CLASS & WORKSHOPS 2025
Thank you for your interest in 2025 classes and workshops!
Registration begins JAN 10. Sign up for pre-registration mailing list begins NOV 1st.
Check our Facebook page for updates.
All classes are taught traditionally, face to face, and classes are only offered during the growing season. This allows students to learn from the living plants, with hands on experience.
No online or zoom classes are offered.
PLEASE NOTE: TO FOLLOW COVID-19 PROTOCOLS, ALL CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS WILL BE LIMITED TO EIGHT STUDENTS. MOST CLASS ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD OUTSIDE. MASKS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR INDOOR ACTIVITIES ONLY.
NEW MINI WORKSHOPS for 2025
Herbal Medicine for Beginners
This class is designed for students with little or no experience making and using Herbal Medicines. Includes: Hands on workshops to learn to prepare teas, decoctions, and tinctures Standard dosage requirements for adults, including liquid medicines and capsules Plant ID walk and garden walk Choosing herbal books and references 10-12 Herbs and Weeds common to the Eastern United States often used for Medicine and more. Includes written materials to take home and some herb plants.
Cost: $95 for 3 1/2 hours
Dates: Sat – May 18, 2025 @ 10 am OR Sun – Jul 19, 2025 @ 10 am
To register see below. You will receive more information on class requirements and payment options at that time.
MORE CLASSES
Healing Herbs Program
The Healing Herbs program is a six month course on all aspects of Native American Traditional Plant Medicine. The emphasis is on Native American Herbs and Naturalized Plants of the lands East of the Mississippi River. The program includes basic anatomy and physiology of human systems, medicine making, plant identification, wildcrafting and foraging, growing herbs for food and medicine, and Native American healing practices. These practices integrate Healing and Spirituality, regardless of which Spiritual Path you follow, as well as a deep respect for the Earth Mother and her gifts.
The goal is for students to learn the use of local and naturalized plants for food, wellness, and herbal medicines, whether foraged, grown, or purchased. After completing the course, you will to be able to practice simple herbal medicine for yourself and your family, as well as understanding the basics of nutrition, supplements, and healthy functioning of the body systems. A certificate of completion will be awarded.
Each weekend will include plant identification with an emphasis on 6-10 plants, including working with living plants, as well as hands on medicine making, plant identification, and other plant skills.
Printed materials included. Plants and medicine materials will be provided to the students.
Class includes:
1) Introduction, types of herbal medicines, how to choose herb books. Making water-based medicines: teas, washes and decoctions. Starting herbs from seed. Digestive system.
2) Tinctures as medicine, both alcohol and vinegar based. Harvesting and gathering herbs in the Native way. Circulatory System and Urinary System. Different dosing for speed and length of healing. Growing medicinal herbs.
3) Oil and fat-based medicines. Skin, bones, and muscles. Making topical medicines that penetrate the skin.
4)Healing the Immune system, respiratory system, Infections. Herbal Inhalations. Growing medicinal herbs in containers.
5) Male/Female hormonal system, nervous system. Using herbs in various forms to balance hormones. Making Medicine bundles for hormonal and Spiritual balancing. Seed harvesting and saving seeds.
6) Native American healing practices – sweat lodge, smudge, healing drum and fire cleansing ceremonies. Diagnosing in the Traditional way. Keeping your herb plants alive through the winter. Advanced practices using specific herb combinations and formulas.
Free tent camping is available, as well as the use of an outdoor fire circle.
Cookeville, TN is about 15 miles from the farm and has many hotels and restaurants.
Classes are held outdoors, weather permitting.
Cost for each of the 6 weekends of the course is $295 per weekend, payment is expected in advance. Arrangements can be made to pay for this program in installments. A few work barters may be available.
To apply for this program, email for an application to: pipsiss@yahoo.com. A $50 deposit will be required with application. Pre-registration waiting list opens Nov 1, 2024 / Registration opens Jan 10, 2025
DATES: Second weekend of the month April to September 2025 – April 12-13 / May 10-11 / Jun 14-15 / July 12-13 / Aug 9-10 / Sept 13-14
Course is limited to eight students.
All classes and workshops include coffee and cold tea, as well as written materials to take home. Please bring a lunch. No food provided.
Introduction to Herbal Medicine
(Herbal Medicine 101)
This two-day workshop includes basic through intermediate levels of Native American medicine.
Teachings include:
PHYSIOLOGY: Basic discussions of human structure and function as it relates to health, wellness, and disease.
MEDICINE MAKING: Hands on instruction and practice of preparing teas, decoctions, tinctures, poultices, inhalations and salves.
MATERIA MEDICA: Information on choosing which herbs can be most helpful for health, wellness, and disease in the human body. Emphasis will be on native and naturalized plants of the Eastern United States. Those plants which were in use but are now considered endangered or threatened, will be omitted.
PLANT IDENTIFICATION: Nature walks will be conducted in woods, field, and display garden areas. Instruction on basic botanical identification and clarifying types of related species. HERB GROWING: Instructions on how to grow your own medicinal herbs, using organic methods. Includes tour of the greenhouses, gardens, and opportunity to purchase herb starter plants and seeds.
WILDCRAFTING: Instructions for harvesting and preserving herbs for use in preparing medicines. After completion of this course, the student will be able to grow, harvest, wildcraft, and prepare basic herbal medicines for health, wellness, and illness.
NATIVE AMERICAN LORE AND PRACTICES: Legends and Native teachings about herbal medicine, spiritual healing, and ceremonial healing. These may be adopted from the Tihanama, Cherokee, Lenape, or other Native Peoples.
Classes are held outdoors, weather permitting.
2 separate weekend options available. $395 for the two-day weekend workshop.
Date 1: April 26-27, 2025 OR Date 2: June 28-29, 2025
To register see below. You will receive more information on class requirements and payment options at that time.
All classes and workshops include coffee and cold tea, as well as written materials to take home. Class size is limited to 8 people. Please bring a lunch. No food provided due to virus precautions.
Herbal Medicine for Women
This one-day workshop includes Native American herbal medicine, European herbal medicine, Vitamin, Mineral, and Nutritional therapies for women’s health and wellness. Classes are taught with an emphasis on those aspects of the following matters that directly relate to women’s health:
CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES: Natural alternatives to Hormone replacement therapy, bone health and osteoporosis, herbs for menopause and peri-menopause, weight loss strategies, heart health and breast health.
PHYSIOLOGY: Basic discussions of human structure and function as it relates to health, wellness, and disease in the body.
MEDICINE MAKING: Hands on instruction and practice of preparing teas, decoctions, tinctures and more.
MATERIA MEDICA: Information on choosing which herbs can be most helpful for women’s health and wellness.
PLANT IDENTIFICATION: Nature walks will be conducted in woods, field, and display garden areas. Teachings include Native American healing traditions, spiritual practices, and Materia medica.
Classes are held outdoors, weather permitting.
2 separate options available. $195 for a 1 day workshop.
Dates: Sat – May 17, 2025 OR Sun – Jul 20, 2025
To register see below. You will receive more information on class requirements and payment options at that time.
All classes and workshops include coffee and cold tea, as well as written materials to take home. Class size is limited to 8 people. Please bring a lunch. No food provided due to virus precautions.
Advanced Native American Healing
This one-day workshop includes advanced practices of Native American Medicine People. Topics include advanced herbal formulas, smudging plants, the Healing Drum, Healing chants, principles of Healing Lodges and Fire Ceremonies, and more.
Prerequisite: completion of Introduction to Herbal Medicine, equivalent course at another school, or working knowledge of plants and herbal medicines. Please contact us for details and arrangements.
Classes are held outdoors, weather permitting.
This workshop is available by special arrangement only and requires prerequisite classes or studies.
$195 for the one-day workshop.
Date: Sat – Aug 16, 2025
To register see below. You will receive more information on class requirements and payment options at that time.
All classes and workshops include coffee and cold tea, as well as written materials to take home. Class size is limited to 8 people. Please bring a lunch. No food provided due to virus precautions.
TO REGISTER
To register for classes and workshops, send an email to: pipsiss@yahoo.com
Registration opens Jan 10, 2025
ALL classes require a $50 deposit, payable at least 2 weeks before the day of class. Arrangements can be made for any workshop over $100 to be paid in installments. Work barters for up to one half the cost of classes over $100 may be arranged.
To pay with a check: mail to the address in the footer and pay to: Lisa Bedner
To use a credit/debit card: go to www.paypal.com & use the email: pipsiss@yahoo.com
OR you may call in the evenings 931-653-4402 to use a credit/debit card over the phone