The Yerba Woman
Herbal Apprentice Program
March—November 2011
In this nine month herbal studies program for women, students will study herbs through three seasons with
professional herbalists, learning how to use herbs for mind, body and spirit.
This course will emphasize practical, hands-on learning and will include:
herb identification
flower essences
cultivation and harvesting
aromatherapy
herbal therapeutics
wildharvesting
herbal first aid
medicine making
herbal crafts
materia medica
herbs for ritual and celebration
ethnobotany, and more…
As we apprentice ourselves to the herbs, our focus will be on plants that are native or naturalized to this area and
herbs that can be easily cultivated in home gardens. We will follow the cycle of the plants through the seasons and
use storytelling and craftmaking to keep in touch with how the solar and lunar cycles affect the rhythms of our own
lives.
The Herbal Apprentice Program will be taught by Donna d’Terra and Alison Trick-Thornton with the addition of
several Guest Teachers:
For 25 years, Donna d’Terra has been teaching and sponsoring herb classes through the Down-To-Earth
Workshops series and at Motherland Botanical Sanctuary and Herb School, in public and private schools,
and at herb conferences and gatherings. Donna is also a craftswoman and storyteller, one of the founders of
the Mendocino County Herb Association and the founder of The Herbalist Mentoring Network.
Alison Trick-Thornton is a botanical perfumer, aromatic adventurer, plant spirit medicine explorer, medical
aromatherapist, Certified Herbalist, and professional chef.
Kati Lahey is a graduate of the California School of Herbal Studies (CSHS) and the Kerala Ayurvedic
Academy. She offers consultations and treatments in the Willits area. Rasayana Ayurveda, her herbal
business, integrates Ayurvedic tradition with the California localization movement. Her class: Mendo-Veda
Pharmacopeia.
Dr. Donnalee Hart is a naturopathic doctor with a practice in Laytonville and Willits. She is a primary care
doctor with formal training in medicine and midwifery from Bastyr University. She works with people of all
ages to provide natural health care with the aid of food, herbs, homeopathy and love. Her class: Digestive
Wellness.
Martha Betz and KC Chamberlain are co-owners of Harvest Moon Farm in Laytonville, where there are
currently 10 acres in lavender cultivation (35,000 plants!). Martha is a farmer, distiller and Vedic
astrologer. KC is a medicine maker, herbalist and bodyworker who teaches classes on holistic healing.
Their class: Lavender Day! A Field trip to Harvest Moon Farms.
Catherine Abby Rich is a hypnotherapist and flower essence maker who has been working with Quantum
Bio-Feedback for 10 years. She combines traditional plant herbology with emerging flower essence
discoveries, in her wild-gathered products and hands-on classes. Her class: Flower Essences.
Jen Bredesen began her herbal career as an
organic herb and vegetable farmer. She is
a graduate of CSHS, and has overseen the
Wellness Tent at the Northern California
Women’s Herbal Symposium since 2002.
Her class: Practical Herbal First Aid.
Corine Pearce is the Director of Mendocino
School of Holistic Massage and Advanced
Healing Arts. She is a Certified Herbalist,
Massage Therapist, and a traditional Pomo dancer and singer. Barbara Graumann is a Massage
Therapist II and a traditional Pomo Elder. Their class: Herbs from a Native American Perspective.
Wendy Read is an herbalist, energy worker, medicine maker and counselor with a B.S. in Biochemistry. She
has a clinical practice at the Caretaker’s Garden in Boonville. Her class: Beyond THC. ~ The medicine in
non-psychoactive Cannabinoids.
Keoma McCaffrey is a Certified Herbalist and passionate cook, gardener and craftswoman. She is a
professional woodcarver and sells her work through her business Willow the Whisp Woodworks. Her class:
Broom Crafting.
Each student will receive Rosemary Gladstar’s ten-part correspondence course, The Science and Art of
Herbology, for use as a textbook for study and assignments between classes. Upon completion of the ninemonth course, students will receive a certificate from The Yerba Woman Herbal Apprentice Program.
Location: The class location is Motherland, a 160 acre Botanical Sanctuary and Herb School located
twenty five minutes northeast of Willits. The area is rich in plants and trees that can be used for food
and medicine. The cultivated gardens have over 200 species of herbs. The buildings are powered by
solar and hydropower, and the classroom has a 500 book library for student use.
Cost: $1450 includes all instruction, The Science and Art of Herbology course (a $375 value), plus
lodging and one meal on weekend-class meetings. A payment plan is available: $658 deposit and
nine payments of $88. A discount is offered for payment in advance (see Registration Form).
Class Schedule and Dates: The first meeting will be a one-day Saturday class from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
All other classes will be from 10 am to 5:30 pm Saturday, and 9:30 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Guest
Teachers will teach a portion of the weekend indicated below.
March 19
First class meeting
April 16 and 17
Kati Lahey
May 14 and 15
Dr. Donnalee Hart
June 11 and 12
Field Trip to Harvest Moon Farm
July 9 and 10
Catherine Abby Rich
August 13 and 14
Jen Bredesen
September 10 and 11
Corine Pearce and Barbara Graumann
October 1 and 2
Wendy Read and Keoma McCaffrey
November 5 and 6
Final Projects and Graduation
Registration: Class size is limited. This class fills quickly, so please register as soon as possible. Call to
request a class syllabus and to arrange a visit to Motherland to meet with Donna to learn more about
the Herbal Apprentice Program.
Feel free to call me (707-459-5030 or 459-5060)
with your questions or your special needs.
I look forward to sharing with you,
my love of the Land and the healing plants.
Motherland
P.O. Box 382
Willits, CA 95490