
provide you with a wealth of information and experience regarding what
plants to look for in what types of locations, and when to best harvest
and process them for optimal medicinal value.
Herbal Healing
Another important aspect of this class will include working
together on actual case studies. This work will help you to acquire and
develop diagnostic skills, as well as intuitive herbal skills. You will
gain a working knowledge of herbal first aid and preventative health
care; learn how to safely and effectively use herbal antibiotics, and
how to treat chronic pain and other common ailments.
"My health, and that of my family, is so much better now.
You taught us so many ways to nourish and heal ourselves, not only
physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well."
You'll discover and become familiar with women's herbs (from
puberty through menopause and beyond,) herbs that are most appropriate
for children and herbs specifically aimed at male health care. You'll
learn the difference between nourishing herbs, tonic herbs, stimulating,
sedating and toxic herbs and the wise use of each. You'll also work with
tree medicines, flower essences, and aromatherapy.
Wise Woman Tradition
The Wise Woman Tradition of Healing is an ages-old,
earth-honoring tradition that stretches back in time to our earliest
mothers. Understanding the unique perspective of the Wise Woman
Tradition, and how it differs from the Western medical model as well as
Holistic concepts of healing will be the framework around which our
entire class revolves.
Spirit Healing
Herbs are not drugs. They contain not only measurable, but
unmeasurable qualities as well. During your apprenticeship here you'll
be exposed to sacred plant medicine and plant spirits, and have many
opportunities to experience the magical, spiritual and emotional
properties of herbs. You will encounter and experience shamanism,
participate in earth ceremony and develop and deepen your spirit skills.
"Your magic, your knowledge and wisdom, your connection with
the earth and the plants have inspired and empowered me. Thank you so
very much."
Herbal Medicine Chest
Throughout your study time here you'll be creating an
extensive herbal medicine chest that you will take home. Your learning
experience will continue long after our study time together has ended,
as you gain confidence by using the medicines you have made here. You'll
be well steeped in the Wise Woman Tradition of healing with herbs and
well on your way to becoming a creative, confident and accomplished
herbalist.
"The herbal knowledge you shared with me has spilled into my
practice and greatly enhanced the work I do with my clients."
"I'm a much better nurse now after taking your class."
2004 sessions are appropriate for beginner and intermediate
level students. Classes are small and individually tailored.
Instructor, Gail Edwards, is a practicing herbalist with
thirty years experience in serving her rural Maine community. She is the
author of two highly regarded books on herbal medicine and has offered
herbal apprenticeship classes for the past twelve years. She has
personally trained numerous students and apprentices, many of whom have
gone on to serve as community herbalists, holistic healers, herbal
education teachers, and operators of herbal businesses. Students will
also spend some time with other well respected guest herbalist/teachers.
Classes are held at Blessed Maine Herb Farm, Athens, Maine. The
following choices are available in 2004:
Six Week Herbal Apprenticeship - This is an opportunity for
students who wish to completely immerse themselves in the study of
herbal medicine. It is an intense shamanic herbal apprenticeship during
which you will live, work and learn at Blessed Maine Herb Farm. We're on
the edge of the Maine wilderness, at the center of a thriving arts
community, and surrounded by trees, sky and a multitude of wild
creatures. You will leave electricity and the attendant modern demands
of life behind as you enter into a simple world of earth and herbs. Your
learning here will be deep as you surrender yourself to the herb garden,
to gathering plants in the wild, preparing herbal medicines, and
participating in the daily schedule of a working herb farm, herbal
products business, and learning center. You'll receive plenty of
individual instruction and one-on-one time with Gail, and her third year
student/assistant, as well as working and learning with the other full
time apprentices. You will be welcome to attend any classes and herbal
consultations taking place during your stay here, and you'll also have
plenty of time to read, study and rest. Full room and board is included.
Fee is $1500 for six weeks. Three six week sessions are being offered in
2004. Dates are May 10-June 20, June 28-August 8, and August
16-September 26. Now accepting participants for the 2004 sessions.
Weekend Apprenticeship Class - A series of four weekend
intensives, one per month, from May through August. Weekend begins
Friday, early evening and ends Sunday afternoon. Primitive camping and
vegetarian meals are included. Class fee is $750. Dates are May 21-23,
June 18-20, July
30-August 1, August 27-29. Now accepting participants for 2004 session.
Herbal Medicine Vacation - An option for those students who
would like to study at the Blessed Maine Herb Farm School of Herbal
Medicine but cannot commit to a lengthy study period is to plan an
herbal medicine vacation. Bring a tent and camp out on our herb farm, or
stay in the rustic
herb house, and work with Gail and the apprentices as much, or as
little, as you like. You will be welcome to participate in on-going
herbal study sessions while here, spend time in our healing gardens, go
on wildgathering adventures with us, and make your own herbal medicines
to take home. You are
also free to eat whatever fresh herbs and vegetables are available in
the gardens and to swim in the nearby swimming hole. The herbal medicine
vacation is an opportunity to relax your body, mind and spirit on an
exquisite hilltop in rural Maine, while studying herbal medicine
surrounded by the beauty of the natural world, Fee is $300 per week. May
through August.
A deposit of $100 is required to hold your place for any of
the 2004 sessions. Full payment is due by the first day of class.
Payment arrangements and work exchange are available. A Certificate of
Completion, certifying that you have studied at the Blessed Maine Herb
Farm School of Herbal Medicine with Gail Faith Edwards, the number of
hours of herbal study and the program you have completed, will be
awarded to you at the end of your studies here.
Blessed Maine Herb Farm
257 Chapman Ridge
Athens, Maine 04912
Contact:
herblady@blessedmaineherbs.com
Or visit
www.blessedmaineherbs.com/apclas20.html
for more
information or to leave a deposit.
Books
by Gail Edwards
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This
charming book weaves herbal lore, wise woman tradition, and personal
experience into a magical
and spiritual tapestry.
More... |
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