Important Notice: Changes made to Backwoods Basics 2020 season
Backwoods Basics is now available in the Cowichan Valley and on the Sunshine Coast. Check details for classes and dates near you!
Due to the un-seasonally cold spring I have postponed the first day of class. Please note: classes will begin in April, not March, and will be combining the “wild nutrition” and “Digestive Health” into one dynamic class. Registration open for these classes until April 5th 2020.
Total Immersion Wildcrafting
In the Cowichan!
Dates and Times: starting April 25th 10 am – 3 pm
and one weekend every 5 weeks, through to November.
– April 25, May 30, July 11, August 8, September 12, October 10, November 21 –
Location: The Cowichan Valley;
I will be contacting each of you with details of class location at time of registration.
*note: This is an outdoors class, locations change as plant availability is the focus.
$75
Description: includes wild walkabout, plant identification, folklore and practical usage, gathering and harvesting of wild medicine on location, sustainable harvesting techniques, ethical/spiritual sensitivity training.
This is an active participatory outdoors class – real hiking boots and work gloves recommended! We will be learning the fundamentals of wild medicine collection, harvesting and preserving; beginning with plant identification and folkloric teachings. Learning the ancient plant medicine on location and through the season is integral to the folkloric teaching tradition. Please check “Backwoods Basics through the Seasons” A year in Overview, for specific class details.
Just Medicine Making
In the Cowichan
Dates and Times: starting April 26th 10 am – 3 pm
and one weekend every 5 weeks, through to November.
– April 26, May 31, July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11 –
Location: Cowichan Valley
exact location details will be given at time of registration.
$85
Description: includes fundamentals of medicine making, each class explore a different form of herbal medicine using the wild plants collected from the ‘Total Immersion Wildcrafting class”. Physiology and anatomy with relevance to disease pathways and folk herbal treatment will be discussed. In this workshop style class, you will be taken through the fundamentals of the different forms of herbal medicine; teas, decoctions, elixirs, tonics and cleanses, tinctures, salves, poultices and clays. The whys, whens and hows of usage, there will be plenty of hands on medicine making and take home supplies to build your own herbal apothecary. Each month we will work with a different medicine.
Notice to students: Everyone Welcome! Any interest level or experience acceptable. Recommended: the full weekend for best results!
$160 for full Immersion Experience
Ideally Total Immersion Wildcrafting and Just Medicine Making are designed to work together as a complete 7 month course. However the real world of time restraints and other obligations often mean you can’t always commit to the full course. You are free to choose the individual class that interests you, prices noted above reflect that. Registration for an individual class should be in by 1st of the month of the class your registering for. Space is limited and not always available, so bear that in mind, and if there is a class your especially interested in, you may want to secure your place by registering early.
Although drop ins are allowed, priority will be given to students that are signed up for the complete 7 month course. When registering for the complete course, tuition can be paid in advance or on a structure monthly payment plan with excellent discounted rates.
Registration Day is fast approaching! April 5th
$895 paid in full on or before April 5th. or on payment plan $250 non-refundable / deductible registration deposit with 6 equal payment of $107. monthly over duration of course.
Keep checking Backwoods Basics through the Seasons for curriculum updates!
New! Backwoods Basics
On the Coast
Total Immersion Wildcrafting
Dates and Times: starting April 18th 10 am – 3 pm
and one weekend every 5 weeks, through to November.
– April 18, May 23, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, November 14 –
Location: Sunshine Coast
I will be contacting each of you with details of class location at time of registration. *note: this is an outdoors class locations change as plant availability is the focus of the class.
$75
Description: includes wild walkabout, plant identification, folklore and practical usage, gathering and harvesting of wild medicine on location, sustainable harvesting techniques, ethical/spiritual sensitivity training.
This is an active participatory outdoors class – real hiking boots and work gloves recommended! We will be learning the fundamentals of wild medicine collection, harvesting and preserving; beginning with plant identification and folkloric teachings. Learning the ancient plant medicine on location and through the season is integral to the folkloric teaching tradition. Please check “Backwoods Basics through the Seasons” A year in Overview, for specific class details.
Just Medicine Making
Dates and Times: starting April 19th 10 am – 3 pm
and one weekend every 5 weeks, through to November.
– April 19, May 24, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18 –
Location: Sunshine Coast
$85
Description: includes fundamentals of medicine making, each class explore a different form of herbal medicine using the wild plants collected from the ‘Total Immersion Wildcrafting class”. Physiology and anatomy with relevance to disease pathways and folk herbal treatment will be discussed. In this workshop style class, you will be taken through the fundamentals of the different forms of herbal medicine; teas, decoctions, elixirs, tonics and cleanses, tinctures, salves, poultices and clays. The whys, whens and hows of usage, there will be plenty of hands on medicine making and take home supplies to build your own herbal apothecary. Each month we will work with a different medicine.
Notice to students: Everyone Welcome! Any interest level or experience acceptable. Recommended: the full weekend for best results!
$160 for full Immersion Experience
Ideally Total Immersion Wildcrafting and Just Medicine Making are designed to work together as a complete 7 month course. However the real world of time restraints and other obligations often mean you can’t always commit to the full course. You are free to choose the individual classes that interests you, prices noted above reflect that. Registration for an individual class should be in by 1st of the month of the class your registering for. Space is limited and not always available, so bear that in mind, and if there is a class your especially interested in, you may want to secure your place by registering early.
Although drop ins are allowed, priority will be given to students that are signed up for the complete 7 month course. When registering for the complete course; tuition can be paid in advance or on a structured monthly payment plan with excellent discounted rates.
Registration Day is fast approaching! April 5th
$895 paid in full on or before April 5th. or on payment plan $250 non-refundable / deductible registration deposit with 6 equal payment of $107. monthly over duration of course.
Keep checking Backwoods Basics through the Seasons for curriculum updates!
Backwoods Basics through the Seasons
a year in Overview
Wild Nutrition & Digestive Health
April 25/26 In the Cowichan April 18/19 on the Coast
Nutrition on a cellular level is a good starting point for any class looking at natural health care. The connection between food and medicine is explored through hands on harvesting of the wild plant offerings this time of year.
Stinging Nettles – Dandelion greens – Chickweed – berry shoots.
Nutritional value and healing potential explored. Wild foods lunch, made and shared by all.
The second day will be devoted to our digestive health in the brewing up of digestive tonics and cleanses. Wild harvesting and looking at the native medicine and in particular the trees, with a focus on Alder Medicine.
* * * * Body, Mind & Soul * * * *
The Breath; Heart, blood and respiration
May 30/31 in the Cowichan May 23/24 on the Coast
Exploring the connections that our emotions play; how laughter, letting go and Loving positively affect the health of our heart and rhythmic system. We will also be bringing together the influences of the celtic/druidic approach to healing and herbal medicine, one that is deeply steeped in their spiritual ecological beliefs.
Plant Medicine
* Willow * Hawthorn * Wild Rose
Medicine Making
* Flower Essences
* Tinctures
The Mind and Emotional Health
July 18/19 in the cowichan July 11/12 on the Coast
Celebration of the Celtic Festival of Mid-Summer, the Summer Solstice; when St. John’s Wort was traditionally gathered. Thought to bring peace and prosperity, it was cast into bonfires or hung over doors to protect the house. Other special plants gathered at this time were vervain, yarrow and mullein. It is a good time to harvest the sacred healing plants, at the height of midsummer, when the pull of the sun’s forces are at their strongest.
Body, Mind and Emotional balance is addressed.
Plant Medicine
* St. John’s Wort * Yarrow * Mullein * Fireweed
Medicine Making
* Sun Elixors
* Flower Essences
* * * * Natures First Aid * * * * *
August 22/23: First Aid
* * * Reproductive Health and the Family * * * *
September 26/27: Female hormonal and reproductive health
October 10/11: Male hormonal and reproductive health
November 21: Building your home apothecary
