** The 2024 Herban Roots Apprenticeship Part 1 - Foundations in Herbalism application is now OPEN! Apply now **

Overview

Every year, we offer a unique opportunity for folx in the surrounding Twin Cities and western WI to apply for the Herban Roots Apprenticeship Part 1 - Foundations in Herbalism. The course is taught by local herbalist, Jessie Belden. This six-month course covers many facets and foundations of herbalism, including:

  • Seasonal plant identification

  • Botany

  • Ethical wild harvesting

  • Medicine making

  • Organ systems and corresponding materia medica 

  • Practicing ancestral herbalism

  • Connecting with the beauty of mother nature

At the end of the apprenticeship, graduates receive a certificate and the potential opportunity to participate in a clinical herbal setting.

We will have a private Facebook group for those enrolled in the apprenticeship, which is a space to ask questions, share photos or notes from past class, and keep tabs on various places we may be meeting during the course. Please check this group every Monday afternoon for up to date info.


Schedule

We will meet EVERY Monday night from Monday, April 8th until Monday, September 30th from 6-8 pm, as well as every third Saturday of each month from 10 am - 3/4 pm. There will NOT be any class on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27th), Monday, July 1st, or Labor Day, (Monday, September 2nd).

If you can't attend a Monday evening class, there will be make-up opportunities that can be scheduled independently. Students will have a chance to make up a total of 2 Monday night classes. Any more, and you will need to make arrangements with your fellow classmates. In regards to missing Saturday classes, there will not be make-up opportunities.

Our Monday night classes will meet at beautiful spots around and in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul area. Last year we spent a lot of time at Crosby Farms Regional Park in St. Paul, Battle Creek in St. Paul and Cold Water Springs near Fort Snelling. 

Saturday classes will meet at wider areas around the twin cities area and into western Wisconsin. There are many opportunities to carpool to our different locations, so don't worry about not being able to get to our meeting site. 

View the full lesson plan and class dates


Tuition

The apprenticeship costs $1800.00. This price will ensure an energy exchange, cost of materials, as well as cost for camping and wild-harvesting field trips, and the extra opportunity to learn from me in the free clinics.

Once you have been accepted into the program, we ask for a $500 deposit hold your place, due by March 1st. The deposit is non-refundable, but goes towards your total tuition fee. The rest of your tuition will be due on the first night of class. Tuition payment can be made via cash, check, Venmo or PayPal (please ONLY use the friends and family option).

We also give 3 scholarship opportunities to underrepresented communities (BIPOC as a priority, please). If tuition is an issue for you, and you would still love to commit to this opportunity, please contact Jessie individually to work something out.


How to apply

The most important consideration for signing up for this herbal apprenticeship are the dates we hold class, and whether or not you can make the commitment to attend and be a vital member of the apprenticeship community. We also want to get to know you and be sure that this course will be a good fit for you. If you prefer a phone call to assess our resonance, please state this in your application and we will get a phone call on the calendar!

Photos from past herbal apprenticeships